Reply #9: This is a core opinion! Very important.

[longship]

Recommended.

There's one thing that all these reporters are not saying. It's the following:

If Rove had no clearance to know of Plame's status, then it was somebody else who violated the Intelligence Identities Act. And that somebody would have to be somebody who *did* have the need to know her status. The fact that Plame was exposed speaks loudly that the Act was violated by somebody. Fitz might be focussing not only on the leakers to the press, but may also be after the perp who furnished the information to Rove and Libby.

Two people come to my mind. Condi Rice and John Bolton. Both probably had the clearance (Condi certainly so). Both had the opportunity and connections to do the dirty deed. And both might be able to be charged under the Act if they revealed the identity to Rove, or Libby, or others with the intent to take political revenge on Joseph Wilson by exposing his wife's status at the CIA.

Now the West Wing seems to be intent on playing rhetoric games with this. Claiming that they didn't reveal her name, and bullshit like that. They're looking for picky technicalities with which to extricate themselves from very serious charges. Whether this works or not is up to some judge or jury.

I think the West Wing is in serious hunker down mode right now. They released Miller because she can do no more harm and may be able to do some good later on. There's no quid pro quo there. It's just a strategic move on the part of Libby, et al. They're merely helping a reporter who seems to have a penchant for supporting the White House.

When the indictments hit, there will be some surprises. Fitz has kept his hand close to his chest. There have been almost zero leaks from the investigation. (Where's today's Deep Throat? Hell, where's today's Woodstein?) Maybe a week from today we'll know.