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In a less forgiving light, the effort can be cast as a Nixonesque attempt to intimidate anyone who dares interfere with administration policy by disclosing facts that it is hiding. Among the leaks that angered Bush most have been disclosures that the administration was engaging in wiretaps without court approval and that someone in the administration leaked the identity of a CIA operative[...]

Presidents can and do declassify such data, and 10 days after Libby's disclosure, that's precisely what Bush did, giving the public information it had a right to know. But first, the White House cherry-picked pieces to prop up its case and leaked them to a favored reporter.

There's nothing unusual about the White House spinning facts to make itself look good. But leaking classified information, then decrying other leaks and sending prosecutors to hunt down the leakers just underscores the absurdity of the entire exercise.