L'Etat c'est Moi, Encore

The National Journal has Scooter Libby's latest squirmings.

Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff has testified that President Bush authorized him to disclose the contents of a highly classified intelligence assessment to the media to defend the Bush administration's decision to go to war with Iraq, according to papers filed in federal court on Wednesday by Patrick J. Fitzgerald, the special prosecutor in the CIA leak case.

I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby testified to a federal grand jury that he had received "approval from the President through the Vice President" to divulge portions of a National Intelligence Estimate regarding Saddam Hussein's purported efforts to develop nuclear weapons, according to the court papers.

Before the rejoicing begins, lets examine what this means. First, it means that the boy that never took responsibility for anything has allowed his henchmen to pass the blame all the way to the top. Does this mean we can look forward to a nice public impeachment trial? It would seem so. After all, if you're a government employee, revealing the name of an undercover CIA agent is a felony. Certainly that counts as "High Crimes or Misdemeanors." Sadly, no.

Libby also testified that an administration lawyer told him that Bush, by authorizing the disclosure of classified information, had in effect declassified the information.

That's what Libby was allowed by his handlers to pass the buck all the way to the Man of No Consequences. Bush Lawyers will argue that Bush has the power to classify and declassify at will and by his intent to disseminate classified information he has declassified it. No approvals. No paperwork. No need to consult with, say, the CIA.

L'Etat c'est Moi.

That means that this will be a trial of epic proportions. Essentially, the Supreme Court, now housing two Bush appointees, will decide exactly how much power the Executive Branch has.

What does the only former head of the CIA to become President have to say about leakers?

"I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious of traitors." -—August 20th, 1999

That would be none other than George H. W. Bush.

George W. Bush Scooter Libby Plame Leak