Despite verdict, Libby's future uncertain

[RestoreGore]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070307/ap_on_go_pr_wh/cia_leak_trial
Despite verdict, Libby's fate uncertain By MICHAEL J. SNIFFEN

WASHINGTON - Former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby's conviction capped a four-year, politically charged investigation but did not seal Libby's fate or resolve some of the lingering questions in the CIA leak case. Once the closest adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney, Libby was convicted Tuesday of lying and obstructing an investigation into the leak of a CIA operative's identity. He was the highest-ranking White House official convicted in a government scandal since the Iran-Contra arms and money affair two decades ago.

The trial revealed Cheney's eagerness to discredit a war critic, the Bush administration's policies on talking to reporters and its strategies for dealing with a crisis. But the case offered little new information about whether President Bush was involved or whether he authorized any leaks. Defense attorneys never delivered Cheney or Libby to the witness stand as promised to discuss the White House effort to undermine the credibility of former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, a campaign that resulted in the disclosure of his wife Valerie Plame's job at the CIA.

Libby's attorneys offered few details about a supposed White House conspiracy to protect Bush adviser Karl Rove from prosecution. It also was never explained why former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who originally leaked Plame's identity, was never charged.

Now that Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald says his investigation is complete, those questions are likely to go unanswered. Nobody will be charged with actually leaking Plame's identity. Libby was convicted of lying to cover up his conversations about Plame.

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Sure, the verdict of finding him guilty of lying is good. However, it is hollow to me because Armitage wasn't charged. Rove wasn't charged. CHENEY wasn't even brought to the stand or charged. And now Libby's lawyers will have plenty of time to appeal and to get a reduced sentence. Does anyone really think Libby is scared? He fell on his sword so he is going to be well taken care of by his masters and I believe that is where this will end, and have no reason to think otherwise. One would hope however that this would be the door opening into a REAL investigation of the rest of the traitors to this country who have hijacked our government, but with the last six and a half years to look back on I will believe it when I see it.

[flordehinojos]

1. i tend to think that,

if the shit goes all the way up to cheney, then it comes all the way down from bush.

[RestoreGore]

2. Yes, it sure looks that way to me

But for all of the tough talk they just never quite seem to get to the point where real accountability is seen in all of this. I wonder how many people were threatened to keep their mouths shut and to back off?

[rodeodance]

3. its a bittersweet victory----