"The public has no right to know"

Chief US District Judge Thomas Hogan has thrown Judith Miller in jail. The New York Times reporter will be incarcerated by American state security forces until she agrees to testify about a non-revelation she did not cough up in a story she did not write, or until the end of the grand jury's term in October. Time's Matthew Cooper has followed his publication's lead and agreed to sing. As I wouldn't want to be in either of their shoes, I'll make no comment on whether Miller or Cooper has more balls.

"We've got a bully-boy prosecutor in Washington who figures it's OK to toss reporters in jail for protecting their sources, a national magazine that got down on its hands and knees and licked his shoes, and a national newspaper that's holding its ground, although it does not much believe in free speech for anyone but newspapers," says Jay Ambrose.

"But there are some things the public has no right to know, including the names of covert agents," counters Steve Chapman.

Matt Welch will be hurling thunderbolts on this topic right here at Reason, in just a few minutes.