"Bush approved intelligence leak"

[kallend 2,175]

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4885100.stm

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[billvon 3,132]

From Dec 2005:
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White House deputy press secretary Trent Duffy . . . reiterated earlier statements by Bush, who had sharply condemned the disclosure of the NSA program and argued that it seriously damaged national security. . . .
--------------
. . . unless, of course, Bush approves the actual disclosing. Then it's no problem at all.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/30/AR2005123000538.html

[ExAFO 0]

What's the deal with Manx cats? Why does one island produce cats with no tails? Do other British cats make fun of Manx Cats?

Illinois needs a CCW Law. NOW.

[stoneycase 0]

i do love the simpsons...and "the jig is up quimby"

"Before his indictment, I. Lewis Libby testified to the grand jury investigating the CIA leak that Cheney told him to pass on information and that it was Bush who authorized the disclosure, the court papers say."
...
"But the disclosure in documents filed Wednesday means that the president and the vice president put Libby in play as a secret provider of information to reporters about prewar intelligence on Iraq."

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/06/libby.ap/index.html

here's to hoping this stays front page, for a long, long time.

Does whisky count as beer? - Homer
There's no justice like angry mob justice. - Skinner
Be careful. There's a limited future in low pulls - JohnMitchell

[freethefly 6]

Is this an impeachable offence? Shit is going to get deep.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[quade 4]

Quote

Is this an impeachable offence? Shit is going to get deep.

Just going off the document in question, GWB still has plausble deniability if he can convince Cheney to fall on his sword, which, I think we'll all agree isn't going to happen unless it gets even uglier.

Libby didn't say GWB told him, he said -Cheney- said GWB said it was ok.

We aren't getting rid of GWB -quite- this easily, although it's inconceivable to me how GWB could NOT have known what was going on from the very begining.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[stoneycase 0]

Quote

...Shit is going to get deep.

damn straight. hang on, and hopefully enjoy the ride. now if this just falls away, like some other "issues" have, i'm calling this game - it's f***ing rigged.

from the cnn article:

And in a House Judiciary Committee hearing Thursday, New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler quizzed Attorney General Alberto Gonzales about whether Bush could declassify documents "for political reasons."

"The president is going to make the determination as to what's in the best interest of the country," Gonzales replied.

just another tool. i wouldn't trust bush to make a *single* decision 'in the best interest of the country', but that's just me. however, to just blindly sit there and say "he's the man he does what's right for us all" pretty much sums up their entire circus. it's just too bad that they forgot 60 some-odd million voters would have rather *not* have bush make *any* decisions for them - let alone decisions like this one.

Does whisky count as beer? - Homer
There's no justice like angry mob justice. - Skinner
Be careful. There's a limited future in low pulls - JohnMitchell

[billvon 3,132]

>GWB still has plausble deniability if he can convince Cheney to fall on his sword . . .

Why can't they just both claim that Libby is lying?

[quade 4]

I think they could -try- but since Libby really has no motivation to lie I don't know how believable that would be.

Clearly Libbly got his information from -somewhere-. Since he had always been a loyal servant of the Administration and left under good terms it doesn't make any sense for him to lie about this. It wouldn't get him anywhere.

He has clearly given up Cheney (if not GWB). It'll be interesting to see what happens next.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[billvon 3,132]

> I think they could -try- but since Libby really has no motivation to
>lie I don't know how believable that would be.

Not to belabor the point, but why does it have to be believable? At this point, I think there are people who will support Bush no matter what he does. He could urinate on a leper on the White House lawn and his approval rating would not drop to zero; there'd still be that 20% that would say "well, at least he didn't LIE about it!"

He doesn't have to get re-elected. Senators and representatives are actively dodging his support now, so he's not needed for electioneering. Cheney's not running for president next term. The administration basically has to do nothing more than avoid impeachment for the rest of the term, and claiming "Libby lied" will handle this issue.

[quade 4]

Quote

Cheney's not running for president next term.

No law says he can't run for VP again.

Think about it, everything else stays the same and all the changes is the figurehead. Hmmm.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Lucky... 0]

Quote

Quote

Cheney's not running for president next term.

No law says he can't run for VP again.

Think about it, everything else stays the same and all the changes is the figurehead. Hmmm.

A Republican dream...

[kallend 2,175]

Shouldn't Bush stick to his promise to fire the responsible person?

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[rushmc 23]

The president of the US has the authority to declassify and release anything he chooses. So, while this may or may not be what it seems right now he more than liley broke no law. (if it is what it is being reported (and I doublt this is the whole story) it sure smells bad)

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[rushmc 23]

If releasing the info is not illeagal then maybe his agressive pursual of getting SH is justified (considering the following)

I got this from Newsmax (just to throw a dart) but it is on other sites too..
Saddam Ordered Suicide Attacks on U.S. Targets


A newly translated document from Saddam Hussein's intelligence files indicates that the Iraqi dictator ordered suicide attacks against U.S. targets six months before the 9/11 attacks.

Dated March 11, 2001, the Iraqi memo reads:

To all the Units

Subject: Volunteer for Suicide Mission

The top secret letter 2205 of the Military Branch of Al Qadisya on 4/3/2001 announced by the top secret letter 246 from the Command of the military sector of Zi Kar on 8/3/2001 announced to us by the top secret letter 154 from the Command of Ali Military Division on 10/3/2001 we ask to provide that Division with the names of those who desire to volunteer for Suicide Mission to liberate Palestine and to strike American Interests and according what is shown below to please review and inform us.

The document is signed by Air Brigadier General Abdel Magid Hammot Ali.

While the big media has so far ignored the find, Captain's Quarters blogger Ed Morrissey notes:

"If this translation stands up to further scrutiny, it will provide a substantial answer to the question of Saddam's role in terrorism, both in general and specifically aimed at America.

"This memo will prove that Saddam had no intention of remaining neutralized in the region. He not only funded and encouraged terrorism, but he actively recruited terrorists from the ranks of his own military to carry out suicide attacks on American interests."

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[kallend 2,175]

I suppose these would be akin to the Newsmax stories that "prove" Iraq had WMDs.

What does it have to do with approving intelligence leaks, anyway?

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[likearock 2]

Quote

I think they could -try- but since Libby really has no motivation to lie I don't know how believable that would be.

How do you figure Libby has no motivation to lie? It's certainly in his interest to show that his superiors were authorizing leaks of confidential matters.

[rushmc 23]

First, if he approved the information release then this in not a leak. The president has the power to declassify and release information. (If this was done in the manner that is being reported IE; to one reported, then it stinks

Second, he was making his case. If he choose some information to release that is his perogitive.

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[kallend 2,175]

Quote

First, if he approved the information release then this in not a leak. The president has the power to declassify and release information. (If this was done in the manner that is being reported IE; to one reported, then it stinks

Second, he was making his case. If he choose some information to release that is his perogitive.

Bush at a June 10, 2004, press conference:

Q: Given recent developments in the CIA leak case, particularly Vice President [Dick] Cheney's discussions with the investigators, do you still stand by what you said several months ago, a suggestion that it might be difficult to identify anybody who leaked the agent's name?

BUSH: That's up to --

Q: And, and, do you stand by your pledge to fire anyone found to have done so?

BUSH: Yes.

Scott McClellan at a September 29, 2003, press briefing:

McCLELLAN: The president has set high standards, the highest of standards for people in his administration. He's made it very clear to people in his administration that he expects them to adhere to the highest standards of conduct. If anyone in this administration was involved in it [the leaking of Plame's identity], they would no longer be in this administration.

[...]

Q: You continue to talk about the severity of this and if anyone has any information they should go forward to the Justice Department. But can you tell us, since it's so severe, would someone or a group of persons, lose their job in the White House?

McCLELLAN: At a minimum.

Q: At a minimum?

McCLELLAN: At a minimum.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[rushmc 23]

they were talking about Plame here right?

and again, if the president approved the release then it is NOT a leak. Is that so hard to understand??

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[kallend 2,175]

Quote

Quote

I think they could -try- but since Libby really has no motivation to lie I don't know how believable that would be.

How do you figure Libby has no motivation to lie? It's certainly in his interest to show that his superiors were authorizing leaks of confidential matters.

In a Bush administration full of liars, how would anyone know which particular liar was lying at any given time?

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[SkyDekker 1,465]

Quote

In a Bush administration full of liars, how would anyone know which particular liar was lying at any given time?

Yeah but all politicians lie, that is a given and nobody really cares.

Well unless the lie is about a blowjob, then it becomes really serious.

[Gravitymaster 0]

Bullshit!!! There has been no claim Valerie Plame's name was released. In fact, to the contrary Libby he stated did not disclose her name.

-

[billvon 3,132]

>and again, if the president approved the release then it is NOT a leak.

I guess it depends on what the meaning of "is" is.

[Andy9o8 3]

Quote

Is this an impeachable offence?

Yes and no. Seriously.
Technically, a president is impeachable for "high crimes and misdemeanors."
On a practical level, in the absence of some unbelievably egregious offense (bad enough, say, that would get even rushmc to vote for impeaching Bush), no president, of either party, is going to get impeached if his own party is in the majority in the House of Representatives.
So the stakes in this year's Congressional elections have gone up a few notches, eh?