CNN Ensor: "So, it had nothing to do with Valerie Plame-Wilson's name"

[sabra]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/06/ensor/

Ensor: Lowdown on documents in CIA leak case



<snip>

So what's involved here, Jim, is that this document from the government says that the vice president informed Mr. Libby that the president himself had authorized Mr. Libby to leak certain information or give out certain information that came out of this document, this National Intelligence Estimate, on what the intelligence community thought Iraq had in the way of weapons of mass destruction.

So, it had nothing to do with Valerie Plame-Wilson's name. It was simply about this matter of intelligence in the lead-up to the war.

And in that matter, the president, according to this document, authorized Mr. Libby to give out some information to Judy Miller.

And by the way, he is legally entitled to do so.

If the president decides to declassify information, he has that legal right. So, it's not about a law being broken here, and it's not about Valerie Plame-Wilson's name. But it does show us the first evidence that the president himself wanted some of this information put out in the media.

[rfranklin]

1. Is this correct? Or just more unitary President crap?

Isn't it illegal for the President to out a CIA agent for political purposes?

[rodeodance]

8. msnbc went full blast today, then cnn sneaken in, then cnn went bonkos!

[Fredda Weinberg]

11. That's why the spin doctors are working feverishly

Classification is an executive function, but da law is da law.

Problem is, we've had presidents violating 'em right and left and as long as they claim it's for "national security", they'll get away with it. But this time, that dog won't hunt.

[lala_rawraw]

12. urinary executive that is:)

[Jack The Tab]

2. WOW - talk about your spin.

Love that corporate story line. I suppose this is going to whitewash the whole affair?

Please Fitz, don't let them do this to you.

[Guaranteed]

5. Check my "respin" below. nt

[rodeodance]

3. this is some 'fine political fodder for the Dems' says Bob Schiefer just

now on cnn Wolf.

[Guaranteed]

4. And, AS A RESULT OF BUSH'S AUTHORIZATION, SCOOTER LIBBY

LEAKED VALERIE PLAME'S NAME AND IDENTITY AS A CIA AGENT TO JUDITH MILLER.

[rodeodance]

6. here is Waas from this am. He is credible

http://news.nationaljournal.com/articles/0406nj1.htm


ADMINISTRATION
Libby Says Bush Authorized Leaks

By Murray Waas, National Journal

© National Journal Group Inc.
Thursday, April 6, 2006
......

The White House had no immediate reaction to the court filing.

Although not reflected in the court papers, two senior government officials said in interviews with National Journal in recent days that Libby has also asserted that Cheney authorized him to leak classified information to a number of journalists during the run-up to war with Iraq. In some instances, the information leaked was directly discussed with the Vice President, while in other instances Libby believed he had broad authority to release information that would make the case to go to war.

In yet another instance, Libby had claimed that President Bush authorized Libby to speak to and provide classified information to Washington Post assistant managing editor Bob Woodward for "Plan of Attack," a book written by Woodward about the run-up to the Iraqi war.

Bush and Cheney authorized the release of the information regarding the NIE in the summer of 2003, according to court documents, as part of a damage-control effort undertaken only days after former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV alleged in an op-ed in The New York Times that claims by Bush that Saddam Hussein had attempted to procure uranium from the African nation of Niger were most likely a hoax.

According to the court papers, "At some point after the publication of the July 6 Op Ed by Mr. Wilson, Vice President Cheney, immediate supervisor, expressed concerns to regarding whether Mr. Wilson's trip was legitimate or whether it was in effect a junket set up by Mr. Wilson's wife."

[lovuian]

7. Look at Scooters smile

[oldtime dfl_er]

9. is that from today?

Libby's smile? If it is, it's a "payback's a bitch" smile.

http://www.cafepress.com/scarebaby/760823

[tulsakatz]

13. good smile!

He's thinking.........if I'm going down, I'm taking you guys with me!!

[renate]

10. updated AP story does include a mention of Plame's name

"There was no indication in the filing that either Bush or Cheney authorized Libby to disclose Valerie Plame's CIA identity. But it points to Cheney as one of the originators of the idea that Plame could be used to discredit her husband, Bush administration critic Joseph Wilson."

-snip-

"According to Fitzgerald's court filing, Cheney, in conversation with Libby, raised the question of whether a CIA-sponsored trip by Wilson "was legitimate or whether it was in effect a junket set up by Mr. Wilson's wife.""

(I tinyurl-ed the link so it wouldn't get cut off)
http://tinyurl.com/k8unr

[WhiteTara]

14. is this the material that Fitz wanted to give the Judge

in private, but Walton saw need for secrecy? :shrug:

I have to learn to research the archives so I get links on these things, but does anyone remember this a couple of days ago?

[IdaBriggs]

15. Um, if the President wanted information out there, why not a Press

Conference? Just asking, I mean. :)