Woodward Was Told of Plame More Than Two Years Ago

Washington Post ^ | November 15, 20005 | Jim VandeHei and Carol D. Leonnig

[atomicweeder]

Washington Post Assistant Managing Editor Bob Woodward testified under oath Monday in the CIA leak case that a senior administration official told him about CIA operative Valerie Plame and her position at the agency nearly a month before her identity was disclosed . . .

[tioga]

Have we not already established that it was NOT a crime to be talking about her? End of story as far as I am concerned. Much ado about nothing.

[penelopesire]

"Either Woodward lied to the FBI or Pincus to the Grand Jury. Or maybe they were both confused like Libby."

You are good...lol

[indianrightwinger]

But, the charges were based on Fitzgerald's understanding of the chronology of events. Now, this proves at least that his understanding was wrong. It does not prove that Libby did not lie, at least for now.

[Lancey Howard]

So what are you saying, that Woodward knowingly withheld exculpatory evidence for partisan politcal purposes?

Nope. (Donning flame-retardant underwear.)
Woodward is actually pretty non-partisan, IMO. He was raised in a Republican family (I know, so was Chris Matthews) but I think Bob Woodward is pretty much out for Bob Woodward. He's working on a book, and I figure he wants a marketing blast-off with the info he's holding close to the vest. He only mentioned this conversation about Plame to his bosses at the Post a month ago. Probably because his lawyer told him he better.

[penelopesire]

"But, the charges were based on Fitzgerald's understanding of the chronology of events. Now, this proves at least that his understanding was wrong."

Perhaps, even Fitzgerald will have to admit that his 'recollections' were fuzzy as well in the end...lol

[Mike Darancette]

I believe Woodward's source is probably Colin Powell.

Probably Novak's too.

[Mike Darancette]

Woodward likely was not the first reporter to hear about Plame,

Probably Kristof.

[piasa]

Here is a timeline in the investigation of the leak of a CIA officer's identity:

_February 2002: Former Ambassador Joseph Wilson is asked by the Bush administration to travel to Niger to check out an intelligence report that Niger sold yellowcake uranium to Iraq in the late 1990s for use in nuclear weapons.

They forgot a few things:

JANUARY 2002 : (JWR REPORTS : HAARLEM, NY : SANDY BERGER, BRUCE LINDSAY, BILL RICHARDSON, CHERYL MILLS, JOHN PODESTA & MAGGIE WILLIAMS ATTENDED MEETING IN CLINTON'S OFFICE) To: Howlin An article from the Jewish World Review, January 2002 describes a two hour meeting at Bill Clinton's office in Harlem in which Sandy Berger participated, the purpose of which meeting was to shore up Bill's image. Here is a quote from the article . This meeting was also reported by the NYT.
There they were -- not all, but many of the familiar faces and voices (some participated via telephone) of the Clinton years: Maggie Williams, then Hillary Clinton's chief of staff, and now Bill's; confidante Bruce Lindsay; former national security advisor Sandy Berger; former energy secretary Bill Richardson; former deputy White House counsel Cheryl Mills; former Chief of Staff John D. Podesta and more.
128 posted on 07/21/2004 10:22:29 PM PDT by dano1

JANUARY 8, 2002 : (US SENATOR ROCKEFELLER IS IN SYRIA) Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at the Damascus al-Shaab palace on Monday received the US senator J. Rockefeller and members of the accompanying delegation. The meeting was attended by the deputy premier and foreign minister Farouk al-Shara and the US ambassador in Damascus Theodore Qattouf.
Discussions dealt with results implied by the incidents of September 11, 2001 in the US at the regional and international levels.
The President stressed that fighting terrorism should be based on analyzing reasons behind it, noting that the already debated concept of terrorism is a terrorism which is too far from Islamic values.
He explained that Syria's ancient history shows commitment of its peoples to divine religions. A matter which restores Syria's stability. Senator Rockefeller expressed happiness to meet with President Bashar al-Assad. He said he feels content after talking to President Bashar al-Assad not only about Syria but about the ME region as a whole.
Senator Rockefeller also stressed the need of deeper understanding of the Arab culture and civilization and of Muslims. ---------------- "Al-Assad confers with US Senator ," Syria-USA, Politics, 1/8/2002 , http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/020108/2002010817.html

JANUARY 9?, 2002 : (US SENATORS DURBIN, PRICE & DIVES TRAVEL TO SYRIA)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at the Damascus al-Shaab palace on Tuesday received W Owens and members of the US Senate: Richard Durban, David Price and Jim Dives and members of their accompanying delegation. The meeting was attended by the Deputy Premier and foreign minister Farouk al-Shara and the US ambassador in Damascus Theodore Qattouf. Discussions dealt with the reflections of September11 incidents at the US on various regional and international issues. Al-Assad confers with the US Senate delegation [No Rockefeller] Syria-USA, Politics, 1/9/2002 , http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/020109/2002010919.html

JANUARY 10, 2002 : (AL-RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA : ROCKEFELLER) The Saudi crown prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz on late Tuesday night in al-Riyadh met with a US Senate delegation led by Senator John Rockefeller. US diplomatic sources said that the members of the delegation discussed with Saudi Arabia's crown prince ME peace process developments and other conditions at the regional and international levels and relations between Saudi Arabia and the US. ------ "Saudi crown prince confers with US senator," Saudi Arabia-USA, Politics, 1/10/2002 , http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/020110/2002011008.html

FEBRUARY 1, 2002 : (BEGINNING DATE FOR SAVING WHITE HOUSE MESSAGES REFERRED TO IN 2003 WILSON LEAK PROBE...)

FEBRUARY 2002 : (WILSON CAMPAIGN DONATION TO HILLARY CLINTON) Wilson donated $1,000 to Senator Hillary Clinton’s (D-NY) PAC just before leaving for Niger in February 2002- (Center For Responsive Politics, www.opensecrets.org , Accessed 9/29/03; Political Money Line, www.tray.com, Accessed 9/30/03; FOX’s “Fox And Friends,” 9/30/03) via - "SAY IT AIN’T SO JOES? Joe Lieberman & Joe Wilson Make Bold Assertions That Facts Don’t Support, "RNC Research, Republican National Committee, October 5, 2003

FEBRUARY 12, 2002 : (PLAME SENDS A MEMO TO A DEPUTY CHIEF IN THE CIA'S DIRECTORATE OF OPERATIONS CONCERNING HER HUSBAND- JOSEPH WILSON ) "...The report states that a CIA official told the Senate committee that Plame "offered up" Wilson's name for the Niger trip, then on Feb. 12, 2002, sent a memo to a deputy chief in the CIA's Directorate of Operations saying her husband "has good relations with both the PM [prime minister] and the former Minister of Mines (not to mention lots of French contacts), both of whom could possibly shed light on this sort of activity." The next day, the operations official cabled an overseas officer seeking concurrence with the idea of sending Wilson, the report said. - by Sue? in the Washington Post, July 2004 via 36 posted on 07/10/2004 3:18:38 PM PDT by Shermy

FEBRUARY 13, 2002 : (DEPUTY CHIEF IN THE CIA'S DIRECTORATE OF OPERATIONS CABLES AN OVERSEAS OFFICER SEEKING CONCURANCE WITH THE IDEA OF SENDING WILSON TO NIGER)- by ?Sue Schmidt? in the Washington Post, July 2004 via 36 posted on 07/10/2004 3:18:38 PM PDT by Shermy

[Political Junkie Too]

No underwear necessary. I was just wondering if you were implying that Woodward was sitting back and not offering up facts unless he was asked.

If Libby's alleged crime was lying to investigators, and Woodward (or someone else) knew something but failed to proactively inform investigators, then Libby might not have been put into the position where he lied (or forgot) because investigators might not have had to ask questions because others volunteered facts that could have stopped the investigation before they got around to questioning Libby.

-PJ

[indianrightwinger]

hehehehehehehehehe....good one!

[Lancey Howard]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1522897/posts?page=33#33

I guarantee Libby's lawyers are taking careful notes about this.

"Well, you are a busy man. You have a lot of responsibilities, and ALL those phone calls, and ALL those conversations taking place SO long ago - - I suppose it's easy to forget a lot of things, things like conversations about Joseph Wilson's wife. Don't you agree Mr. Pincus? Mr. Pincus? Your Honor, please instruct the witness to answer the question."

"OBJECTION!!!"

"I withdraw the question." (Glances at jury.)

[indianrightwinger]

Woodward is just a totally irrelevant figure in journalism. Sure, he suddenly became important for this case with his testimony.

BTW, a stupid question.....why can't he be charged with obstruction of justice? :-)

[penelopesire]

lol

[Mike Darancette]

He gave Fitzgerald an easy out.

Fitzgerald's indictment and press briefings have major holes punched in them already. With myriad reporters saying I don't remember or contradicting each other on the stand it should be easy to show reasonable doubt.

[Mike Darancette]

Libby isn't charged with leaking anyway.

Libby is being charged with lying for saying he learned about Plame from reporters. Fitzgerald Must show that this is impossible to get a conviction. If it turns out that reporters knew before Fitzgerald claims they did his case is lost.

Even Woodward says it is possible he told Libby. Libby can say Woodward/Russert those guys all sound alike to me.

[Mike Darancette]

almost certainly Ari Fleischer

Fleischer would be referred to as a Senior White House official.

[jonrick46]

This identifies the tactics of lies used by the DemonRATs. They use the media, like a whore, to sell fictitious charges against their arch-enemies, the conservatives. They know that their constituents, the huge faction of indoctrinated Americans, rarely fact check anything and are willing to swallow anything fed them. By the time facts do catch up to fiction, the damage has been done. The DemonRATs know that any lie they make operates much like a car bomb in the body politics. When a lie goes off, it takes weeks to clear the damage. When the truth is found, the press, like the whore that it is, makes sure to minimize the public shame at being undone.

[RushCrush]

Honestly, this is old news. Is there anyone left who DID NOT KNOW she was covert or whatever? Seems like old news to me.......but does it really matter when the MSM is on your tail?

[Lancey Howard]

Please see post #44.

Woodward apparently didn't take Fitzgerald's investigation too seriously. I doubt that Woodward ever thought that he was holding back exculpatory testimony, especially since he had no idea what Libby was telling the GJ.

From what I can glean, the timeline goes like this:

1. (My guess...) Last month, Woodward gets a call from his White House source, and the source tips off Woodward that he will be informing the prosecutor about their long-ago conversation. (The White House is covering all bases at this point.) The source wants Woodward to know that this will surely result in Fitzgerald knocking on his door.

2. (My guess again...) Woodward talks to his lawyer and the lawyer tells Woodward that he better inform his paper about this. Together, they nail down how much information Woodward needs to reveal to his paper.

3. Woodward informs his paper about the conversation with his source. (From the article: Woodward did not share the information with Washington Post Executive Editor Leonard Downie Jr. until last month.)

3. The source informs Fitzgerald about his conversation with Woodward.

4. Fitzgerald knocks on Woodward's door and on November 2nd, Woodward gives Fitzgerald his deposition about the conversation with his source. (Remember, the original grand jury is long gone at this point.)

So now, Fitzgerald has more on his plate than he wants and I bet the people in his office are scrambling to make everything fit. But to make everything fit might require a complete rewrite.

[devolve]