Woodward

Cannon here: If you have not read it yet, take a look at Murray Waas' extraordinary expose of Bob Woodward -- the famed journalist-turned-courtier -- who was given extraordinary access to the Bush White House. Waas has uncovered evidence that Bush gave Woodward classified data vital to national security, against the better judgment of intelligence professionals.

Why did Dubya bring in someone like Woodward, as opposed to one of the standard conservative pseudojournalists? Why did Bush choose a Washigton Post writer, as opposed to (say) a Washington Times writer?

To me, the answer is obvious. A book by a Bob Woodward will be read by people all across the political spectrum. (At least, that used to be the case until recent times.) A right-wing hack will speak only to those who dig right-wing hacks.

That's why it was also necessary to plant a Judy Miller in the NYT. The same "revelations" would have had less impact if they had come from one of the Murdochian marionettes.

Here's the kicker: Woodward seems to be turning around...again.

The greatest threat to America's democracy is not terrorism but governmental secrecy, said Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bob Woodward, whose reporting almost 35 years ago pierced the veil of secrecy behind Richard Nixon's presidency.

Although a massive, coordinated attack on the country, making 9-11 look like a "footnote," is still possible, the nation faces a greater threat from the federal government's current secrecy drive, Woodward told an audience in San Antonio on Tuesday.

"Democracies die in darkness," Woodward told the 500-person crowd of mostly business and community leaders as part of Trinity University's policy maker breakfast series, a 25-year tradition.

The Bush administration, which gave Woodward remarkable access for his two books on the administration's war on terror, "Bush At War," in 2002 and "Plan of Attack," in 2004, has cloaked its decision-making in "an immense amount of secrecy," he said, "too much, in my view."

The prediction of a massive attack on the country is unnerving. Is Woodward dealing in surmise...or prophecy...or advanced warning?

And is his criticism of the administration genuinely felt? Or is he simply trying to re-ingratiate himself with those readers who now consider him about as "fair and balanced" as Sean Hannity?