Bradlee: "He Doesn't Have to Disclose Every Goddamn Thing"

The Washintgton Post's legendary editor Ben Bradlee defends Bob Woodward, in his usually colorful way, for not telling his current bosses until last month that he knew about Plame's CIA job: "I don't see anything wrong with that. He doesn't have to disclose every goddamn thing he knows."

Bradlee was, of course, the only other man besides Woodward and Bernstein to know the identity of Deep Throat until it was revealed earlier this year.

But the man currently holding Bradlee's former post, Leonard Downie Jr., is not happy with Woodward, saying he should have known earlier.

Does this show some fundamental rift between reporters, especially investigative ones, and their editors? There's always healthy tension between us, but I wonder if this will shorten the leash. For now, I side with Bradlee.