Though the Defense department says the individual "was not in a position to have significant influence over U.S. policy" and that no "foreign power [could] be in a position to influence U.S. policy through this individual," he was a fairly senior official who was directly advising one of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's most trusted advisors.

Could this spy have fed the White House the bogus WMD intelligence or manipulated it to get a result that suited Israel? If so, the implications for the Bush Administration are grave. Now that someone in the FBI has leaked existence of the investigation, the agency must move quickly to answer the obvious questions. While I am certain that, as in past spy controversies, the most damaging aspects will be swept under the rug only to come to light in 30 years, some kind of resolution is needed including some action from the White House.

At very least, it is time to clean house at the Pentagon. Mr. Feith must go and make clear the degree of influence the alleged spy had on his thinking and the advice he gave Mr. Rumsfeld. And it must happen quickly, because you can bet John Kerry and the Democrats will be all over this.