Interesting reading: Wayne Madsen on latest Plame developments

[lancdem]

It is clear that Miller was the missing link in Fitzgerald's criminal probe of the leak that a number of CIA insiders have told this editor was "devastating" to the agency. Miller's attorney claimed that Vice President Dick Cheney's Chief of Staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, a target of the leak probe, had released her from a confidentiality pledge. But that agreement had already been reported months ago. Something has changed. A former Justice Department prosecutor told this editor that Fitzgerald is the type of prosecutor who starts low in the food chain and works his way up to nab the big fish. Fitzgerald is said to have, very early on in the case, "flipped" John Hannah, Libby's deputy.

One possible explanation for the sudden turn of events regarding Miller and Libby is that Fitzgerald may have also "flipped" Libby as a witness. A promise of limited immunity to Libby would have cleared the way for testimony from Miller on what she discussed with Cheney's chief of staff. That means the ultimate target of Fitzgerald could be Cheney.

more ...

http://www.waynemadsenreport.com

[knowbody0]

1. logic

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. woah

dare we hope this is the case?

[mattomjoe]

3. "That means the ultimate target of Fitzgerald could be Cheney."

Dare we hope?

[EFerrari]

27. I hope Wayne someday writes in his first language.

"the ultimate target of Fitzgerald"?

[On the Road]

4. Mmmm, Maybe, But

Scooter Libby is a deep insider. I suspect he's a Gordon Liddy rather than a John Dean. I think Libby would go to jail rather than implicate Cheney or Bush.

[bahrbearian]

12. Scooter Probably needed 80 days to get his things in order.

Bank accounts , passport, airline tickets. Assumed name, you notice there are not many good photos of him.

[aquart]

5. Fitz "flipped" Libby who is still working for Cheney?

[mattclearing]

6. I just can't take Madsen seriously since the post-election season.

I was willing to read for a time, but a lot of his BFEE speculation on Election '04 didn't pan out, and was almost reckless in the extent to which he was willing to publish it. He doesn't strike me as a reputable journalist, sorry.

[lancdem]

8. I just posted it for perusal, not endorsement per se

I have no idea if it will materialize. Only time will tell.

[mattclearing]

9. I understand. Like I said, he's damaged goods in my eyes. n/t

[lancdem]

10. No problem

[FrenchieCat]

18. I agree....

until another "reputable" source confirms this. As a source, this man is about as shaky as it gets!

[Radio_Lady]

26. I agree. Madsen just doesn't cut it for me. I was suckered during

the election by endless posts, etc. etc. which were just illusive drivel.

Sorry... right into the circular file.

[LSparkle]

7. Or do you think he flipped Judy?

She's in this up to her neck if you ask me, so if they offered HER immunity, she may have sung ...

[0007]

19. I agree, she helped with the old hidden ball trick and was

part of the play. Her defense; as the poor Judith Miller was hauled off to jail, was that she didn't write a single word about the Plame leak.

Indeed a real lizard.

[longship]

11. There may be some truth in this.

This is an interesting piece. I think he's got some details wrong, but it may prove to have some fact in it.

I think Madsen is incorrect about Miller being the missing link. I think Fitz and the GJ knew all about Miller's connection. They just needed her testimony to firm things up.

As far as turning somebody. That may be true. But could Fitz turn Libby if the whole administration wasn't likely to go down in flames? There would be some fierce loyalty between Libby and Cheney, otherwise Crashcart wouldn't have him as his deputy. If Fitz *did* turn Libby, we may be in for quite a ride with things going right to the top and indictments all over the place.

I am hopeful, but this is very scary.

[melissinha]

13. I agree

"I think Fitz and the GJ knew all about Miller's connection. They just needed her testimony to firm things up."

We don't know what Fitz knows that lead him to Miller in the first place, she never published on this story. I say its probable that something came out that implicated her part or Libby's part, so staying any longer on jail made no sense.

[NMDemDist2]

14. interesting, but I don't put much stock in Madsen. One can dream though

I suppose

It would be loverly wouldn't it?

[OKNancy]

17. I don't either, especially on the Plame stuff

I remember over one year ago all the dramatic posts, "Indictments coming down before the end of the month!!!" ( July of 2004) All based on a Madsen article.

[IndianaGreen]

15. Not only Cheney, but Bush as well

Bush must have given the green light to the Plame leak. I also wonder if Condi Rice will go down as well.

[realFedUp]

16. Cheney in chains

now that would be a welcome visual.

[lthuedk]

25. Like this?

Regards,

Stephen Pitt

[realFedUp]

30. nice art!

and yeah, that fills the bill.

[shance]

20. Seems to collaborate with conventional wisdom.

All signs have appeared to point towards the VP's office since the beginning.

[gardenista]

21. WAIT! If Cheney goes, this is an opportunity for them to replace

him with their favorite for 2008. Bush pardons Cheney, Cheney goes home to Wyoming, and they have Jeb all lined up with some VP gravitas for 2008. Careful what you wish for...

[johnnyrocket]

22. Whoa! That's the biggest fish you can nab! Cheney is

...running the show, after all. Bush is Cheney's monkey-boy front man, who dances for him.

[Disturbed]

23. Only 5 days left for Ms Miller to serve and now this.

It is not logical that she would agree to testify now unless she was apprised that something would be worse could happen to her after her release from confinement. My guess is that she was told that she would be charged with a heavier crime if she didn't testify and Libby may have been offered something, as well. The two offers forced both to conceed to what is now transpiring.

[lateo]

24. Libby said he told her months ago...

it was ok for her to talk...why did she wait so long. And why did John Bolton visit her when she was in jail?

[NVMojo]

28. Madsen has as much right to speculate as the rest of us armchair

detectives ..and nothing about this latest move involving Libby and Miller makes sense so why not look at it this way?

[AtomicKitten]

29. Although this is speculation,

it was intersting reading nonetheless. Thanks for posting it. I think what this is really about is conspiracy and I hope Fitzgerald's indictments have some teeth to them.