SOME TAKE IT SERIOUSLY – AT 8:24 A.M. ET:  While most our mainstream media seems indifferent to plugging the leak that led to this week's massive damage to our diplomatic security, London's Telegraph reports on the furious reactions of some of our defense experts:

Leading US political figures have called for the death penalty to be imposed on the person who leaked sensitive documents to whistle-blower website WikiLeaks as anger intensified against those responsible for the international relations crisis.

Former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee and ex-Pentagon official KT McFarland were among those claiming the guilty party should face execution for putting national security at risk by leaking the inflammatory information.

Mr Huckabee, who is believed to be ready to renew his candidacy for the next presidential election, said responsible for the leak should be sentenced to death.

He said: “They’ve put American lives at risk ... They put relationships that will take decades to rebuild at risk. They knew full well that they were handling sensitive documents, they were entrusted.

"Any lives they endangered, they’re personally responsible for and the blood is on their hands.”

KT McFarland, who held national security posts under the Nixon, Ford and Reagan governments, backed the calls, saying Private Bradley Manning – the chief suspect of leaking the files – should face treason charges and possible execution...

I was with KT last night at the Churchill party, and she is livid over this.

...Writing on the Fox News website, Ms McFarland said: "It's time to up the charges. Let's charge him and try him for treason. If he's found guilty, he should be executed."

She also called for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to face terror charges, claiming: "He’s waging cyberwar on the United States and the global world order. Mr. Assange and his fellow hackers are terrorists and should be prosecuted as such."

COMMENT:  And it's time for a major congressional investigation into this whole matter.  We depend on our security services to protect us.  It would be nice if they could protect our national secrets. 

As for the American soldier suspected of being the source, he is a PFC (private first class).  How did a man with such a modest rank get hold of this stuff?  Clearly, there was some electronic breach.  If Manning can do it, foreign enemies can do it.

December 1, 2010