National secrets
The Times may not find it so funny this time. This operation was unquestionably legal, cleared through the proper Congressional channels, and was an ideal example of exactly the sort of "enforcement" anti-terror operation liberals have been touting since the wars started.
Obviously, political attacks rank higher in their value system than national security, and while they got away with the NSA attacks on the grounds that there were legal questions, the motivation for this one is glaringly obvious.
More here.