LAT/AP: Woodward Claim on CIA Leak Disputes (Fitzgerald) Charge

[DeepModem Mom]

Woodward Claim on CIA Leak Disputes Charge
By TONI LOCY and PETE YOST, Associated Press Writers


WASHINGTON -- Bob Woodward's version of when and where he learned the identity of a CIA operative contradicts a special prosecutor's contention that Vice President Dick Cheney's top aide was the first to make the disclosure to reporters.

Attorneys for the aide, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, described Wednesday's statement by the Washington Post's assistant managing editor as helpful for their defense, although Libby is charged with lying to a grand jury and the FBI, not with disclosing the CIA official's name.

"Hopefully, as information is obtained from reporters like Bob Woodward, the real facts will come out," lawyer Ted Wells said Wednesday.

Woodward, a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter, said he had not told his bosses until last month that he had learned about Valerie Plame's identity and her work at the CIA more than two years ago from a high-level Bush administration official.

When Woodward learned Plame's name, he told The Associated Press Wednesday, he was in the middle of finishing a book about the administration's decision to go to war in Iraq, and didn't want to be subpoenaed to testify....


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wire/ats-ap_top10nov16,0,1820406.story

[TroglodyteScholar]

1. Oh, so the plan is Woodward holds out on info until...

...he can rescue certain conspirators with hints and bits of facts that the Admin has managed to hide so far, thereby discrediting the prosecutor? Or maybe he's straight up lying. I don't trust him as far as I could toss him. Anyway, hope Fitz is on top of this shit....

[rodeodance]

9. his last deep throat was about 30 years!

[rzemanfl]

2. Don't any of these "journalists" know what the word "known"

means? Jesus Christ! What a gaggle of whores!

[stop the bleeding]

19. No doubt. n/t

[emulatorloo]

27. "Reading Comprehension Issues" raised to a fine art by Karl Rove EOM

[MichiganVote]

3. Its all about Bob...again

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

4. RW Payback: Keep your friends close, your enemies closer.

Bob Woodward was and is being used...and he doesn't even realize it.

The RW has never gotten over Watergate. NEVER! As evidence of this, review the RW talking heads vilify Deep Throat after his identity was revealed. Bob Woodward, partly because of ego and partly because he felt he was going to use them; was played like a grand piano by the masters.


His personal role in the CIA leak goes from being told confidential info by this administration in the HOPES that he would publish it.

He then repeatedly badmouthed Fitzgerald and the entire investigation in order to save his own butt and protect his sources.

Now, the big kahuna of these sources has given him permission to reveal the timeline and content of their conversation but not their name. By doing this, it confuses the public, gets the MSM squawking about how Fitzgerald said 'Libby was the first to reveal the name' and thus casting a negative on the entire investigation but, ultimately, it damages Bob Woodward.

By keeping Woodward close, they've given him the ultimate payback.

[jrthin]

14. Woodward is NOT being

used. He is just as corrupt as the rest of them.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

16. There are degrees of corruption and he was played by the masters. nt

[progressivebydesign]

53. I agree not 'used'. The man made money writing that Bush at War book.

He's not being used. He is a "friendly" to that admin. They never would have allowed him in to the inner circle to write that ridiculous puff piece bullshit book about George the Fabulous Warrior Chief!! He's one of them.

[Scout1071]

5. Last time I looked, he was charged with Perjury.

How does this new information change the fact Libby's a lying scumbag?

[rodeodance]

10. as this paragraph illuminates--it does not (charge of lying).

Attorneys for the aide, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, described Wednesday's statement by the Washington Post's assistant managing editor as helpful for their defense, although Libby is charged with lying to a grand jury and the FBI, not with disclosing the CIA official's name.

[Kagemusha]

6. Since the LA Times insists on coughing this up like this...

Let's just assume that Bob Woodward was told by someone about Plame.

And then Bob told Libby.

And then Libby talked to Russert and forgot exactly which journalist he heard it from but he was sure he heard it from a journalist.

First, he said he heard it from Russert. That's fishy.

Second, we're expected to believe that Libby had no legitimate knowledge of Plame from his job working for the Vice President of the United States of America on national security issues (and his double dipping advisory job to the President) that he could be bothered to remember before gossiping to reporters about national security information.

Third, we're expeted to believe that the identities of CIA analysts is a legitimate subject of gossip between aides and reporters.

Fourth, we're expected to believe that journalists would treat such gossip as highly confidential information from a source who must be protected at all costs, since this innocent gossip might get someone THROWN INTO PRISON.

I think we're expected to believe an awful lot here.

[DeepModem Mom]

7. Good analysis, Kagemusha. nt

[Kagemusha]

8. It's my gift.

Too bad it doesn't do much to make the world better, instead of just recording how messed up it is.

[UpInArms]

13. and all of this in an "offhand manner" that meant that it was

"no big deal" with "laughable" consequences.

[Garbo 2004]

23. Except Fitz has a gaggle of Administration folks, including Cheney, who

told Libby. Fitz isn't guessing, he's got testimony and documents. And he's got Libby's lies on the record.

[Supersedeas]

54. the Pubbie talking points have been well circulated--almost uncanny

[rodeodance]

11. it true--this new revelation would afftect who Fitz names as the 'first'

to tell reporters. The charge of lying (Libby) still holds---.

Maybe Fitz is dealing.

.....WASHINGTON -- Bob Woodward's version of when and where he learned the identity of a CIA operative contradicts a special prosecutor's contention that Vice President Dick Cheney's top aide was the first to make the disclosure to reporters.

[Just Me]

12. Then, Woodward is guilty of obstruction and conspiracy.

Are you going to jail, Woodward? :rofl:

[desi826]

17. Exactly

This should put Woodward right in Fitz's sights..

I hope he gets really pissed off at this; it seems to be an attempt to discredit him, that comes straight from the White House.

As far as confusing the public, the only thing everyone will think is that they were ALL in on it. The entire Bush senior staff.
Hell, that's what I'm thinking. With everyone doing the blabbing, there's now no way I believe that
But you would think the MSM would learn their lesson over this; they are neck deep in this thing and shouldn't that make them leery of playing the White House's game?

But here they are spinning for the White House again.
Unbelieveable.
Des

[Skip Intro]

15. FItz said "FIRST KNOWN" re: Libby - Olberman just showed him saying it -

and pointed it out repeatedly.

The report in the OP is either really sloppy reporting or intentional deceit.

Olberman said ABC was reporting the same bs - Fitz's quote with the word, "known" missing.

Did they just take Libby's lawyer's word for what Fitz said without verifying exactly what he actually said?

[DeepModem Mom]

20. Thanks for reporting on this important point, Skip! nt

[redqueen]

55. The lying whore media knows no bounds, do they?

Thanks for the info... thank God we still have journalists like Olbermann.

[Amonester]

56. Yep. Fit'z quote may require HEADLINES markers here so here

it is (thanks!):

Fitzgerald said "Libby was the first government official

known

to ..."

Reporters either don't want to work, or are just bought and paid for nowadays.

[cascadiance]

18. Should we be trusting Woodward?...

After all, like Richard Clarke, he is writing a book too! (hey it worked for the RWers, maybe we can get that line to work for us too!)

What we need is to get Sibel Edmonds on the stand, so we can have someone that's trying to avoid and distance herself from these incentives to the detriment of her not being kept under everyone's radar...

[PurityOfEssence]

21. It doesn't hurt Fitzgerald's contention at all.

If you listen to Fitzgerald's statement from the press conference, he clearly says that Libby is the first official known to have divulged Plame's name. So he's not the first; big deal. That doesn't undercut Fitzgerald's statement, and it even reinforces it somewhat because he clearly stated that this was what was currently known.

It doesn't affect the lying, perjury or obstruction. That some other skunk beat him to the punch doesn't mean dick.

This headlines seems deliberately deceptive, as if to say that Woodward's revelation harms his case against Libby, which it doesn't in the least. What's ridiculous is that Fitzgerald's cautious wording leaves him having made a perfectly correct statement: at that time, Libby seemed to be the first. First, last, or just one of many, what he did to hide it is the issue.

[Wordie]

22. Fitz may have made that comment, but was it germane to the indictment?

I don't think it was. This is just more Republican smoke-screen stuff.

[radfringe]

24. doesn't mean much

there's still some "white house official" out there who leaked to woodward...

who did woodward talk to while doing the interviewing for his book? We know he spent alot of time with bush*, who else did woodward talk too? and where did this "white house official" learn of Plame's identity?

meanwhile - why did Libby lie? he's charged with perjury and obstruction - not the leak itself at this point

there's more to this than just woodward hearing about it at an earlier date -- and that doesn't let libby off the hook with the current charges

it also doesn't clear rove or cheney of leaking the info at a later date but rather it opens the door even wider the to high probability of more than one leaker

[DoYouEverWonder]

25. The one thing that we do know

is that Libby, Woodward, Rove and the rest are major liars yet they think people are going to believe their spin on this case. They must be stupider then they look.

[cassiepriam]

26. Woodward is just jealous of Judy. He wants to go to jail and

be famous again.

[emad]

28. Woodward CIA Leak Admission May Aid Libby

Woodward CIA Leak Admission May Aid Libby

Thursday November 17, 2005 4:46 PM


By TONI LOCY and PETE YOST

Associated Press Writers

WASHINGTON (AP) - Bob Woodward's version of when and where he learned the identity of a CIA operative contradicts a special prosecutor's contention that Vice President Dick Cheney's top aide was the first to make the disclosure to reporters.

Attorneys for the aide, I. Lewis ``Scooter'' Libby, described Wednesday's statement by the Washington Post's assistant managing editor as helpful for their defense, although Libby is charged with lying to a grand jury and the FBI, not with disclosing the CIA official's name.

``Hopefully, as information is obtained from reporters like Bob Woodward, the real facts will come out,'' lawyer Ted Wells said Wednesday.

Woodward, a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter, said he had not told his bosses until last month that he had learned about Valerie Plame's identity and her work at the CIA more than two years ago from a high-level Bush administration official.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5421901,00.html

[Botany]

29. This is not true!

Libby's lawyer is saying it but it is not true.

End of story.

[Kingshakabobo]

30. Bullshit!

Doesn't change the fact that Libby lied to the investigators and the Grand Jury.

[mazzarro]

31. Pure, stinking trash talk - IMO (n/t)

[marylanddem]

32. lie, spin, lie, spin, lie, spin ad nauseum

Fitzgerald said Libby was the first KNOWN source of the disclosure.
Let them lie, let them spin, they are grasping at straws.

[Uncle Joe]

33. Can you say corpwhorate owned MSM?, I knew you could. n/t

[marylanddem]

34. A.P. = Associated Pravda? nt

[bluedog]

35. "We do not intend to try this case in the press."..yea right...........

Thursday, November 03, 2005


Before departing from the court, Libby attorney Ted Wells said his client will be cleared of the charges.

"Mr. Libby has pled not guilty to each and every count in the indictment. In pleading not guilty, he has declared to the world he is innocent," Wells said. "He has declared that he intends to fight the charges in the indictment and he has declared that he wants to clear his good name and he wants a jury trial.

"We do not intend to try this case in the press. Mr. Libby intends to clear his good name by using the judicial process," he added.



http://www.foxnews.
com/story/0,2933,174408,00.html

[Scout1071]

36. How does it change the fact that he lied to the Grand Jury?

And the FBI?

It doesn't.

Next.

[underpants]

41. Exactly it doesn't

[Birthmark]

37. Looks like Woodward is going to jail, too!

Oh, happy day! Hint, Woodward: You can't make up last minute stories to try to bail your friends out of trouble. Do you think that Fitzgerald has seen this act before with other organized crime? Fool! :)

[Tesla]

38. Lying was the charge, not weather he was the first.

[Birthmark]

57. Oh, yes. I quite understand that, Tesla.

However, now that the suspects' girlfriend has dropped round to claim that they were at her place all night and *couldn't* have leaked the name just adds to the possibilities. In case it isn't clear, I don't believe a single word that Woodward has said on this matter. I think he may himself end up at the wrong end of an indictment. And if we're lucky he'll take a few others with him.

But I understand that nothing Woodward has said excuses the solid fact that Libby lied and obstructed. Off to prison with him!

[Catherine Vincent]

39. Here is what Patrick Fitzgerald says about that:

"No comment"--Patrick Fitzgerald

Of course....that's what he always says. You can't say that he didn't want to comment on that because he never does! LOL. :)

[emad]

40. Either Woodward is in the throes of senile dementia...or someone

is paying him.

Otherwise: SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO embarassing for him.

[marylanddem]

43. Woodward became a b*ttboy to power nt

[emad]

45. Then it must be a massive stupidity spasm he's going though.

No one will ever take him seriously again.

[progressivebydesign]

52. Did we all have a discussion a few years ago about him?

I remember when he wrote that fawning book about Bush (which was total PR bullshit) that we concluded that Woodward had shaken off the talent and integrity of his younger days, and perhaps had taken a religious and political turn of late. Does anyone remember that? I mean... WHY would he be allowed to write a book about Bush, and be granted all the inner access if they didn't KNOW that he was a "friendly".

Makes me ill to actually read that Woodward had the audacity to bring up his old days of journalism when talking about yesterday's events.... he should be ashamed for himself.

Investigative journalism is dead. That hack sat there when he supposedly was the recipient of classified information from a SENIOR official, and had access to the inner circle, and HAD to know what the lies were at that time, and now... and he's making this seem like no big deal. If he had half the cajones he USED to have, he'd have done something grand and important with the information he learned.. thereby possibly saving the lives of how many of our troops and innocent civilians... instead, he wrote a book for profit. We must keep telling ourselves that the man is no longer a journalist. He's a PR hack who writes books for George Bush.

[blm]

42. This article is all spin and NO TRUTH.

.

[waiting for hope]

44. Keith Olbermann's Take...

Wells issued a statement at midday, the key passage of which concludes that Woodward’s “disclosure shows that Mr. Fitzgerald’s statement at his press conference of October 28, 2005 that Mr. Libby was the first government official to tell a reporter about Mr. Wilson’s wife was totally inaccurate.”

But Fitzgerald didn’t say just that.

The transcript of Fitzgerald’s news conference is not disputed - nobody from his office has called up trying to get it altered after the fact. On October 28, in his opening statement Fitzgerald actually said: “Mr. Libby was the first government official known to have told a reporter” about Ambassador Joe Wilson’s wife.

That word “known” is a significant qualifier. And although much later, in the question-and-answer portion of his news conference, Fitzgerald described Libby as “at the beginning of the chain of phone calls, the first official to disclose this information outside the government to a reporter,” the second statement cannot simply be used in preference to the first. Either the qualifier - expressed virtually at the outset - is considered still in force, or both versions (“first official” and “first government official known”) have to be included.

[Danieljay]

47. Isn't this a GOOD thing? Help me out here.

I mean, does it not mean there was ANOTHER person in addition to Libby who revealled this info, implicating there was indeed a conspiracy to slander Joe Wilson and that it was from more than ONE source?

I'm thinking this actually makes increases the chances of proving a wider investigation is necessary and there are more indictments coming.

Comments?

[skooooo]

48. I'm wondering same thing...

[waiting for hope]

50. As Martha would say: It's a good thing....

Even if the idea that somebody else in the administration might’ve beaten Libby to the leaking punch is relevant to a trial on five counts of lying, the cornerstone of the Wells statement is erroneous - at best, a serious misinterpretation. Fitzgerald was clearly and meticulously leaving his case open in case an earlier leaker later turned up - as evidently he just did.


Read the entire blog:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6210240/

[wryter2000]

46. That's so utterly bogus

Of course, attorneys will say anything to make their clients' cases.

The charges are:

1) Two counts of telling the FBI Tim Russert told him about Valerie Wilson

2) Two counts of telling the grand jury that Tim Russert told him about Valerie Wilson

3) One count of obstruction of justice arising because of 1 and 2

How does the new information change any of that?

[Strawman]

49. the charge is obstruction of justice

How does this new information that Libby possibly obstructed the investigation from learning, clear him in any way? It doesn't.

[progressivebydesign]

51. Nothing to see here folks.. move along.

Been a while since ANYTHING the right wingers have done has shocked me. This one takes the cake (yellow cake, actually).

So.. we have a sleazy Bush-loving former-great journalist who SUDDENLY recalls that HE was told about Plame, and Libby walks? They all walk? That's it? That's all????

This is SOO FUCKING WRONG!!! Did Woodward become born-again or something? He's acting like a fucking stepford republican in the past years.

So, they're trying to say that no crime was committed because Woodward was told of this before? That doesn't fly. If Woodward said, as he did yesterday, that his source won't reveal himself (or herself) and HE got immunity, then they just screwed Fitzgerald and the entire justice system (what's left of it) over. Woodward is a complete asshole and should be charged with something for conveniently forgetting that he was told...or whatever his lame ass excuse was. I'm beyond pissed!! :grr:

[Tesla]

58. Maybe this was their way of paying Woodward back for Nixon

They love paying someone back....