But it would be an investigation just the same. Given the high profile rebuke by President Bush, I can see the minions at NSA scrambling to make sure a proper request is before the DoJ, pronto.
There is no hint that the NSA knew of the leak before the NYT published), and the administration has said that it did not request the investigation, yet it was the administration that requested non-publication by the NYT.
I like to think the administration practices aggressive policing of leaks; and if it doesn, and is successful, there will be no public news of the policing.
But back to the timing of statup of this leak investigation, what are the ramifications either way? The damage is done, and honest prosecution will nail all of the people guilty of criminal activity in the leak. Meanwhile, the President is able to limit his information sharing to protect any additional secrets.
From Amazon:
State of War : The Secret History of the C.I.A. and the Bush Administration (Hardcover)
by James Risen
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Availability: This title will be released on January 3, 2006. You may order it now and we will ship it to you when it arrives. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
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The cover of this book leaves no doubt about who the writer, editor and publisher believe to be the enemy. It consists of pictures of Rice, Bush, Rumsfeld and Tenet which are dreadful and printed in black on a deep sinister red.