Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Fleischer nails Libby...kind of
Former Press Secretary Says Libby Told Him of Plame
1st Paragraph:
“Former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer testified yesterday that I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby divulged Valerie Plame's identity to him in July 2003, three days earlier than Libby has told investigators he first learned of the undercover CIA officer.”
5th Paragraph:
“Fleischer said he believes Libby mentioned Plame's name, although he told the jury he could not be sure.”
…so if he can’t be sure, just how did he testify that Mr. Libby “divulged” her identity?
7th Paragraph:
“He is not charged with the leak itself, which administration critics have contended was designed to discredit Wilson's argument that the White House was twisting his findings as it justified the invasion of Iraq.”
…but predictably, the Post can’t seem to find the room to mention that the administration critics are demonstrably wrong in this matter as it was internal administration critic Richard Armitage who leaked the info.
Then later, Ari Fleischer testifies that he told Time’s John Dickerson and NBC’s David Gregory “If you want to know who sent the ambassador to Niger, it was his wife; she works there" -- a reference to the CIA.”
But:
“In an interview yesterday, Dickerson, who has left Time and is writing about the trial for Slate, an online magazine, said he recalls that Fleischer had merely urged Gregory and him to "check and see who sent Wilson" on the trip.”
Dickerson claims he learned of Ms. Plame’s identity later from another Time reporter.
I’ll be curious to see how others read all of this. Still, I just can’t help but think of all those unsold Fitzmas cards and artificial trees clogging up some Daily KOS or MoveOn warehouse.
Full Disclosure: I’m rooting for Scooter Libby because I believe him and right now the only prosecutor I have less respect for than Mr. Fitzgerald is Mike Difong. But I’ve got to admit that seeing fellow Holy Cross grad Ted Wells ’72 head up the defense is also kind of cool.
1st Paragraph:
“Former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer testified yesterday that I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby divulged Valerie Plame's identity to him in July 2003, three days earlier than Libby has told investigators he first learned of the undercover CIA officer.”
5th Paragraph:
“Fleischer said he believes Libby mentioned Plame's name, although he told the jury he could not be sure.”
…so if he can’t be sure, just how did he testify that Mr. Libby “divulged” her identity?
7th Paragraph:
“He is not charged with the leak itself, which administration critics have contended was designed to discredit Wilson's argument that the White House was twisting his findings as it justified the invasion of Iraq.”
…but predictably, the Post can’t seem to find the room to mention that the administration critics are demonstrably wrong in this matter as it was internal administration critic Richard Armitage who leaked the info.
Then later, Ari Fleischer testifies that he told Time’s John Dickerson and NBC’s David Gregory “If you want to know who sent the ambassador to Niger, it was his wife; she works there" -- a reference to the CIA.”
But:
“In an interview yesterday, Dickerson, who has left Time and is writing about the trial for Slate, an online magazine, said he recalls that Fleischer had merely urged Gregory and him to "check and see who sent Wilson" on the trip.”
Dickerson claims he learned of Ms. Plame’s identity later from another Time reporter.
I’ll be curious to see how others read all of this. Still, I just can’t help but think of all those unsold Fitzmas cards and artificial trees clogging up some Daily KOS or MoveOn warehouse.
Full Disclosure: I’m rooting for Scooter Libby because I believe him and right now the only prosecutor I have less respect for than Mr. Fitzgerald is Mike Difong. But I’ve got to admit that seeing fellow Holy Cross grad Ted Wells ’72 head up the defense is also kind of cool.
