War is no excuse to steamroll press

The muddy stew of American democracy has four main ingredients: the judiciary, Congress, the executive and the press.

The Bush administration's booming rhetoric leaves the impression that all this nation needs is a strongman at its head. That is dangerous talk for a country at war, the temptation to bend rules intense. The administration needs to stop its tired attack on the press for reporting on secret programs used in the war on terror. The debate should not be about the role of the press, but about the alarming lack of oversight of the executive.

The latest story to set off President Bush was first published by The New York Times, and quickly matched by The Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times. The newspapers reported that the administration, through the Central Intelligence Agency and the Treasury Department, has monitored international banking records since shortly after Sept. 11, 2001.

This latest example demonstrates this administration's habit of creating new tools without any oversight from Congress, and a willingness to pick and choose which rules and laws should be applied. Only once it was clear the newspapers were going to print the story did the administration start informing lawmakers.

Congress affirmed its squishy nature by passing a resolution Thursday stating that the press must cooperate with the government. What Congress fails to grasp is that the stories would not be such bombshells if Congress were doing its job as a check to the executive, instead of wasting time with flag-burning amendments and denouncing the press.

Congress could learn from the judiciary. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the administration went too far with plans for military tribunals for terrorism suspects.

President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney used a number of public appearances last week to paint the press as out of control. They should be careful with such loose talk.

All the newspapers involved carefully vetted the story and gave the administration, the CIA and Treasury ample face time before deciding to publish. Last year, The Times sat on the National Security Agency domestic-wiretap story for a year because of the administration's concerns, and in stories about secret U.S. prisons in Eastern Europe, The Washington Post did not publish the locations. Not exactly the actions of a press bent on endangering Americans.

War is no excuse to steamroll Congress and the press. The war on terror is about to enter its fifth year, with no end in sight. This is a time for tempered emotions and judgment.

An independent Congress and press are needed to ensure the administration does not cross the lines that have served our nation for more than two centuries.