The battle for control of the United States

The political battle over the White House's refusal to comply with a subpoena from Congress to turn over documents in the CIA leak case may seem like game-playing, but it really is a fight for control of the U.S. government. The Bush administration is already notorious for expanding the power of the president on control of the military, the budget and legislation in general; its attempt to wrest subpoena power from Congress is more of the same. But this time, especially, the risk of permitting an unchecked presidency is plainly obvious. Somebody, or some people, violated the law by revealing the identity of a CIA agent in 2003 and compromising the country's intelligence-gathering ability. President Bush promised to fire whoever did it; federal prosecutors might have other ideas about enforcing that particular law. An adviser to the vice president was convicted and pardoned by the president. But it appears obvious that the decision to expose the agent's identity was made in the upper reaches of the executive branch, perhaps by the vice president or the president or both, as retribution for criticism of the White House leveled by the agent's husband. There is no gain for the country if the leaker's identity is protected; only Bush's inner-circle profits from the refusal to turn over evidence. The House Oversight Committee must stop merely threatening a contempt citation against Attorney General Michael Mukasey and go ahead with the indictment; Congress may have to dispatch soldiers to the White House to get the documents. The people of the United States have a right to know -- once and for all -- who is the government employee or employees who compromised the nation's security for political gain.