To: Cboldt; hchutch; Miss Marple; BOBTHENAILER; Grampa Dave
Rather, the White House is nervous that publicly discussing the links could trigger another set of leaks, most of them presumed to come from the CIA, attempting to discredit the new information. Those are battles the White House doesn't want to fight.
"some battles will be visible, others will not." I accept that, and happen to trust the Bush administration to act in the best interests of the country. I don't blame them for not wanting to divert energy to addressing leaked informtion.
Mind you, I am distrustful of government in general, but at some point (national defence being an easy line for me to draw), given what I believe to be honest leadership, I give a bit more than mere "benefit of the doubt."