Reply #24: That could be true, but then, who authorized Rove to leak?

[Tin Man]

I don't think Cheney would have been the guy to authorize Rove's leaks.

With both Rove and Libby actively leaking to press correspondents, IMO it seems likely the Pres must have authorized. Of course, Cheney was the ringmaster, but the Pres would have authorized. To me, Cheney's note appears to confirm the involvement of the Pres.

Thanks for the link to H20 Man's post (and specifically, Govt response to Defendent's Third Motion).

As you pointed out, this doc explicitly states "During this time, while the President was unaware of the role that the Vice President’s Chief of Staff and National Security Adviser had in fact played in disclosing Ms. Plame’s CIA employment". However, I kinda think Fitz intentionally tossed-in the "President unaware" phrase - without it, there is a suggestion that the Pres was aware (which, BTW, I think is true).

I think Fitz may have included this "Pres unaware" line, because he didn't have the goods on W's involvement, and wanted to make clear that he wasn't actively pursuing that angle... just yet(?) Perhaps Fitz was making a feignt as part of a larger campaign strategy, i.e. don't play your hand all at once - sucker 'em in first?