Sorry to disagree, but I think it was a gross error to release this asset's name, even on deep background. Even if the NYT could have been trusted to keep it confidential, a story that contained any details at all about what had led to the alert would probably have tipped AQ off about who was talking. Our supposedly tight lipped administration talked, and to what purpose? They were still slammed for not immediately sharing enough details, such as how old some of the information was.
We have way too many clinton moles deep inside our intelligence security services - the State Dept is one huge communist/socialist country club.
And you wonder where the info was leaked from? That is why we need a formal declaration of War (or whatever) so we can find these traitors, send them to trial, and if guilty, shoot them!