Odd how it's the yanks on this thread who are going on about "security" etc.
Indeed so. How is it that the principle of classified military information remaining protected appears to be subject to interpretation on the UK side and is a straightforward no-no on this side of the pond?
He's being gone after as it is an embarrassing bit of information that has supposedly been leaked, not a strategically important one.
I just don't understand the relevance of this. If the piece of information said "CLASSIFIED" (or similar, those who know, know) at the top and bottom of the paper, and he knowingly disclosed that information to unauthorised people, he is bang to rights. Embarrassing, strategic, minor, non-embarrassing or otherwise, it was illegal. End of discussion on guilt. Begin discussion on sentence.