So much for freedom of the press

Alberto Gonzales says the US can prosecute reporters for reporting the news:

WASHINGTON - Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Sunday he believes journalists can be prosecuted for publishing classified information, citing an obligation to national security.

The nation's top law enforcer also said the government will not hesitate to track telephone calls made by reporters as part of a criminal leak investigation, but officials would not do so routinely and randomly.

"There are some statutes on the book which, if you read the language carefully, would seem to indicate that that is a possibility," Gonzales said, referring to prosecutions. "We have an obligation to enforce those laws. We have an obligation to ensure that our national security is protected."

This is chilling enough, but the real question is would they dare try? Then, they might lose in the courts and that would be the end of the chilling effect, wouldn't it?