NEVER IN PUBLIC

I'm clearing through some backlog for another project, and what should I find.

Now that it's common knowledge that the administration leaked the computer expert, Khan's, name, possibly blowing a major operation, a possibly disastrous mistake, (always assuming it wasn't intentional) a long (and quite good) article in the Times on the cooperation, and different operational styles, between the US, the Paks, and the Brits, manages to stick this tidbit into virtually the last graph:

The release of Mr. Khan's name - it was made public in The New York Times on Aug. 2, citing Pakistani intelligence sources - drew criticism by some politicians, like Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, who charged that this leak might have compromised the search in Britain and Pakistan for Mr. Khan's Qaeda partners. (No officials in Britain, Pakistan or the United States have told The Times on the record that identifying Mr. Khan had such an impact). (My emph.)

Well, thanks for clearing that up so quickly, and in such a visible way.

For the record, Schumer wasn't being critical in a vacumn. He was going after the administration on the understanding that the leak had come from the administration, a widespread misunderstanding, and one the Times could have easily cleared up much earlier. (Hat tip on that last to Instapundit.)