Keep Digging
After reading Matt Cooper's account of his benign grand jury testimony in Time, I suppose one could still come to the conclusion that the Plame Affair will turn out to be little more than a small misstep on the part of a few politicos who somehow cared more about protecting a journalist from getting "too far out" on a story than in protecting a NOC listee. But those who quickly jump to that conclusion are ignoring related facts and still-unanswered questions.
If Rove's deep background interview with Cooper was inconsequential, why did Scott McClellan initially provide numerous rejoinders to counter the prevailing wisdom that Rove and other administration officials may have leaked? Why not just come out and tell the truth? The uncomfortable backtracking on the part of McClellan, Mehlman and others in the last few days betrays a genuine bewilderment below the surface of their non-denial denials.
If BushCo really suspected Wilson of playing politics and ignoring important evidence that would help make the administration's case, why didn't they just send another "expert" of their choosing to compile a new report on WMD/ Yellowcake/ Uranium/ Niger?
Why did Rove wait until the last minute to release Cooper from their deep background agreement? If that, indeed, is what actually happened.
How would a political strategist have access to a CIA agent's personnel info? I seem to remember a great noise when Filegate was dominating the headlines.
Why have the AF1 communications of White House Iraq Group --a gang comprised of both Iraq War marketers and national security professionals (although in this administration, it's difficult to discern the difference the two)-- been subpoenaed?
Ideology rules BushCo like it has no prior administration.
Ahem, ma'am, I'm afraid we're revoking your question's permit for the rest of the day.
Unfortunately, in these days after 9/11, certain questions are strongly discouraged. I'm sure you've seen the terror warning today; I just can't see why you'd provide comfort to the enemy with such questions that undermine our Leader's strength.
I've notified my superiors, agents are on their way.
Posted by: Peter Parker | 17 July 2005 at 12:15
Aww man. At any other time, with any other administration, the Plame affair would be as big as Watergate.
Posted by: C.b. | 17 July 2005 at 14:52
If BushCo really suspected Wilson of playing politics and ignoring important evidence that would help make the administration's case, why didn't they just send another "expert" of their choosing to compile a new report on WMD/ Yellowcake/ Uranium/ Niger?
Because that would be conceding that facts, logic, and rational decisionmaking matter when dragging your country into war; and because it would NOT do to have yet another person out there saying that BushCo is totally, absolutely and completely full of bull fucking shit.
Posted by: shpx.ohfu | 18 July 2005 at 10:41
Why? Tell me why? Oy. I can't stand it. On the other hand it has been an endless source of comedic material. I love it. But I feel guilty about it. Which is more than any of these guys feel. Oy.
Posted by: The Heretik | 18 July 2005 at 23:11
funny how the forged yellow cake documents never gets mentioned.
not even from so called dem "strategists".
Posted by: jello cake | 19 July 2005 at 00:16