Bush "out"ed Valerie Plame

[cminmd]

If you believe Scooter Libby, he testified that he was told by Cheney who was told by Bush to tell Judy Miller about Valerie Plame. (Sounds like Junior High if Valerie was investigating cute boys instead of nuclear weapons programs in Iran. )

The White House has not denied the charges in todays press breifing and MacClellan said that the president has the right to declassify any information for any reason.

So, I know many Bush supporters on this board have defended him in the past. What do you think of his "I will find the person who leaked this information" and his "we will fire anyone involved" comments. Do you consider those lies now? Do you think since he is the president he can lie to anyone, declassify information to settle a political score, and retaliate against someones wife because he wants to? Do you think it is a betrayal to someone who worked for her country for 17 years to blow her cover, or is that just tough nookies for her for being on the other political side?

What will the Unitarian Jihad do about this?

[newtricks]

I don't think he's *specifically* linked to the Valerie Plame leak actually. I'm not excusing him by any means because he comes pretty darn close! This new Scooter Libby info is pretty shocking - I don't know how his supporters will view it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12187153/

[Laura]

Hmm... actually, I had heard on the news today that Bush was not involved in the Valerie Plame issue. Gee, conflicting news reports. What a surprise.

[gertdog]

I could probably read the story posted on CNN about 5 times and still not be sure who allegedly authorized what, but my understanding is that Libby is claiming Bush authorized the leak of certain classified information about WMDs in Iraq, not about Valerie Plame's identity as a CIA agent.

[honeygirl1971]

All the articles I read on the topic said that according to Scooter Libby's testimony, he was implicated in the leaks, which may or may not have led to the disclosure of Plame's identity. It all goes down to whether or not you believe Libby's testimony, which some people never will.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/07/wa...=1&oref=slogin

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/n...ationworld-hed

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...adlines-nation

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1749015,00.html

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060407/...NlYwMlJVRPUCUl

[gertdog]

But the NY Times story says this:

Mr. Libby did not assert in his testimony to a grand jury, first reported on the Web site of The New York Sun, that Mr. Bush or Mr. Cheney had authorized him to reveal the name of an undercover C.I.A. officer, Valerie Wilson. Mr. Libby is scheduled to go on trial next year on perjury and obstruction charges connected to the disclosure of Ms. Wilson's name.

Hence my confusion. It sounds like Bush is implicated in authorizing the leak of some info, but not Plame's identity, which is what I thought this case was about. (I'm still concerned about intelligence leaks being used for political gain, though that's probably been happening since time began, but I'm trying to sort out the case at hand too).

[honeygirl1971]

I think it's that the disclosure of classified information which according to Libby he definitely did authorize led to the disclosure of her identity, which may or may not have been his goal all along.

[jmarie]

Last week, Libby was everything evil to most Democrats and the media. Now he will be their darling. Only time will tell about any of this....one thing for sure, the media will have a field day with this.

Joyce

[KAnn]

Last week, Libby was everything evil to most Democrats and the media. Now he will be their darling. Only time will tell about any of this....one thing for sure, the media will have a field day with this.

Joyce

Ummm...its a major news story. I hope the media covers it! But as a proud democrat, I assure you Scooter is not MY darling...but the grand jury testimony may led us to the truth of who exactly outed a CIA operative.

[newtricks]

I'm not sure if this Chris Matthews video clears anything up but it reflects why I'm so dismayed at the whole thing.

http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?...e_Today%20Show