EDITORIAL BUSH'S ROVEGATE?

ON the matter of Karl Rove, whether he ``outed'' CIA agent Valerie Plame, and the White House's troubling new policy of not commenting on the issue, it would seem that President George W. Bush had it right two years ago.

Back then he said, ``If somebody did leak classified information, I'd like to know about it, and we'll take the appropriate action.''

His spokesman later explained that ``appropriate action'' meant that the guilty party ``will no longer be a part of this administration.'' It was a good policy then and now.

But for the time being, it's not even clear if, under the law, Plame qualifies as an undercover agent whose identity must be protected. Nor is it clear, for all the partisan rancor, that Rove, the president's political strategist, ever exposed her name. Both these matters are being properly investigated by a special prosecutor.

Until the prosecutor releases his findings, little good can come from jumping to conclusions.

Still, it would do Bush well to drop the silent treatment and simply affirm what he said only two years ago: If a crime was committed, the offender will be properly dealt with - no matter who that might be.