To the editor:

I’m wondering when Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft will initiate an investigation to determine the identity of the person or persons in the Bush administration who exposed Valerie Plame (Ambassador Joseph Wilson’s wife) as a CIA agent to columnist Robert Novak. Mr. Novak subsequently published this information in his syndicated column.

The Intelligence Identities and Protection Act of 1982 makes it a federal crime to reveal the identity of an intelligence operative of the United States. The administration officials responsible have ruined Ms. Plame’s career, exposed both her and her overseas assets to mortal danger, committed a federal felony, compromised our national security and may be guilty, in this time of war, of the crime of treason.

Surely Mr. Ashcroft has no more important duty than to root out and prosecute flagrant violators of federal statutes (such as these individuals). Likewise, our national media has a duty to call these violations to the public’s attention, and yet there has been no outcry in the press, and no investigation has been initiated. When may we expect both the attorney general and our “Fourth Estate” to rise to the occasion and do their duty?

JD Willhite,

Lawrence