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April 25, 1983

How do you stop government leaks of classified information? Administration officials recommend a statute imposing a criminal penalty of three years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. If the White House pushes such a law, Congress should tread warily. The point is, there are leaks and there are leaks. When they suit a political purpose, leaks are often generated by the government itself. The United States could end up with an unenforceable - not to mention discriminatory - law.