THEY ARE BACK AND TESTIMONY CONTINUES (In which you get the distinct feeling that firedoglake does not have warm feelings for the Administration):
10:46
While we're waiting, Christy asked if he came off as whiny in person as he does on paper (or screen?). Yes. He has a really nasally voice and no apparent tonal modulation. ADD (Addington) came off as more personable than this guy (and didn't have the nasally voice). They really seem to fire themselves some soulless bureaucrats, huh?
TYOI remains on the stand. I've got a good idea, Libby! Keep this guy on the stand for the rest of the year, and we'll avoid TYOI!!
He just caught someone's eye, he's laughing a bit. Boy, they don't put the security bureaucrats through the same paces as they do journalists, huh?
Jane's here–she got bored out of the courtroom, I guess. She says Libby laughed heartily when TYOI told the story on Libby's forgetfulness. Yuck yuck yuck–these are the kind of people who run our national security!! Can't remember from morning till evening. No wonder they can't keep Sunni and Shiite straight.
[Marcy puts her soapbox away and will resume the liveblog now]
Jury's back in.
C Focusing on this time period, Iraq was significant event. Saddam had falled April 2003. May 2003, Libby with assistance from you was helping to determine proper size and role of security forces. Determining the proper composition of governing entity. Governance issue in Iraq, was a particular interest and concern.
TYOI Very important issue for us. [then why did you F it up so badly]
C Following fall of Saddam, Libby grappling with sensitive issues on role of Iraq. June July 2003, Libby considered plans for CPA, included consideration of alternative courses of action. Iraqi security, use of third country troops, and governing Iraq, incl when to establish governing body, and how it would be composed.
TYOI Yes, that's correct.
C Build up police forces.
TYOI Timing sounds right.
C Libby believed these insufficient to foster a peaceful Iraq.
TYOI The issue of the size and speed of new security forces was an important issue that was vigorously debated, Libby was involved in that as major participant. [Huh–Libby thought what they were doing was sufficient?]
C June July 2003, Libby urgent discussion of Iraqi security. Participated in basis for coalition and Iraqi forces as leading part of security infrastructure. US perceptions of security situation changed repeatedly from June to December, correct?
TYOI There were changes and alterations made to fit changing environment.
C Were those matters something Libby concerned with.
Fitz May I approach
Sidebar.
11:04
C Plans for governing Iraq changed repeatedly (names 4 changes)
C Loyalty of potential Iraqi leaders, which factions to participate in political process [like Chalabi dealing intell to Iran?] Libby active participant?
C Move to Iran. Events in Iran also particular concern?
C Why were events in Iraq of such concern
TYOI We had tons of troop in danger. Iraq was one of the two or three most important initiatives any president has made into the ME, concerning terrorism, WMD, democracy, in region of highest nat security interest to the US. [some laughs in the media room.]
C Libby dealt with Iran's nuclear weapons. Arrest and potential harboring of AQ members, and Iran's involvement in Iraq. Monitored WMD efforts, whether Iran would sign IAEA protocol,
TYOI Those were a concern as soon as I started the job.
C Live issues in May 03-March 04. Also evaluated Iranian efforts to influence IRaq. Considered methods to discourage Iranian support for terror groups inside and outside of Iran.
TYOI A very active effort to start Iranian terrorism either against its neighbors or American targets in the ME.
C Also monitored student protests in Iran. Student protests erupted.
TYOI Signs of internal turmoil in Iran, that "people" in USG monitored quite closely.
C Student protests something that you and Libby were monitoring.
TYOI tried to watch internal sit in Iran closely.
C Iran harboring AQ leaders, some of whom had contacts outside of Iran.
TYOI THis has all been declassified by govt?
C Just a yes or no, please?
TYOI Yes.
C Libby considered possible means of obtaining custody of AQ terrorists.
C Looking at it in unclassified terms, why was Iran such a concern.
TYOI Iran a major state in ME, one of the most populous, for the last 25 years a declared adversary of the US, probably trying to acquire nukes, and WMD, major state sponsor of terrorism, in this case, shared a border with Iraq at a time when we had forces in Iraq. Some reason to believe Iran trying to undermine US purposes.
C For you and Libby. Dealing with Iran Libby devoted considerable amount of time and attention. Turn to ME [hey, Cline, Iraq IS theME]
C Addressed the Israel-Palestine relationship including Abbas as alternative to Arafat, addressed threat that Hamas posed in ME. Monitored developments between Israel and Palestinians. Marred with ongoing fighting between Israel and militants. Libby considered how continued attacks could delay plans for peace. Describe plan for peace?
TYOI Peace would not be possible with Arafat. US thereupon worked very hard to see if we could foster some kind of new leaders [you mean like Hamas?, what we ended up getting] that would run a clean government. First time in history that we'd seen the emergence, someone took job of prime minister, would begin to take authority away from Arafat. That individual was Abbas.
C Continuing terror attacks, would disrupt plan for peace. Assessed intentions and level of corruption and depth of their relationship with terrorist. Evaluating leaders conduct and assessing possible course of action. Possible withdrawal from Gaza. Met with leaders regarding borders, settlements, security. Assessing whether PA had sufficient security forces. May 1 2003, installed first Prime Minister, potentially first govt not dominated by Arafat. US sought to support new leadership. By encouraging new steps, including disengage from Gaza. New govt fell within six months. Why were these developments in the ME a matter of such concern.
TYOI Historical perspective, every American president has said peace is a high national priority in order to advance our own interests, this conflict seen as part of that effort, and in this case, Bush himself had invested "laid out a vision" for a new middle east, a new Palestinian leadership, we were on the cusp of achieving in this time period.
11:21
ping for later reading