Front page of the Wall Street Journal carries the story too (subscription required):

Treasury Tracks Financial Data In Secret Program
Since 9/11, U.S. Has Used Subpoenas to Access Records From Fund-Transfer System
By GLENN R. SIMPSON
June 23, 2006; Page A1

Since shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the U.S. Treasury Department has been secretly tracking suspected terrorist financing through a far-reaching program that gives it access to records from the network that handles nearly all international financial transfers....

honestly, is anyone surprised by this?

hell, they even got a named source, this Levey guy, to comment on it. That's a bigger surprise to me.

the terrorists know that all international electronic communications are being monitored. I know it, you know it, they know it. this is just confirmation of that, which should come as news to no one.

When are they going to "frog march" Pinch Sulzberger out of the NYT offices and into Federal Prison?

The media will continue to publish "leaks" that damage our national security and endanger American citizens. One day, people will die and it will be traced to the publishing of a "leak" and the lawsuits will fly. I hope the families of the people killed due to the negligence of the media sue the New York Times, LA Times, and all the other seditious media outlets into oblivion (along with their associated senior editors and reporters).

The U.S. government, without the knowledge of many banks and their customers, has engaged for years in a secret effort to track terrorist financing by accessing a vast database of confidential information on transfers of money between banks worldwide.

The United States government should file treason charges against the editor and the reporters who published this story. The DOJ should also find the CIA leaker and prosecute him/her on the same charges

It's time to hurt the Times where it counts. Circulation continues to spiral downward, so all that's left is advertising revenue.

Time to contact those companies to advertise in this seditious rag and let them know how you feel about their money supporting a traitorous media outlet. I need a list of those advertisers and I won't be purchasing their products so long as they continue to advertise with NYT.

T H E N E W Y O R K T I M E S H A S C R O S S E D T H E L I N E T H I S T I M E !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

honestly, is anyone surprised by this?

Surprised that the NYT is blabbing about anti-terrorist strategy and tactics? Why would we be surprised about that?

I think it's interesting that the NYT can dig up information on all these secret programs, yet some folks still believe in 9/11 conspiracy theories that would require thousands of people to keep their mouths shut.

Bob Jones, you're absolutely right. As American citizens we can't take this anymore. We should DEMAND THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAKE IMMEDIATE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE NEW YORK TIMES.

The NYT is simply costing us toooo much in terms of jeopardizing our security, to say nothing of the millions and millions of taxpayer dollars spent on developing national security which is going out the window because of the Times!!!

It is costing us tooo much. Where is the Justice department on this? This is Treason. Actually, this is treason at an unprecedented level and scope in our history.

the problem is Postmodernism/relatvism, which is the religion these idiots live by...they think we are no better than terrorist if not worse and so on, therefore to them with their upside down view of the world doing treasonous things like this is justified. Frankly, we need leaders all over the country to step up and destroy the religion of postmodern relativism, its a pretty simple thing to do actually.

Who reads that trash anyways? nonrelevant phonies.

JP, all we need is for the Justice Department to take action against the NYT. There's no excuse for waiting any more. This is treason.

The terrorist read it, thats who and why it matters.

oh I agree they need to do something, I'm talking about the root cause that produces this.

I think there is probably political problems with jailing them, it would be a huge media story if they went after them and would give the left a talking point that bush is hitler, jailing reporters, free speech, blah, blah....unfortunately these fools probably get away with alot they shouldn't do soley to political cover

jp, yes but the "politics" are probably NOW in favor of taking action -- and I think would play out favorably, to say nothing of the obligation of the Federal Government to protect this nation.

Let the MSM complain about this. I say, bring it on!

I concur.. JP I thought about that right after I typed it.. thanks for pointing it out.

Don't waste your time emailing the Slimes, Call your Representative/Senators instead and demand prosecution. Treason is still a crime, isn't it?

Back during WW II some newspaper reporter for a midwest newspaper (Chicago Tribune?) found out that we had broken the Japanese Naval code. He quickly sent his story from Hawaii on to his editor. Luckily, it was intercepted enroute, and FDR called the paper and "convinced" them not to run the story. Could you imagine Bush doing today what FDR did in '42?

All of this whining about this publication effecting security - but no one has shown how that's true.

"Because the New York Times published the details of the US government's effective terrorist tracking program, al Qaeda operatives now have more opportunity to avoid being caught."

Bullsh*t. How is that true. Explain, and use more words than "because they did it"....

Making a statement like that with NOTHING to back it up is irresponsible. Whine, whine whine all you want, but no one has explained how this publication compromises the tracking program.

This blog hasn't shown a connection, the articles quoted didn't show a conection, and apparently when the White House explained it to the New York Times, there wasn't enough of a connection there either to convince them either. The fact that the White House wants to operate in secrecy in one thing, but no one has shown how the words published in the New York Times compromises anything.

Besides, the American public has a right to know that their bank records are being perused by the White House. So does the rest of the world.

You all should stop subscribing to the NYT. All 50 of you withholding your $.50 from the NYT Cos is definitely going to shrink its market cap from $3.5 Billion to like 12 cents in a week or so.

Yeah, count me in too. I'm going to wear blinders from now on when I am in public, because, you know, I might just accidentally glance at the NYT in public.

Is it OK to protest Dow Jones Co too? The WSJ covered the story too. I'm really not sure about when to protest and who to direct my ire at. the NYT is an obvious target -- being they are librul and want to turn this country into an Islamic theocracy.

But what are the guidelines for protesting the WSJ? Should I stop watching Fox News because they cover the story the NYT covered thereby providing cover to terrorists who may be using ATM machines in Afgnahistan to wire money to other terrorists in Iraq who may be using credit cards to buy porn on the internet?

"If given the choice between a government without newspapers or newspapers without government, I would choose the latter." -TJ

Ahh, silly founding fathers. They should listen to Wizbang.

ted at June 23, 2006 11:45 AM

T H E N E W Y O R K T I M E S H A S C R O S S E D T H E L I N E T H I S T I M E !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[delete]T H I S T I M E

[insert]A G A I N

Nothing new for 'The Newspaper of Record'

>>Ahh, silly founding fathers. They should listen to Wizbang.

Yes indeed. TJ, GW and FDR should be blown off of Rushmore and replaced by Rummy, GWB and Karl Rove.

Yes indeed. TJ, GW and FDR should be blown off of Rushmore Lint

It's Teddy R. little difference it we blow him up though.

Eric L. and James R. should be thrown in jail until they reveal their leak source. Then the leaker should be shot as a traitor.

Hey Lee and Lint, OK, ANSWER THIS (I bet you can't):

Why does the NYT etc. get to keep its government informers identity secret BUT the Government does not get to keep its own national security measures secret????

Huh??????

Beccause THIS government's security measures extend further and deeper in to the privacy of innocent American citizens then it needs to.

Lee, "more than it needs to", says who?, you?

On what basis do you say this?

Moreover, the IRS gets and can get all this stuff and more.

Lee, anyway, you haven't answered why the NYT still gets to keep its government informer source secret?

Personally, I'm angry that the White House actually bothered to ask the New York Times to not report the story. Did these guys doubt for even a second that the editors of the New York Times give a damn about the United States' national security if it would hurt a sitting GOP President?

My personal belief? The White House should cut off all official and non-official contact with the New York Times. Cancel the White House subscription to the paper. No more press passes, invitations to White House events or trips on Air Force One for their reporters. No more returning of any of their phone calls, e-mails or requests for meetings or interviews.

Simply cut them off in every possible way from the White House. As the Baltimore Sun found out (from the Courts) after a campaign of lies against Bob Erlich, the First Amendment doesn't just apply to the Press. They have the right to publish whatever they want - they do not have the right to force anyone to talk to them.

...innocent American citizens...

Oh, like the newly crowned 'Miami 7'. Or, the terrorist cell in Lodi, CA. Or Iyman Ferris' plot to blow up the Brooklyn Bridge. Or Abdullah al Muhajir's (aka: Jose Padilla) 'dirty bomb' plot. Or the Canadian terrorists who had connections all over the world, including the U.S. And just for giggles and to be fair, how about the white supermascist plots of William Krar and the two NJ skinheads.

All just innocent Americans, I suppose. My ass.

Lee, since you won't or can't answer the above question, how about at least confirming this:

You (like the NYT) would rather have the USA do poorly in Iraq if that would mean an end to GOP dominance in American government.

Be honest.