So What Exactly Did Libby Say?

I. Lewis Libby Jr. said in grand jury testimony that was disclosed Wednesday that in July 2003 he was authorized by President Bush through Vice President Cheney to disclose parts of a classified pre-war intelligence estimate regarding Iraq. However, Libby did not say that the Prez or the Dick had authorized him to divulge the name of undercover CIA officer Valerie Plame Wilson. The leak to reporters occurred after Joe Wilson’s article had appeared in the New York Times which reported that it was "highly doubtful" that Iraq had tried to get nuclear fuel in Africa. Meaning that the Bush administration had lied about the case against Saddam Hussein. Cheney was incensed anyone would doubt his word or the President’s word. The leak was supposed to prove that according to the best info the White House had at the time, the Bush administration believed Iraq had tried to buy nuclear fuel in Africa. Libby said that since the president can declassify any material he sees fit, Bush declassified the up-to-then classified National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) re Iraq in order to squelch the firestorm Wilson’s article had started. The Prez through Cheney gave Libby the okay to talk to reporters about the NIE information. As the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee Jane Harman (D-CA) said, "If the disclosure is true, it's breathtaking. The president is revealed as the leaker in chief." In September, 2003 Bush said, “I don't know of anybody in my administration who leaked classified information. If somebody did leak classified information, I'd like to know it, and we'll take the appropriate action." In October, 2003 Bush said, “I don't know if we're going to find out the senior administration official. Now, this is a large administration, and there's a lot of senior officials. I don't have any idea. I'd like to. I want to know the truth. That's why I've instructed this staff of mine to cooperate fully with the investigators -- full disclosure, everything we know the investigators will find out. I have no idea whether we'll find out who the leaker is.” In June 2004, Bush replied "yes" when asked if he would fire anyone who leaked the agent's name. We know everyone in the Bush administration lies every time they open their mouths. This latest example of mendacity is not much of a surprise. But what is astonishing is that Bush and Cheney have had total faith that either through loyalty or through fear no one in the White House would rat them out when the going got tough. Now that Rat One has fingered George W. Bush as Leaker A, the GOP pushing and shoving to get publishing house book deals, legal representation and information on witness protection is going to look like B-movie crowd-scene cattle calls.