Don't Drop the Ball

The image says it all. I want to believe the Steelers can take down the Colts, but it's hard when no one else does. (Photo via the Indy Star.)

Fortunately, Ben Roethlisberger will be back in action. The Steelers have gone 2-2 since he injured his knee and was unable to play. The consensus seems to be that Dick LeBeau's defense won't be able to contain Peyton Manning; it remains to be seen if the improved Colts defense will be able to contain Roethlisberger and the running game.

I'm disappointed to read that Sibel Edmonds' case was turned down for certiorari. Her web site has more background. Here's a key piece of information from this ACLU timeline:

JANUARY 2005: The Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General releases an unclassified summary of its investigation into Edmonds' termination. The report concludes that Edmonds was fired for reporting serious security breaches and misconduct in the agency's translation program, and that many of her allegations were supported.

These comments on the Libby indictment concerning the Classified Information Procedures Act are potentially enlightening:

The law governing the use of the classified data is called the Classified Information Procedures Act, or CIPA. It sets up strict procedures for attorneys to review classified data with their clients in special rooms and for how the defense can request the disclosure of such secrets during a trial.

The arguments can be critical. If a judge agrees to permit the use of the information in open court, then the prosecutors are faced with having either to allow the disclosure of sensitive government information or to consider dismissing the charges.

"In this case the defense doesn't have to win on every element of their claims, they just may want to scare the daylights out of the government at this stage," said Weisberg.

I agree with Senators Leahy and Grassley: where's the accountability? How do we know that the leaks have been plugged and these people are no longer in a position to damage U.S. interests?