The existence of SWIFT is no secret. SWIFT is not the name of a secret program. It's the name of the organization that was participating in it. The appearance of "SWIFT" in searches is insignficant without further context.

If the secret program wasn't news, why did the New York Times think it was? I'm having a little trouble following the concept of an expose' that everybody knew about. The NYT pointed out a specific tactic and operation that had not been general knowledge. There's a big difference between telling the public that their speed is being tracked on the freeways, and publishing a map showing where the five radar sets are located.

There were terrorists captured using this program after that U.N. report you linked to was produced. It's entirely possible that the New York Times is more widely read than such reports, or that more terrorists might see something on page 1 of the most well-known paper in America than will scroll down to a letter on a U.N. website and check out page 32.

All this media self-justification is like a cat trying to scratch dirt over an elephant turd. It isn't going to work. Wait for the polls.

Letter to the New York Times from the Secretary of the Treasury.

Letter to the New York Times from a milblogger.

Comments from Thomas Kean, co-chairman of the 9/11 Commission.