Here’s an update to “this post”:http://www.totalwonkerr.net/1305/flynt-leverett-and-the-nsc…

Earlier today, T-Snow “discussed”:http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/12/20061218-6.html F. Leverett’s allegations RE: his _NYT_ op-ed:

Q Flynt Leverrett, a former NSC official, Mideast expert, also worked in the CIA, has charged that the administration has blocked publication of an op-ed he wrote in The New York Times simply because it’s critical of the administration’s Iran policy.

MR. SNOW: I doubt that. Flynt has been plenty critical and plenty public in the past. I don’t know —

Q And he says that it’s now being blocked because he’s become increasingly critical at a time when it’s politically important for the White House to have public support for its foreign policy.

MR. SNOW: I sincerely doubt that, but I’ll try to find out. I don’t know anything about it, except, come on, it’s not like Flynt has not been out publicly on a number of occasions questioning the administration.

Q But he says the CIA has cleared this particular piece and the White House has blocked it. So my question is —

MR. SNOW: The White House is not blocking his writings.

Q There is no effort to use national security claims to falsely silence critics?

MR. SNOW: We don’t falsely silence critics on national security claims. Now, if there’s a legitimate national security claim, I’m sure that that will be made. Let me — rather than chasing around, I don’t know anything about this, so I’ll find out. And you can call me —