Libby's probalem is not perjury.
he should have used the Hillary clinton method of answering. I dont recall, I dont remember.
You see Hillary committed perjury several times. She kept saying she didnt remember or didnt recall. That was a damned lie and we all knew it. A lie is perjury. But as long as you dont commit yourself you can get away with it.
So now we have Hillary running for President when we all know she is a liar
Because Ari and Libby talked prior to the day Russert and Libby talked does not mean that Libby lied to the Grand jury when he said he learned of Plame's position from Russert because he had to know that was incorrect when he said it. It is completely plausible and within Libby's defense strategy to say he got that mixed up when testifying some time later. The hush hush aspect can be seen as Libby telling Ari not to leak this. When Russert asked Libby about Plame, Libby would have remembered that as an ought oh, it has been leaked. A more memorable event than a lunch with a departing WH co worker whom he had little contact with.