Rove, Libby in a World of Hurt

by Chris Bowers, Thu Jul 21, 2005 at 06:02:10 PM EDT

Raw Story wasn't bluffing. Think Progress has the whole thing:Two top White House aides have given accounts to the special prosecutor about how reporters told them the identity of a CIA agent that are at odds with what the reporters have said, according to persons familiar with the case.

Lewis "Scooter'' Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, told special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald that he first learned from NBC News reporter Tim Russert of the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame, the wife of former ambassador and Bush administration critic Joseph Wilson. Russert has testified before a federal grand jury that he didn't tell Libby of Plame's identity.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove told Fitzgerald that he first learned the identity of the CIA agent from syndicated columnist Robert Novak, who was first to report Plame's name and connection to Wilson. Novak, according to a source familiar with the matter, has given a somewhat different version to the special prosecutor.

These discrepancies may be important because one issue Fitzgerald is investigating is whether Libby, Rove, or other administration officials made false statements during the course of the investigation. The Plame case has its genesis in whether any administration officials violated a 1982 law making it illegal to knowingly reveal the name of a CIA agent.

No matter what else happens, this will turn the media firmly and permanently against the White House. They clearly are trying to send reporters to jail to cover up their treason. The cliquish media will not forgive them for that.

Tags: Republicans (all tags)

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Shadow_head_small
nope
They clearly are trying to send reporters to jail to cover up their treason. The cliquish media will not forgive them for that.

I don't agree.  The media doesn't emote, it doesn't seek revenge, it doesn't act.  It is acted upon when someone trips up its cliquish immune system, and the only thing that does that is impugning its self-importance.  This scandal if anything allows reporters to talk about themselves even more!  Boring-ass shield law discussion, anyone?  Reporters simply will not do anything against this White House; they are utterly defenseless and will never stand up to these guys.  The special prosecutor is driving this story, NOT the press.  The press just won't can't doesn't isn't able to care.

by SocialNetworker 2005-07-21 06:06PM | 0 recs
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Re: nope
I completely agree with you, except to say that the media will do whatever is in the interest of self-preservation of their rating$ and income statements on the bottom line.  The press is for-profit, not elected.  If they think they can't make money being minions of the White House, they won't anymore, but not until then.

Want to stand up and speak the truth?  My thoughts summarizing the case are here:

TreasonGate Explained: Keep your Eyes on the Prize, Dems!
http://www.mydd.com/story/2005/7/21/125225/016

by havehope 2005-07-21 06:33PM | 0 recs
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Re: Consider this.
You are right that Fitzgerald is driving this, not the press. The press won't turn on the Bushies out of revenge, but to avoid prison.

Look at it this way. The reporters and the advisors have given different testimony under oath to the grand jury. Someone is lying. Somebody has got to be the fall guy. A prosecutor can use this to drive a wedge between the two. Charge the reporter with obstruction of justice and perjury, I mean really throw the book at him/her (reporters are immune from blowing the cover of an agent, but not perjury and o of j). Then watch what happens. When they are facing hard time (and I don't mean civil contempt, I'm talking 10+ years) they will sing like a bird and give the prosecutor enough ammo to nail the administration.

There is no honor among theives when one gets caught.

by bushsucks 2005-07-22 07:51AM | 0 recs
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Chris
Tomorrow, the Wall Street Journal, hardly a liberal paper, will report that the documents about Valerie Plame were not secret, but TOP SECRET!!!! If both Rove and Libby outed Plame and knew those documents were top secret, and outed her anyway, both could be charged with treason. I know that's a lot to assume, but these gutless cowards are seeing their stories go down the toilet. Keep up the pressure on these partisan hacks. I hopefully believe the shit is about to hit the fan.
by liebermanlives 2005-07-21 06:16PM | 0 recs
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Re: Chris
I am normally against the death penalty... mainly due to the unfair way it is applied in this country and the number of false imprisonments (coming to light) over the last 10 years.  However, if Rove and Libby  are charged with Treason, I may have to make the exception.
by yitbos96bb 2005-07-22 08:10AM | 0 recs
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Names like Bowers
Live on forever as patriots.

I think what I really like about your posts, is that you really try to be objective. I guess you'd
like to consider yourself a progressive, thats fine, but you take the time, always, to hunt down the facts - hey I've seen a few bad ones to be sure -
but this post is really great.

We're in a revolutionary war, of sorts,
and posts like these really help keep us
on track more than you'd ever know. Posts like
this not only help the press, but the American
people to shake off an almost chemical dependency
on partisan tilt.

Posts like this, help america to finally move on,
and win again.

by turnerbroadcasting 2005-07-21 06:32PM | 0 recs
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It's making it's way across theblogosphere!
The Daou Report has it... The Democratic Daily has it here - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=33
by Pamela 2005-07-21 06:38PM | 0 recs
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Who was on the Africa trip July 2003?
Supposedly, the secret memo was on the plane on the trip to Africa in July 2003.  Who was on the trip to Africa? From what I can tell in the picture, besides George  W. and Laura Bush, Condi Rice, and Colin Powell.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/07/images/20030712_a5bu1790-515h.html
(Look at the bottom of the steps for Rice and Powell.)
by Marie Smith 2005-07-21 06:54PM | 0 recs
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Re: Who was on the Africa trip July 2003?
If I had to pick between those four, I would say Rice or Bush.  Laura isn't going to be involved in that, and Powell has never been that partisan of a player.  
by yitbos96bb 2005-07-22 08:13AM | 0 recs
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The definition of the word "is" ...
If they can get Clinton on the perjury rap, they can get these two clowns ... Throw them in jail.
by politizine 2005-07-21 07:37PM | 0 recs
My-meetup1
This is turning into a MSM horse race.
How I perceive the Media at this point is it is now getting into a "who's going to get the next scoop" mentality. The same thing happened during watergate. At first there was little interest but soon it became a feeding frenzy to get the next big scoop. Get your Hard hats out there will be a storm of shoeless sources dropping sandles, sneakers, boots, high heels, Italian imports and more falling everwhere from now on! IMHO. :)
by eddieb 2005-07-21 08:43PM | 0 recs
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Re: This is turning into a MSM horse race.
Wasn't it Watergate that turned the MSM into this mentality?  
by yitbos96bb 2005-07-22 08:15AM | 0 recs
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I think we are seeing the flaw
in Bush's "let Dick and Karl do the heavy lifting" management style.

When your twin svengalis look like they might get indicted, you are in "deep doo-doo."

by space 2005-07-22 04:32AM | 0 recs
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can the VP be indicted?
My understanding is that the president can only be indicted by Congress (in impeachment proceedings)--the best Fitzgerald could do would be to name him as an unindicted co-conspirator.

But could Cheney be indicted by Fitzgerald? Constitutional scholars, please help!

by desmoinesdem 2005-07-22 01:36PM | 0 recs
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Re: can the VP be indicted?
As of yet, it is an unsettled question whether a sitting president can be indicted. The Vice President can be indicted. Spiro Agnew was charged with tax evasion and, as part of his plea bargain, resigned as Vice President, pled no contest, and got a 30 day suspended prison term.
by bushsucks 2005-07-22 09:00PM | 0 recs
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Re: can the VP be indicted?
Wasn't Starr threatening to indict Clinton for perjury?
by antiHyde 2005-07-23 01:17PM | 0 recs
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White house marks Val P Wilson's name as secret
The white house officially classified all
information regarding the secret soldier
of this case.

Check it out:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/07/21/cia.leak/index.html

This means whomever is blabbing their big mouth
about the identity of an american anti-al qaeda
operative is at least , now, officially breaking
with Bush's white house.  Grimer Wormtongue
had better start running for his horse..

by turnerbroadcasting 2005-07-22 05:04AM | 0 recs
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wow
man, I sure hope you are right.  But the mainstream press has often shown great reluctance in going after thi White House in fear of seeing their press pass taken and/or being shut out of stories

Trillin
http://www.mnleftyliberal.blogspot.com

by trillin 2005-07-22 05:08AM | 0 recs
Shadow_head_small
The Media is a business, not a profession
No matter what else happens, this will turn the media firmly and permanently against the White House. They clearly are trying to send reporters to jail to cover up their treason. The cliquish media will not forgive them for that.

I understand what you mean by this.... there certainly are individual professional journalists who will remember this action for a long time.  Unfortunately, they do not manage our newspapers, radio stations and TV networks. I think media executives are fine with what is going on -- either that, or they continue to be intimidated.  Anyone breaking rank to break a story running against the whitehouse will be smeared personally, and will then find him/herself replaced with a pretty newsreader who will say what he/she is told to say.  I believe our "media" is still sick enough to side with Rove and Libby.

sc

by scribble 2005-07-22 06:42AM | 0 recs
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Hope is an Ostrich
Keep up the faith!

Maybe no one in the White House did anything wrong, no one lied, and no one covered up.

Maybe WMD's were there all the time and maybe Saddam had an active nuclear program right up until it was smashed by our war.

Better yet, maybe the entire finite supply of terrorists is now converging on our flytrap in Iraq where they will be slaughtered, thereby protecting America against terrorism.

Maybe not.

by Curt Matlock 2005-07-22 07:08AM | 0 recs
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Re: Hope is an Ostrich
That's a very good point. Considering Karl Rove's reputation, we should probably go easy on him. What's a little treason between friends, hey?

How Susan Schmidt "described the Senate Intelligence Committee report" is far more dispositive than whether or not Rove lied to investigators. A Washington Post reporter would never get anything wrong now, would they?

And there has never been a whitewash by any Senate Committee. After all, they are politicians. Politicians would never lie to the American people!

The CIA probably forwarded a criminal complaint to the Justice Department just for yuks. Those CIA guys are such kidders!

by Gary Boatwright 2005-07-22 07:58AM | 0 recs
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Well then... Mehlman-ette that you are...
... I'm sure you're just a few posts away from declaring Rove HERO for undermining the CIA.

Regardless of what Wilson said, Rove just fucked the CIA by outing their agent and tainting her cpver company and her contacts.

Maybe that's why no one gives a fuck about the stupid shit you're peddling...

by teknofyl 2005-07-22 09:57AM | 0 recs
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What lies?
You keep saying that Wilson lied.  

Can you make us a list of the lies that Wilson made.  Now from this list, point out the lies that Wilson made before Rove spoke to the Novak and Cooper.  And finally, show us which lies Rove exposed to Novak and Cooper.

Oops, did the first list come back empty?

by Sanity 2005-07-22 10:56AM | 0 recs
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Re: What lies?
Go back and look at your sources again.  Those 400 tons came from Iran, not Iraq.  The typo in the newspaper said Iraq, but there is a correction.
by Sanity 2005-07-22 12:12PM | 0 recs
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Breaking News! Rush Limbaugh lies!
Well, Wilson's biggest lie was that Iraq hadn't attempted to buy yellowcake from Niger.

Do you believe everything Rush tells you? Breaking news just for you rightwing nuclear fruitcake. Hannity, Rush, Larry Elder, O'Reilly and all the rest of your heroes are lying to you. They are making shit up and telling you what you want to hear to sell advertising.

How do I know they are lying? Because Fox News went to court to uphold A Journalist's Duty to Lie:

In February 2003, a Florida Court of Appeals unanimously agreed with an assertion by FOX News that there is no rule against distorting or falsifying the news in the United States.

That's right rightwing nuclear fruitcake. If a reporter's boss tells them to lie to the American people, they have a duty to lie or they can be fired for cause.

by Gary Boatwright 2005-07-22 06:41PM | 0 recs
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Re: Breaking News! Rush Limbaugh lies!
I don't know why you are hung up on the Senate Intelligence Report that is wrong. Do you have some bizarre theory of government infallibility?

I haven't paid that much attention to the Senate Intelligence Committee Report, because it has been proven wrong. I couldn't help noticing you have not linked to your mysterious WaPo article by Susan Schmidt. Am I supposed to take your word for what the article said? Am I supposed to believe that Susan Schmidt is more credible than Judy Miller? The one link you provided is total garbage you know. It is nothing but rank speculation by someone named Michael Smith.

Let me try one more time to see if your mind is capable of absorbing facts.

(1.) To this day there has never been any evidence discovered that Iraq tried to buy yellow cake from anywhere in Africa.

(2.) The Iraq Survey Group owned Iraq for nearly a year and spend literally hundreds of millions of dollars looking for evidence of (a.) attempts to purchase yellow cake from Africa or anywhere else (b.) evidence of a nuclear weapons program and (c.) evidence of a uranium enrichment capability.

(3.) Since none of those things were discovered, all of the speculation by everybody was wrong. Your fairy tale is a fairy tale no matter who tells it.

(4.) Without even checking I know you are mischaracterizing the Senate Intelligence Committee Report. They are not intelligence analysts. They were repeating what they had been told by a CIA analyst.

(5.) Big surprise! Bush and Cheney found someone in the CIA who would tell the Senate Intelligence Committee what Bush and Cheney wanted them to hear! Wow! Go figure.

Bottom line question you still have not address, even though I have asked it several times:

(1.) Why did the CIA forward a criminal complaint to the Justice Department?

Answer: Because an undercover agent's identity had been ratted out.

by Gary Boatwright 2005-07-22 10:56PM | 0 recs
Shadow_head_small
No... the right doesn't see it as a big deal...
... because the are hypocrites.

After staking out the most extreme position possible on all national security issues, this case is some how different.

Apparently:

we should be able to torture anyone for any reason, strictly on presidential prerogative

any consutltations must be made in complete secrecy, to 'presevre the objectivity of advice'

kidnap innocent people and export their torture to other regimes

keep tabs on domestic protesters, 'just in case'

not announce any plans for exiting iraq, to keep the terrorists guessing

check out anyone's library/bookstore activity

All these stupid things... because security is SOOOOO important

except that burning CIA assets and changing an agents life forever is no big deal

how can you keep from choking on your own hypocrisy... owwww... by washing it down with a good dose Karl's special sauce...

welll keep sucking... better you than me

by teknofyl 2005-07-22 11:05AM | 0 recs
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some hero!
How many CIA operatives used Brewster jennings as their cover? When Novak outed Plame and her front company, he blew all kinds of CIA resources and contacts in God knows how many countries.

Yet to you, Rove is a hero if he played any role in outing Plame. You are a real patriot!

by desmoinesdem 2005-07-22 01:38PM | 0 recs
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2003?
You're kidding me right? You link to a 2003 article about yellowcake?

The Butler report and the 9/11 Commission Report and every other source that pretended there was anything except bunk intelligence about African yellowcake has been totally discredited.

Absolutey everybody except O'Reilly and Hannity know that Wilson was right about his yellowcake report and Bush and the theocons were wrong.

If you were really a nuclear chemist you would know that the yellow cake claims as well as the aluminum tube claims were totally bunk.

by Gary Boatwright 2005-07-22 12:18PM | 0 recs
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Re: 2003?
It was discredited by Kay's Iraq Survey Group:

ISG has not found evidence to show that Iraq sought uranium from abroad after 1991 or renewed indigenous production of such material--activities that we believe would have constituted an Iraqi effort to reconstitute a nuclear weapons program. As part of its investigation, ISG sought information from prominent figures such as Ja'far Diya' Ja'far--the head of the pre-1991 nuclear weapons program.

The only rational conclusion: wingnut nuclear fruitcakes cannot understand plain English and hate facts.

by Gary Boatwright 2005-07-23 05:46AM | 0 recs
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Joe Wilson's lies?
Obviously it is a matter of opinion whether his report bolstered the case.  You want an investigation into that?  I suppose we should also have an investigation into the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, right?

You can disagree with Wilson's assessment, but it doesn't make him a liar.

Now, as for breaking of laws, we know that Safire has said that at least TWO administration officials confirmed that Wilson's wife worked for the CIA.  Not two other journalists.

It seems obvious to me that somebody broke the law.  It's only a matter of finding out who.

by Sanity 2005-07-22 08:13AM | 0 recs
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Re: Joe Wilson's lies?
Tenant doesn't for the CIA anymore.  And since he is the CIA's director, he was hardly undercover in the first place.

Nice try.  But Rove and Libby (and probably Cheney as well) are traitors.  They sold out their country for political gain.  They deserve to rot in prison until they die.

by beerwulf 2005-07-22 09:37AM | 0 recs
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Re: Joe Wilson's lies?
Oh, that is all that the SBVT said?  I didn't realize they wasted all that money just two get those two points out.

And you still haven't explained how Joe Wilson lied, and why it deserves an investigation.

Tenant isn't an undercover agent, and has never been.  For a government official to know that Joe Wilson's wife worked for the CIA, they would need a security clearance.  The information (as has been indicated in the "Memo") was secret.  So if a government official confirmed that it seems obvious that they have committed a crime.

Either Novak was lying or a crime was committed.

by Sanity 2005-07-22 09:44AM | 0 recs
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Dude...
no one cares about what Wilson said...

Rove or someone else in this administration leaked classifed info

Bush is a traitor, Cheney... BIG TRAITOR.  Rove... traitor w/ EXTRA treason.  Rumsfeld... he's a traitor.

All of them... they don;t care about ANYTHING but their pet theories, political expediancey, and the business interests of them and theirs.

So whatever... keep talking about Wilson... maybe eventually someone will care.  I guess it's better than talking about Rove, from your POV.  But then again... that POV is repugnant to America... but hey... we're a free country.  OUR side wouldn;t put you in chains for that...

by teknofyl 2005-07-22 11:09AM | 0 recs
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Re: Joe Wilson's lies?
Wasted money

Yeah, that is my point, it wasn't wasted money because they had so many lies unrelated to what you listed.  Did you ever send them more than your initial 50 bucks?

In his book, Wilson states that his wife never suggested he be sent to Niger. The bipartisan 911 commission has her memo suggesting he be sent.

The book came out after the investigation was started.  However, here is what he said: "Valerie had nothing to do with the matter," Wilson wrote in a memoir published this year. "She definitely had not proposed that I make the trip."

Okay, so maybe he stretched it a bit.  Nothing demanding an investigation.

Wilson stated that Iraq never attempted to buy Uranium from Niger. The bipartisan 911 commission said Wilson's own notes/CIA debrief supported the Presidents remarks.

No, both statements are correct.  Why?  Because the presidents remarks said "Africa" and "British Intelligence", while Wilson only was referring to Niger.


On Wilson's debunking of the forged documents: At the time the former ambassador traveled to Niger, the Intelligence Community did not have in its possession any actual documents on the alleged Niger-Iraq uranium deal, only second hand reporting of the deal. The former ambassador's comments to reporters . . . could not have been based on the former ambassador's actual experiences because the Intelligence Community did not have the documents at the time of the ambassador's trip.

Once again, we are referring to a statement made AFTER Rove spoke to Novak and Cooper.  However, it was a statement that Wilson made once on a talk show and later said he mispoke.  It wasn't a prepared speech, and he admitted it was a mistake.  What investigation there is required?

If we parsed the words of any public figure, we could come up with an identical list of grandiose and misspeaking.

by Sanity 2005-07-22 11:35AM | 0 recs
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Re: Joe Wilson's lies?
rightwing nuclear wingnuts are as stupid as they say.

(1.) Why did the CIA forward a criminal complaint to the Justice Department?

(2.) Are you really so stupid that you don't know that Kay's Iraq Survey Group completely debunked any and all reports of Iraq trying to purchase yellowcake from anywhere in Africa?

The British intelligence was bunk and the CIA knew it was bunk. That's why Bush's speechwriters were forced to remove the sixteen words twice before. The Butler report was a whitewash. The 9/11 Commission was a bi-partisan whitewash.

Iraq never tried to purchase yellowcake from anywhere on the face of the globe. There never was any truth to the yellowcake fairy tale. It was bullshit when someone made it up and it's still bullshit today.

How can you possibly be so stupid? Do you believe the moon is made of green cheese? Do you believe there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? How many other fairy tales do you believe are true?

Sweet jesus! Do you need help getting your shoes on correctly in the morning? Do you forget which foot your right sock goes on?

Let me try another approach. Do you know why Iraq never tried to buy yellowcake from Africa or anywhere else? They wouldn't have had any use for it!

Iraq didn't have a nuclear weapons program or any refinement capacity. What in the hell was Iraq going to do with 300 tons of yellowcake? Open a damn bakery?

by Gary Boatwright 2005-07-22 06:05PM | 0 recs
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Re: Joe Wilson's lies?
If you have such a high IQ, why do you keep providing that incredibly lame link? It is rank speculation that doesn't prove anything.

Why did they request an investigation? I don't know, why did the CIA give permission for the reporter to print Plame's name??

Your IQ just dropped about 100 points. You may now be operating in the area of negative numbers. When and how did the CIA give permission for a reporter to print Plame's name? Even a nuclear fruitcake can't believe that one. What's your source for that one?

OK. I'll go google up the proof that there has never been any evidence of attempted uranium purchase found in Iraq. I suspect you are lying about checking the Kay Report. I may be mistaken. We will know shortly.

Man. I wish I could talk to someone who knew something.

That is hardly an adequate response to the Butler report being debunked. I'll be back with proof of that as well.

Really. If that lame article is the best you can do, please stop bragging about your IQ. Repeating the same old information over and over does not indicate intelligence. That article is so stale dated it only proves you don't have anything to back up your case except rank speculation.

by Gary Boatwright 2005-07-22 11:04PM | 0 recs
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Here you go genius
From Kay's Iraq Survey Group conclusion, Investigation Into Uranium Pursuits and Indigenous Production Capabilities:

ISG has not found evidence to show that Iraq sought uranium from abroad after 1991 or renewed indigenous production of such material--activities that we believe would have constituted an Iraqi effort to reconstitute a nuclear weapons program. As part of its investigation, ISG sought information from prominent figures such as Ja'far Diya' Ja'far--the head of the pre-1991 nuclear weapons program.

So far, ISG has found only one offer of uranium to Baghdad since 1991--an approach Iraq appears to have turned down. In mid-May 2003, an ISG team found an Iraqi Embassy document in the Iraqi Intelligence Service (IIS) headquarters related to an offer to sell yellowcake to Iraq. The document reveals that a Ugandan businessman approached the Iraqis with an offer to sell uranium, reportedly from the Congo. The Iraqi Embassy in Nairobi--in reporting this matter back to Baghdad on 20 May 2001--indicated it told the Ugandan that Iraq does not deal with these materials, explained the circumstances of sanctions, and said that Baghdad was not concerned about these matters right now. Figure 1 is the translation of this document.

Well genius, I guess you didn't do such a great job of searching the Kay Report. Maybe you want to brag about your high IQ some more? Tell me again how really, really smart you are.

by Gary Boatwright 2005-07-22 11:41PM | 0 recs
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You got some catching up to do genius
That's a link to the WSJ, a reading comprehension failure by you on your own CNN link and a link to the Iraq Survey Group Report that debunks everything you are claiming about the Senate Intelligence Report and all your other nonsense.

Kay's Iraq Survey Group was on the ground in Iraq for almost a year looking for evidence to support Bush's sixteen words, the Butler Report and the Senate Intelligence Report.

They were all proven wrong! The Butler Report and the Senate Report were designed by their political masters to report exactly what they wanted reported.

I'm going to bed. Do they really believe you in freeperville when you tell them how smart you are? You are pathetic pal.

by Gary Boatwright 2005-07-22 11:47PM | 0 recs
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Re: Joe Wilson's lies?
Get a clue dude. The CIA forwarded a criminal complaint to the Justice Department, because there was reasonable suspicion that a crime had been committed. The crime was ratting out an undercover CIA agent.

Your wingnut talking points are bunk. Even the WSJ has reported that Valerie Plame was undercover. Are you waiting for Hannity and O'Reilly to see the light?

by Gary Boatwright 2005-07-22 12:21PM | 0 recs
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You just flunked the IQ test
Here's the full context of Joe Wilson's answer:

BLITZER: But the other argument that's been made against you is that you've sought to capitalize on this extravaganza, having that photo shoot with your wife, who was a clandestine officer of the CIA, and that you've tried to enrich yourself writing this book and all of that.

What do you make of those accusations, which are serious accusations, as you know, that have been leveled against you?

WILSON: My wife was not a clandestine officer the day that Bob Novak blew her identity.

BLITZER: But she hadn't been a clandestine officer for some time before that?

WILSON: That's not anything that I can talk about. And, indeed, I'll go back to what I said earlier, the CIA believed that a possible crime had been committed, and that's why they referred it to the Justice Department.

She was not a clandestine officer at the time that that article in "Vanity Fair" appeared. And I have every right to have the American public know who I am and not to have myself defined by those who would write the sorts of things that are coming out, being spewed out of the mouths of the RNC...

Joe Wilson is saying that on the day that Novak ratted out her identity she was no longer a clandestine officer. You sir or madam, have just flunked reading comprehension 101.

Did you read anything else in that interview? How about this?

BLITZER: Now, the Senate Intelligence Committee report, as you well know, suggested this -- and I'll read to you what they say -- "Interviews and documents provided to the committee indicate that his wife, a CPD employee, suggested his name for the trip" - Counter- Proliferation Division over at the CIA.

And you've denied that your wife was the one who came up with the idea to send you

WILSON: It's not so much that I've denied it. It was the CIA itself that denied it a week after the Novak article came out, well before I was ever in a position to acknowledge that my wife worked for the CIA.

And indeed, regrettably, the staff at the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence did not call the CIA to find out their official position. But a year before, "Newsday" reporters Knut Royce and Tim Phelps did, and this is what the CIA told them:

"A senior intelligence officer confirmed that Plame was a Directorate of Operations undercover officer who worked alongside the operations officers who asked her husband to travel to Niger. But he said she did not recommend her husband to undertake the Niger assignment.

"They" -- the officers who did ask Wilson to check the uranium story -- "were aware of who she was married to, which is not surprising. There are people elsewhere in the government who are trying to make her look like she was the one who was cooking this up for some reason. I can't figure out who it would be."

I don't have a subscription to the WSJ, but son of a gun I found an excerpt you will just love:

Wall Street Journal enters Rove fray: State Dept. memo made clear info 'shouldn't be shared'.

Now that we've established to an absolute certainty that you cannot read plain English and Valerie Plame was an undercover agent, I'll go find proof that the Butler Report has been debunked and the yellowcake story is total bunkum. Cripes nuclear fruitcake. Even the Bush administration has admitted that one.

Why do wingnuts hate facts?

by Gary Boatwright 2005-07-22 11:22PM | 0 recs
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Re: You just flunked the IQ test
I admire your tenacity (and free time).  I'd have just stopped arguing after the second reply.  Something tells me you won't change his mind, but perhaps some lurkers will appreciate the summary of info.

Btw, www.factcheck.org did a reasonable summary of the timeline of events in this case.  The include some questionable "claims" in there, but at least generally acknowledge them as such.

by PghArch 2005-07-23 06:41AM | 0 recs
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Who zeroed out my troll toy?
I get a demented pleasure out of pulling the wings off of trolls. It's a character flaw that I am seeking therapy for.
by Gary Boatwright 2005-07-23 08:48AM | 0 recs
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Re: Hope is an Ostrich
There was a typo in your post.  You meant the Right Wing Lap Dog Media, correct?  Because there is no such thing as the liberal media in this country... not anymore (unless you count the leftwing Blogs or the small papers).  THe MSM serves the Right Wing Theocons.  
by yitbos96bb 2005-07-22 08:19AM | 0 recs
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Re: Hope is an Ostrich
Um, maybe because there was EVIDENCE that Bush didn't show up for duty, that couldn't be a reason, could it?

And you sure are selectively reading the press if you think the swift boat veterans got less press than George Bush's missing time in service.

As for Sandy Berger "stealing" documents, apparently you read the false leaks to the media on it instead of what actually happened.

Who owns the media?  Hint:  they certainly aren't Democrats.

by Sanity 2005-07-22 09:50AM | 0 recs
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Re: Hope is an Ostrich
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16706-2005Mar31.html

He took copies of documents from the National Archives.  Big difference.

He didn't "accidentaly" destroy them.  He destroyed them by cutting them into little pieces (the equivelent of shredding them).

Now do you have the facts straight?

by Sanity 2005-07-22 11:53AM | 0 recs
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Re: Hope is an Ostrich
That's right.  He knew the rules.  And he plead guilty.  He didn't pass the buck or waste 2 million dollars of the taxpayers money making the U.S. goverment convict him.  Rove et al should do the same.

I used to work in a classified area.  And there were people who did similar things.  They didn't get caught until they had to take their polygraph.

Guess what:  they didn't lose their security clearance and they didn't get any fines.

by Sanity 2005-07-22 12:30PM | 0 recs
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Re: Hope is an Ostrich
Why isn't the media pushing for an investigation of the lies of Ken Mehlmen, John McCain, and virtually every Republican that has gone on TV to attack Wilson?  

Every one of them claims that Wilson said Dick Cheney sent him.

Wilson NEVER claimed that.  He said that the V.P's office asked the CIA to send somebody, and that the CIA sent him.  This is all true.  I'm not sure how it is relevant that one of the CIA agents was his wife.

Yet all of the Republicans continue to go on TV lying about Wilson.  But then, since they are Republicans you don't have a problem with that.

by Sanity 2005-07-22 10:05AM | 0 recs
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She already is...
by teknofyl 2005-07-22 11:09AM | 0 recs
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A boondoggle mission
Niger, the second favorite tropical vacation spot, right behind Guantanamo Bay.

Wilson was not paid for his "boondoggle mission" to Niger. Your idea of a tropical paradise is as strange as Dick Cheney's and Rummy's.

by Gary Boatwright 2005-07-22 12:24PM | 0 recs
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Re: A boondoggle mission
You are getting his trips confused.  That was his 1999 trip.  He was planning on going there for a business meeting.
by Sanity 2005-07-22 12:42PM | 0 recs
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Re: A boondoggle mission
Well, when his wife suggested he be sent, one of her reasons was that he was already planning a trip there. I guess he got his trip that he was planning to take all paid for by the CIA.

Just making shit up on the fly aren't we? Don't blame the reality based community if the facts are biased against Republicans.

Valerie Plame was part of a meeting where the subject of Iraq buying yellowcake from Niger came up. Since she was married to Joe Wilson, Valerie knew her husband was an expert on African issues, had security cleareance and was able and willing to go as a service to his country.

Suggesting his name isn't the same as sending him. The decision was probably made the superiors of Plame's superiors. Her suggestion went up the chain of command and was adopted. If there had been a better choice available, Joe Wilson would not have gone to Niger.

Joe Wilson served his country in Africa and Iraq:

From 1998 to 1991, Ambassador Wilson served in Baghdad, Iraq as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy. During ''Desert Shield'' he was the acting Ambassador and was responsible for the negotiations that resulted in the release of several hundred American hostages. He was the last official American to meet with Saddam Hussein before the launching of ''Desert Storm.''

How many of the sunshine patriots and chicken hawks accusing Wilson of being a liar have put their life on the line for their country? Not Cheney. Not Rove. Not Peter King. Not Rush or Hannity or O'Reilly.

Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame both literally risked their lives for their country. The definition of a Republican is someone who puts political party and ideology above love of country. Your sham patriotism is disgusting. Go back to freeperville with the rest of the treasonmongers.

by Gary Boatwright 2005-07-22 06:24PM | 0 recs
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CSPAN3
covering Dorgan-Waxman hearings live now.
by Andrew C White 2005-07-22 07:19AM | 0 recs
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What was Martha Stewart's crime?
I can't seem to remember. What was she sent to prison for, since she didn't break any laws? It was ... don't tell me. It's right on the tip of my tongue ...

Oh yeah! She lied to investigators about a phone conversation with her broker.

Maybe lying to investigators about a stock tip isn't as serious as lying to investigators about ratting out an undercover CIA agent. What's a little treason between friends? Right?

by Gary Boatwright 2005-07-22 07:51AM | 0 recs
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What a coincidence!
Josh is reporting that Karl and Scooter wrote Tenet's mea culpa speech.

One, the seamless (or perhaps 'seamy', take your pick) integration of the political and national security staffs at the White House in organizing the push back against Joe Wilson and the controversy he'd ignited about the White House's use of phoney intelligence about an Iraqi nuclear weapons program.

Read the whole article and you'll see that these two were working together on this with a number of top White House officials.

Two, these were the two men who we know had conversations with reporters about Joe Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame. And it would seem that in the days leading up to the leak they were involved in active and detailed collaboration and/or dialog with Director Tenet about the Niger matter and the origins of Wilson's trip.

So Perhaps Libby and Rove found out about Plame from Fleischer, who would have been calling back to the White House. Or perhaps they got it from their research and authorship of the Tenet mea culpa. It seems quite conceiveable that they got it from both directions. Remember, Libby would have had no shortage of access to former CIA officers and CIA personnel on loan to the administration who could have given him more backstory on Plame. The two channels might even help explain the two versions of her name that were in circulation.

How does that saying about tangled webs go again?

by Gary Boatwright 2005-07-22 08:02AM | 0 recs
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HaHaHaHaHaHa
No matter what else happens, this will turn the media firmly and permanently against the White House. They clearly are trying to send reporters to jail to cover up their treason. The cliquish media will not forgive them for that.

The media knows who writes their paychecks.  And they know how to get invited to all the right parties.  And it ISN'T by attacking this administration.

by Sanity 2005-07-22 08:16AM | 0 recs

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