“Of all the cares or concerns of government, the direction of war most peculiarly demands those qualities which distinguish the exercise of power by a single hand.”—Alexander Hamilton, Federalist 74.
This sentiment of our founding was clearly expressed in Article II of the Constitution, which establishes the President as the commander in chief, with inherent enemy surveillance authority which has never been denied by the opinion of any court. So what is there about this inherent discretionary power, so wisely included as a critical element of executive authority, that the New York Times doesn’t understand? I think I know—it’s the discretionary part they don’t like, mainly because of the particular President who currently wields it, one whom they loathe and consider illegitimate.
So here’s another quote for them to contemplate:
“Whoever knowingly and willfully communicates………..or publishes……….classified information…..concerning the communication intelligence activities of the United States……shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.”—Section 798 of Title 18, U. S. Criminal Code (as reported by National Review).
And since all appeals to their loyalty and common sense in the interest of national security in wartime have gone unheeded, maybe an appearance by their publisher and executive editor before a federal judge to answer for violation of this law would improve their focus.