Randall Stross's question about whether the Justice Department needs to probe Google for possible antirust violations is provocative. But the last thing we need in the US now is more government intervention in the economy. It would further destroy growth and jobs. After all, the federal government is pouring tens of billions of taxpayer dollars into Citicorp, AIG and the automobile companies, virtually nationalizing industries in distress, and has taken over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, making Uncle Sam the de facto mortgage lender. At this fragile moment, do we really want to decimate Google, a growing, innovative business that has created more than 15,000 jobs and is thriving debt-free?

But Randall's question cannot be ignored, especially not inside the Googleplex. For Google's biggest risk may well be political. Google dropped its proposed partnership with Yahoo last year only because the company was warned that it was hours away from facing Justice Department antitrust action. Google wisely walked away.

There is something else at work in the search engine business too: competition. Microsoft just took the Dell computer and Verizon wireless business away from Google. That shows Microsoft is capable of competing effectively. It also shows CEO Steve Ballmer has the moxie, muscle and bankroll to up the ante and win. As Eric Schmidt knows only too well from his crushing experience at other companies, once Mr. Softy gets traction, he has the capacity to take market share from anybody. And that includes Google.