FITZGERALD DOCUMENTS RELEASED

Its basically Libby's word against Russert, Cooper and Miller.

You are only half right. As I read the indictment, the prosecutor has alleged, and must prove, two things--

1. That Libby's statements to the FBI investigators were not true--i.e. that he in fact "put out" the information that Plame worked for the CIA, rather than confirming that information in response to their questions;

On this issue, it is Libby's word against Russert, Miller, and Cooper's.

and

2. That Libby made the untrue statements with the intent of misleading the investigators/grand jury.

In other words, it will be a complete defense to all the charges, and require Libby's acquittal, if the jury concludes that there is a reasonable possibility that Libby's recollection of the events, although confused and erroneous, was sincere.

Therefore, this is not just a he said/she said case. It will require the jury to conclude what was going on in Libby's mind. I personally think it is going to be very difficult for the prosecutor to prove these charges "beyond a resonable doubt."

The CIA suspected that Aldrich Ames ratted Plame out to the Russians no later than 1994, along with a number of other covert spies and therefore pulled Plame from the field.

In any event, she had not served overseas in a covert CIA role since then and thus no law was violated regardless, at least as far as the Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982.

Plame was also introduced throughout the community while on the arm of Wilson as.."my CIA wife. The CIA, I believe is not too happy with Val beginning with the Vanity Fair article..as it is a personal responsiblity if you are in sensitive areas of the government that you rein in what could be deemed as "irresponsible" behavior of an agent.

The judge now chosen for Libby is known to seek the max on time served. That's not good.

Since the crooked attempts in Florida, the Dems have tried to destroy, smear, etc. the president and his staff. Always, it has turned out, like described in the Psalms, they fell into the pits they dug. They failed and Bush ended up as well or better off than before their attempts.

I believe we shall see that now in spades. We are aware of the suspicions that the Wilson trip was a covert CIA operation to harm Bush and it is possible that because of these charges, the truth will come out and they are going to fall into the pits they have dug. This will be very harmful for those who have done evil things against the administration. I believe that will include the special prosecutor.

DUmmy response, "Two years of investigation, and all I got was this crummy Scooter".

It has been discussed Fitzgerald move into the top spot of the FBI. He has not "said no". He has even joked about it.
Fitzgerald does have an impressive history no doubt about that. What movitivates him or what his future plans are, time will tell.

I certainly concur with your assessment! Like the guy who just called Rush said, we should get a "Scooter Libby Defense Fund" going. Perhaps someone more computer literate than I (that would include all American 2 and 3 year olds!) could get that going!
Wouldn't that be great fun! What would the media do with that huge an immediate "in your face" outpouring!

This prosecutor is counting on the fact that most of the public is too stupid to understand that these indictments have nothing to do with the actual charges that required the special prosecutor in the first place

As Rush says when he mocks the Left: "It's not the nature of the evidence, it's the seriousness of the charrrrrge."

I would love to see loud, in your face, offensive objection to this whole sleazy investigation; from the common people and on up right to Cheney.

Imagine seeing a document saying "United States of America vs. YOU".

Pretty scary stuff.

The top deputy to the Vice President is charged with perjury and obstruction of justice and thats 'nothing'? I'm not happy about this but I'm not going to dismiss it either. If Libby lied he should be charged.

And, not only that, IF he lied, there's a reason which is not yet apparant.

What I pray we never see:

SEN. CLINTON: "Mr Libby, were there any recording devices in the office of the Vice-President?"

LIBBY: "Well, now that you mention it..."

Better link: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/osc/documents/libby_indictment_28102005.pdf

Charge #3 is even lamer. He's getting nailed for statements he made to the FBI in October and December about details of a conversation he had with Cooper in July.

I read the whole smoking gun indictment, and important points to me were:

"that official asked LIBBY whether information about Wilson's trip could be shared with the press to rebut the allegations that the Vice President had sent Wilson. Libby responded that there would be complications at the CIA in disclosing that information publicly"

This is the heart of the matter. He understood the law, and he knew that it would be problematic to expose Plame. I dont' fault him for the choices he made.

More text from the indictment:

"On or about the morning of July 8, 2003 LIBBY met with New York Times reporter Judith Miller. When the conversation turned to the subject of Joseph Wilson, LIBBY asked that the information LIBBY provided on the topic of Wilson be attributed to a "former Hill stafer" rather than to a "senior administration official" as had been the understanding with respect to other information that LIBBY provided to Miller during this meeting.

LIBBY thereafter discussed with Miller Wilson's trip and criticized the CIA reporting concerning Wilson's trip. During this discussion LIBBY advised Miller of his belief that Wilson's wife worked for the CIA."

And more:

"LIBBY asked the Counsel to the Vice President, in sum and substance, what paperwork there would be at the CIA if an empolyee's spouse undertook an overseas trip"

LIBBY was doing his homework!!!

Final indictment:

I Lewis Libby defendant herein, did knowingly and willfully make a materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement and representation in a matter within the jurisdiction of the FBI investigation, an agency within the executive branch of the US, in that the defendant, in response to questions posed to him by agents of the FBI stated that:

yadda yadda yadda... Rusert, Matt Cooper, Judy Miller...

Ok, so he obstructed justice, he lied about what he knew and when he knew it.

He also helped exposed the FACT that Valerie Plame sent her husband to NIGER. And like the loyal underling that he is, he wanted to expose the selective publishing of facts that were being tossed out by the CIA.

Isn't this what we want in a White House official??

Someone who is willing to protect and fight for his presidents agenda???

I'm sorry that he felt the need to lie when he talked about what he knew and when he knew it. And I am sorry that he is probably going to be prosecuted for that.

But when is Joe Wilson going to be held accountable for his lies?? Who is going to press charges against him for misleading the whole country for two years?

When is the left going to admit that Sadaam was working feverishly on WMDs and had the will to use them?

Why isn't anyone talking about this speech given by Bill Clinton in 98? (I know, I know, he gave it on the day Monica was going to testify, but still, he made this speech)

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/middle_east/july-dec98/clinton_12-16.html

It is all just so nauseating.

Let all the truth be told, let all the lies be exposed, and please let us all understand that we have terrorists in our world who would like to nuke the west off the planet.

Jenny

"I want Wilson indicted along with his slut wife".

Here here!

>>>Apparently trying to create a situation in which someone in the admin would make statements contradictory to someone else's statements.>>>

Get enough people making statements, someone is going to contradict someone else and bingo, you have a case!

My money is on Tenet as Novak source #1.

"Charge #3 is even lamer. He's getting nailed for statements he made to the FBI in October and December about details of a conversation he had with Cooper in July."

And relies on Cooper's memory two years later.

He (Fitzgerald) is on now, he's got nothing!