Should You Publish Military Secrets if They Seem Questionable?

IN CLASS TODAY, WE TALKED about a New York Times story that revealed a military strategy to place "bait" in certain areas where potential insurgents would find them.

After placing the bait, American snipers observed the area around it, a military official told the newspaper.

“If someone found the item, picked it up and attempted to leave with the item,” he said, “we would engage the individual, as I saw this as a sign that they would use the item against U.S. forces.” (Engage is a military euphemism for firing on or killing an enemy).

Should the New York Times have revealed this strategy?

Does the reporter seem objective?

(The photo above is by Jim MacMillan, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his war coverage in 2005. Jim is a Temple adjunct who will probably speak to our class at the end of the semester).