Bruce W. Sanford and Bruce D. Brown put their spin on “The futility of chasing leaks” (BDN op-ed, July 21), but actually made the case for why the leak investigation needed to go forward: “… the cost … is too high since there are plenty of polygraphs and other devices for the government to ferret out any compromisers of its true secrets.”

Protecting the identity of a CIA “operative” (Valerie Plame) is a true secret. Why hasn’t the government ferreted out the identity of the compromisers? Since, early on, journalist Robert Novak told the special prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald, the names of his sources, he could have saved our government a lot of money by telling the president these names.

Or the president could have saved a lot of money by using “polygraphs and other devices” on the suspected compromisers in his administration. Since high administration officials are suspected of outing a CIA operative as punishment for a dissenting voice (Joseph Wilson), and the administration has shown no willingness to use its considerable resources to find and take care of the leak, a leak investigation and now a lawsuit have become necessary.

The issue is not about protecting confidential sources and freedom of the press, although Novak’s revealing Plume’s name for no purpose is akin to yelling fire in a crowded theater. It is about an administration suspected of breaking the law to pursue its agenda.

The wheels of justice may be costly and slow, but it is our system of government, it is political, and using it is one recourse our citizenry has to counteract misuse of executive powers.

Arthur D. Newkirk

Blue Hill