Geez, Did Anybody See That Coming?

Wilson/Plame civil suit dismissed. [Opinion]

Let me stagger down memory lane and revisit my coverage of this; maybe there will be some mortifying links to folks predicting great things from this suit, or astute commenters  ridiculing it. 

Here we go - unaware of a statute of limitations for their alleged causes of action, I predicted in June 2006 that we would not see a suit at all (OK, that didn't work out), mainly because of the many problems including the reason the judge dismissed this:

(2)  Rove apparently won't be charged with a crime for leaking about Ms. Plame.  Doesn't that suggest his first defense against any civil action will be to assert that he is a public official engaged in the performance of his duties?  Since Libby was charged with perjury and obstruction rather than criminal leaking, doesn't he have the same defense?

In July 2006 the suit was announced, and I still pooh-poohed it, although I predicted that Dems had more upside than Reps if the thing ever took off:

For the Democrats, this civil suit represents an opportunity to depose Bush Administration officials and maybe strike gold with some embarrassing or even illegal tidbit (think Paula Jones).  On the Republican side, there is a sense that Joe Wilson may be humiliated in discovery, along with the media and the anti-Administration CIA cabal alluded to recently by Rep. Peter Hoekstra.

Advantage - Democrats!  Neither Joe Wilson, Tim Russert, nor George Tenet are candidates for anything; Bush won't be either, but he is the leader of his party, notionally at least.  The Dems have a puncher's chance of scoring a big win; the Reps are more likely to "win" this suit, but what is victory - humiliating Joe Wilson?  Been there, done that, and John Kerry cut him loose to ice the cake. 

Within the confines of his base on the far left, Joe Wilson is a teflon legend and no discovery can shame him.

In September 2006 we had a link to the amended complaint.

And in May 2007 we had a post on the civil suit hearing, which prominently featured the immunity argument.

I certainly hope the timing of this dismissal doesn't hurt any of the Wilson's book and media deals.

Comments

[Uncle Pinky]

To quote Peter Falk in The Princess Bride:

"Yes, yes, you're very smart. Shut up."

Seriously, though, discovery would have been kind of fun.

[hit and run]

My 2nd biggest regret in this turn of events...

Other Tom is in Italy and is not sharing in this moment...

(first biggest regret is no deposition of Mrs. Wilson and Mr. Plame, of course.)

[verner]

So now, what happens to all the money they collected on the net? Weren't their lawyers pro bono?

[Sara]

Verner!!!!!! Hi!!!!!

[vnjagvet]

Other Tom should have a Compari on us.

Or something a little more substantial if his heart desires.

FDL must be awash in anger today.

[windansea]

I certainly hope the timing of this dismissal doesn't hurt any of the Wilson's book and media deals.

or the Hillary endorsement

[Sara]

The Haditha case if falling apart, Sutton (the prosecutor) looked the vindictive fool at the Border Patrol hearing the other day, Reid and Co. looked like fools at their Snooze Party, and now this.

[windansea]

the official lefty response?

Joe Wilson for Senate!

[hit and run]

Sara:
Verner!!!!!! Hi!!!!!

Me!!! Too!!!!

Hi!!! Verner!!!!

[jmoss]

Key finding by the Judge was that it's NOT a crime for the Government to protect itself against lies.

here">http://www.macsmind.com/wordpress/2007/07/19/plame-out/">here

[clarice]

VERNER!

Well, Chemerinsky can now ungird his loins at last..the battle is over and the dynamic duo was vanquished.

[Elliott]

Hello, Verner.

I agree, Hit and Run. It is too bad Other Tom isn't around right now.

[Sara]

I'm sorry this is OT, but too good to pass up here.

Kerry lied, people died Breitbart TV has video of Democratic Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts telling a whopper on C-Span.

Sen. John Kerry said during a C-Span appearance that fears of a bloodbath after the US withdrawal from Vietnam never materialized. He says he’s met survivors of the “reeducation camps” who are thriving in modern Vietnam. An award-winning investigation by the Orange County Register concludes that at least 165,000 people perished in the camps.

And 2 million in Cambodia.

You know, education, if you make the most of it, if you study hard and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, uh, you, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in the Senate.

[verner]

The last paragraph from the AP piece:

The alleged means by which defendants chose to rebut Mr. Wilson's comments and attack his credibility may have been highly unsavory, " Bates wrote. "But there can be no serious dispute that the act of rebutting public criticism, such as that levied by Mr. Wilson against the Bush administration's handling of prewar foreign intelligence, by speaking with members of the press is within the scope of defendants' duties as high-level Executive Branch officials."

In other words, act unsavory, expect unsavory back...especially when your wife sent you.

[verner]

Oh, and HI everybody!!!

I've missed you, but have been busy with "stuff" lately...

[Gmax]

He did not say it "was" unsavory. It is a motion to dismiss pretrial. He must assume what the plaintiff has alleged is true in all respects, but his point is even if it is true ( not stating a fact but merely conceding the allegation ) the law grants immunity to public officials acting within their public duties.

I know that a lot of lefties are digging hard and holding on too tight, cause otherwise it means that their 20 indictments fantasy is over. And I am here to deliver the news, it is definitely over now.

[Gmax]

He did not say it "was" unsavory. It is a motion to dismiss pretrial. He must assume what the plaintiff has alleged is true in all respects, but his point is even if it is true ( not stating a fact but merely conceding the allegation ) the law grants immunity to public officials acting within their public duties.

I know that a lot of lefties are digging hard and holding on too tight, cause otherwise it means that their 20 indictments fantasy is over. And I am here to deliver the news, it is definitely over now.

[Gmax]

Didn't the good professor Chemerinsky publicly consult on the filing of this suit? What a putz. How much do you have to pay to have him teach you the law?

[Gmax]

Didn't the good professor Chemerinsky publicly consult on the filing of this suit? What a putz. How much do you have to pay to have him teach you the law?

[Gmax]

Didn't the good professor Chemerinsky publicly consult on the filing of this suit? What a putz. How much do you have to pay to have him teach you the law?

[Gmax]

Didn't the good professor Chemerinsky publicly consult on the filing of this suit? What a putz. How much do you have to pay to have him teach you the law?

[bio mom]

Unfortunately Chris Matthews is not hosting Hardball tonight. We will miss his likely "subdued" reaction.

[Sara]

Via Protein Wisdom:

Now, the crowning irony. Joe Wilson responds:

“This case is not just about what top government officials did to Valerie and me […] We brought this suit because we strongly believe that politicizing intelligence ultimately serves only to undermine the security of our nation. Today’s decision is just the first step in what we have always known would be a long legal battle and we are committed to seeing this case through.”

[Sara]

Sorry I screwed the link.

Should be:

Protein Wisdom

[Enlightened]

Dammit. I was Plam-ay Jonesing pretty hard. Now this. That little beeyotch and her mental midget mouthpiece got away with it. Blechh.

[Karl]

Given that the AP's Matt Appuzzo usually had solid coverage of the Libby trial, it's worth noting that his report that the case was dismissed on jurisdictional grounds is mostly wrong, and that the WaPo and Gmax above have it right.

[indeciderer]

Since this blog's denizen's have descended on Marcy's blog to relieve themselves, I would like to return the favor and defile these green, green pastures....

There was no underlying crime! The leaker was Armitage! Fitz and Reggie are out-of-control Liberals run amok! Moonbat! Moonbat! The Constitution is toilet paper! Clinton did it! Save me from the brown people! Mission Accomplished! Bring 'em on! I don't think about bin Laden! Put food on my family! Up or down vote! Fool me once....Take my habeus corpus, please! Try the egg salad, and tip your waiter -- I'll be here all week!

[PeterUK]

I only wish semanticleo,sferris,pete and all our other dear moonbats could be here to share this moment with us.Hark,what is that plopping sound,could it be tiny heads exploding in the Fever Swamp?

[indeciderer]

No exploding heads, PeterUK: The ruling is an implicit call to Waxman to haul Fitz before HOC and get down to business. After all, Congress is the proper venue for dealing with treason in the executive branch...

Won't that be fun?

[PeterUK]

"There was no underlying crime! The leaker was Armitage! Fitz and Reggie are out-of-control Liberals run amok! "

How true,so splendid when one from the sinister side has an epiphany.You weren't journeying to Damascus by any chance?

[Barney Frank]

--We brought this suit because we strongly believe that politicizing intelligence ultimately serves only to undermine the security of our nation.--

If I read this correctly Joe is saying he's sorely disappointed that he and Val's politicizing of intelligence "only" undermined the security of our nation and did not lead to a direct cash windfall from a DC jury. Stiff upper lip Joe, one out of two ain't bad.

[Topsecretk9]

sour grapes indecide.

[Gmax]

Putting your hopes in dimbulb Henry Waxman is a lot like thinking Raw Story is dedicated to factually reporting. Your are destined to be severely disappointed. The prozac may help though.

[Gmax]

Putting your hopes in dimbulb Henry Waxman is a lot like thinking Raw Story is dedicated to factually reporting. Your are destined to be severely disappointed. The prozac may help though.

[hit and run]

Today’s decision is just the first step in what we have always known would be a long legal battle and we are committed to seeing this case through

Book!

And

Movie!!!!!

We will not rest, we will not slumber, we will not sleep until the advances are in our accounts!!!!!!!

Onward!!! To Battle!!!!

Yeeeeaaaaarrrrrggggghhhhh!!!!

[indeciderer]

bio mom: Tweety won't be available for Softballs tonight because the doctors are still trying to extricate him from Judy's business after he stuck his head waaaay up there last night (she's a hero, dontcha know!).

[Sara]

Sheesh! First I screw the link, then the quote, then I post the correction on the wrong thread, so let's try it one more time.

Okay, I blame it on too much pool water in my eyes. Here is the Protein Wisdom quote I was trying to post:

And you gotta love Jeff Goldstein at Protein Wisdom:

Now, the crowning irony. Joe Wilson responds:

“This case is not just about what top government officials did to Valerie and me […] We brought this suit because we strongly believe that politicizing intelligence ultimately serves only to undermine the security of our nation. Today’s decision is just the first step in what we have always known would be a long legal battle and we are committed to seeing this case through.”

Joe Wilson lied about the significance, scope, and impetus of his own fact-finding mission for the express purpose of undermining the President (and, it is fair to speculate, with hopes of securing a prominent position in a Kerry administration).

His wife, a CIA agent, recommended him for the job — the conclusions from which he published in an op-ed. Wilson claimed he was sent by the VP’s office — another lie — and when members of the Bush administration supplied the context for all these machinations and motivations on background, Joe Wilson, caught in the tangle of his own lies, half-truths, and shoddy fact-finding work, knew exactly what to do: claim victim status and run screaming into the arms of the anti-Bush crowd, many of whom are so filled with a desire to see the administration brought to its knees that they will embrace any charlatan who comes along, provided s/he is saying the right things, and can present a problem for the President.

It has always troubled me that those who embraced Wilson and Plame — even if they actually believed there was wrongdoing on the part of the administration (and I’m convinced many of them don’t believe it for a second, but rather find the shadow they’ve contrived to throw over the administration as a result of Wilson’s allegations useful) — never bothered to distance themselves from what follow-up investigations kept proving was Wilson’s cynical, deceitful, and self-serving behavior.

Instead, they embraced him as a hero — a kind of whistleblower — and he, in turn, has moved comfortably into the part of aggrieved patriot.

To hear him chirp about how bothered he is by the politicization of intelligence is so rich in irony that, were irony a donut, the center could not possibly hold, and we’d soon be left staring at a breakfast table suddenly become home to a donut-sized black hole.

[Barney Frank]

The ruling is an implicit call to Waxman to haul Fitz before HOC and get down to business.

Don't you mean HUAC?

[PeterUK]

"The ruling is an implicit call to Waxman to haul Fitz before HOC and get down to business. After all, Congress is the proper venue for dealing with treason in the executive branch..."

So you think Fitz was treasonous? A trifle harsh,more over ambitious to my mind.

[Sue]

LOL. Everything is funny to me this afternoon.

[hit and run]

Sue:
LOL. Everything is funny to me this afternoon.

Oh, you really should try reading it on 750ml of Cabernet Sauvignon.

(750ml just ain't what it use to be)

[Sara]

Me too Sue. I just listened to John Gibson's My Word about Joe's "huffing and puffing" and I'm still laughing.

[lurker]

Good to see Verner back! Wish Larwyn would stop by here every now and then.

Glad to see that this case is dismissed. Also glad to see that Bates took note that Joe Wilson LIED and that WH had every right to protect themselves against lies.

Too bad Joe Wilson does not see that. But surely, the American public will see through Joe Wilson.

If only Libby would appeal his convictions....

[indeciderer]

What is it about subpoenas that scares neo-cons so much? Fitz - a REAL conservative -
respects the law, and so will obey the subpoena when issued. Will you all watch when , under questioning, he reveals the GJ testimony that Bush and Cheney declassified a spy's identity for revenge? After all, Libby's OWN LAWYER basically said as much on the first day of the trial....

[clarice]

lurker, per the Libby Defense Fund, Libby is appealing his conviction.

[windansea]

Val recommended Joe and Joe did not sign a non disclosure

Joe told some lies and got rebutted

Val outed herself

Liberals died

The End

[clarice]

Dear indecider..You are too stupid to vote let alone post here if you think Cheney declassified Plame's identity . For if he did that would have been a perfect defense.

As for the subpoenas they are ridiculous, outside the legislative branch's jurisdiction and the refusal to respond to them will be unheld by the courts.

[Gmax]

clarice

You could have stopped at " you are too stupid to post here". He wont read and comprehend anything you say. Give the fellow traveler accurate direction to the Hamster Wheel and he can commiserate on how close they came to bringing down the evil Bushitler.

[hit and run]

Fitz under oath?

I shudder at the thought.

And please, no please, do NOT recall Valerie to testify.

Do NOT throw me into that briar patch.

[Gmax]

clarice

You could have stopped at " you are too stupid to post here". He wont read and comprehend anything you say. Give the fellow traveler accurate direction to the Hamster Wheel and he can commiserate on how close they came to bringing down the evil Bushitler.

[NARCISO]

Another bugaboo I have to bring up' Nick Kristof; the Cairo educated China expert
(I know it doesn't make any sense either)
who was bluffed by Wilson; yet he did provide the tidbit that Ames had outed Plame
in the early 90s. Nick of course to make the
point that Ahmadinejad and Cheney are twins; he relies on an even more discredited
expert; Columbia's Gary Sick. Formerly Carter's NSC expert on S. Asia; on whose watch he missed both the embassy takeover,
of which Ahmadinejad played NO small role;
but misread the hostage takers motives so poorly he rationalized his failure by adopting Barbara Honegger's October Surprise conspiracy theory as his own. Kristof takers up the case of Javad Sharif,
the counterpart to Flynt Leverett's "grand
bargain" snowjob in Newsweek and elsewhere; who's been demoted to teaching; the horror.
His experience in China should remind him of the "Anti-Rightist Campaigns, or the Cultural Revolution; examples of
'culturally compromised intellectuals' The same happened with glandhander Krasin; under Stalin.
He ignores or possibly doesn't know take your pick Mahmoud's experience in the IRGC's
Vevak-Sepah Pasdaran ;special units targeting Iranian dissidents like
Quassemlou in Vienna; possibly Rushdie in London?. Running the Evin prison which makes Abu Ghraib seem like Lompoc; coincidentally it's where he's accomodated
his four Iranian spies. This of a piec with
Michael Hirsh's tonguebath over a former?
IRGC General turned diplomat; Sharafi; who missed the snatch in Kirkuk early this year

[Semanticleo]

Has OJ paid anything to the Goldmans yet?

[PeterUK]

"Fitz - a REAL conservative -
respects the law, and so will obey the subpoena when issued. Will you all watch when , under questioning, he reveals the GJ testimony that Bush and Cheney declassified a spy's identity for revenge?"

So if he had the evidence,why didn't he indict Cheney?

I thought semanticleo was our idiot,why do we need indecisive?

[Gmax]

Prozac simply too low a dose right now for those Mariana Trench lows of today, I suspect.

[Gmax]

Prozac simply too low a dose right now for those Mariana Trench lows of today, I suspect.

[verner]

Hey, has Hillary asked Joe to be a national security adivsor for her campaign? No I didn't think so.

I think the odds of that movie actually getting made at this point are about 10-1 against. Especially now that there's no Erin Brokavitch moment...LOL

[hit and run]

OT, 1:

CHICAGO (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Thursday allowed former media baron Conrad Black to remain free on $21 million bond pending his sentencing later this year on fraud and obstruction convictions. Judge Amy St. Eve of the U.S. District Court told the 62-year-old member of Britain's House of Lords that he had to stay either in the Chicago area or in the vicinity of Palm Beach, Florida, where he has a mansion

[Gmax]

This is pretty good I think from a commenter at LGF:

Joe Wilson wants to have his yellowcake, and now he can eat it too!

[hit and run]

OT, 2:

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon told Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton that her questions about how the U.S. plans to eventually withdraw from Iraq boosts enemy propaganda.

In a stinging rebuke to a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Undersecretary of Defense Eric Edelman responded to questions Clinton raised in May in which she urged the Pentagon to start planning now for the withdrawal of American forces.

[ordi]

Wilson lied, the lawsuit died!

[maryerose]

Hardball had melanie Sloan on saying the Plames will appeal. Ed Rogers just said this was a partisan lawsuit trying to criminalize politics.
Chrissy is in LaLa Land and last night was on Jay Leno handicapping the 08 race. He always misses the good stories like-Libby'scommutation and Plame lawsuit thrown out. Guess Val and Joe's book is on the skids if the CIA ever lets it go to print. Why don't these two people just go away?
Does this mean we will never learn about Joe's French connections?

[cathyf]

Fitz - a REAL conservative - respects the law

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Do you mean Patrick Fitzgerald? The Patrick Fitzgerald who violated grand jury secrecy laws by issuing a press release containing information that he learned that was incidental to his case? Or is your rude abbreviation "Fitz" meant to apply to someone else? (Speaking of names, did anyone else get a chuckle noticing that one of the cases referenced in the memo was a 1982 case Harlow v. Fitzgerald?)

[hit and run]

TM (title of this post):
Geez, Did Anybody See That Comng?

Just like TM, there's no I in Coming. Or Comng.

Selfless, that man.

[verner]

Maryrose, that's the book that needs to be written. As far as I know, nobody has taken a serious journalistic look into what Joe and the ex were doing. And I still want to know about those other trips on the CIA's dime to Niger.

[Jane]

Well I'd still give my eye teeth to depose those two mendacious ballerina's.

But I'll settle for this victory.

And it sounds like they have given up.

[clarice]

Hit, that's very good news about Black..Apparently judge Amy is not in Fitz' pocket..He was arguing ridiculously "fear of flight". And he'll try that same unconstitutional sentence padding he pulled on Libby.
As Steyn noted, Black could have fled and avoided the trial altogether--the charges are not extradictable offenses in Europe.

[Sara]

Hillary's in big trouble if the Peter Paul VIDEO. has any truth at all. I can't say of it does or doesn't, but I used to handle the FEC data for the Congresswoman I worked for and everything got recorded down to in-kind boxes of paper clips. Once I finished my part, it went to the bookkeeper and then from her to the Campaign Finance Committee and then to the Member. To leave off a major fundraiser would have been bad, bad, bad. And I've never met a politician yet who didn't know exactly who was donating and how much, especially when it comes to the big money donors.

[clarice]

Hit, my typographia is catching. I've warned everyone multiple times. TM is just the first to catch it.

[Topsecretk9]

hilarious - even the gossip sites want it to end

We’d like to say this caught us totally off guard, which would almost be true, if only “off guard” meant “exactly what we thought would happen.” (You know, kind of like how we felt when Bush commuted Scooter Libby’s jail sentence!) But disappointed or not, we’ve got some unsolicited advice for Ms. Valerie Plame. Let it go. Jeez, Val, what’s it been, a few year now? Half a decade? Seriously, even Judith Miller’s already moved on. Besides, it doesn’t take a former CIA operative to know this is one uphill battle that you’re just not gonna win.

http://www.jossip.com/valerie-plame/plames-lawsuit-up-in-flames-20070719/

[hit and run]

As Steyn noted, Black could have fled and avoided the trial altogether

Well, he's obviously studied the 08 prospects and figured that Hillary doesn't stand a chance. Where he coulda simply made some campaign donations for a pardon.

Or maybe he thinks Hill might win, but his wife said I ain't no Denise.

[Sara]

Wow the article right above the Plame one at the Jossip link above has a picture of Judy Miller. I had no idea how beautiful she is. She blows Plame away.

[PeterUK]

Is this the face of a woman who is going to give up?

[hit and run]

Sara, you know how to pr a link!!!!

But that's Kate Beckinsale, who is playing her in the movie....

Here's the real Judy Miller

[Sara]

Actually, it is a picture of Kate Beckinsale as Judy Miller. But go read the article.

Reports Variety:

[Nothing but the Truth] cast is mobilizing for an October production start. Talks are under way for Kate Beckinsale to play the journalist, Matt Dillon the prosecutor, Vera Farmiga the CIA agent, Edie Falco (in her first role since “The Sopranos”) the editor of the newspaper that published the story and Alan Alda the attorney who tries to free the reporter from jail.

[RattlerGator]

Sara . . . sarcasm? Right?

Judith has never looked as good as THAT actress.

[verner]

And while we're on the topic of Joe and Val, has anybody read Rowan Scarborough's book "Sabatoge" yet? Here's a blurb from Amazon:

Book Description
Using his first-rate sources in all levels of national security-from field officers to high-ranking analysts to former intelligence heads-bestselling author Rowan Scarborough reveals how CIA bureaucrats are undermining President Bush and the War on Terror through disinformation, incompetence, and outright sabotage.

From the Inside Flap
How Bush-hating CIA Bureaucrats Are Sabotaging the War on Terror
Since the attacks on September 11, 2001, intelligence collection has become the number-one weapon in the effort to defeat al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. A plot penetrated is an attack stopped. And to the outside observer, the CIA has performed well as a key partner in the Bush administration's War on Terror. But as Rowan Scarborough reveals in this groundbreaking new book, significant elements within the CIA are undermining both the president and national security through leaks, false allegations, and outright sabotage.

Using his first-rate sources in all levels of national security--from field officers to high-ranking analysts to former intelligence heads--Scarborough paints a disturbing picture of partisan politics endangering the success of our campaigns abroad and the very lives of our soldiers and agents.

In Sabotage, you'll learn:

* How CIA analysts repeatedly leak details about classified intelligence programs with the dual intent of ending them and damaging the president
* How, on at least eight occasions, intelligence officials have made serious allegations of wrongdoing against the president's men--which turned out to be false
* Why, contrary to popular belief, the CIA has become predominantly liberal
* How a CIA turf battle prevented special operators from pursuing and capturing a notorious Taliban leader
* How current and former CIA officers fueled conspiracy theories that President Bush orchestrated the 9/11 attacks on America
* How a CIA leak to the New York Times deprived the U.S. of critical information in the War on Terror
* How press leaks by the CIA have damaged relations with our foreign allies in the War on Terror
* How a CIA analyst worked with Democrats to sabotage the nomination of John Bolton to the UN
* How Clinton's downsizing of the CIA led to the closing of stations in scores of jihadist breeding grounds--including Hamburg, Germany, where the 9/11 plot was hatched

The CIA's job is to collect facts and let the White House, the Pentagon, and the State Department make national security policy. But, as Scarborough conclusively demonstrates, an agency that is supposed to be scrupulously nonpartisan has become increasingly political--during a time of war--against America's elected commander in chief.

[Topsecretk9]

Salon is reporting in a panic coordinating updates with Crew talking points - and Salon, in such a rush is reporting Judge Burns ruled this and Judge Burns ruled that...HEH

[maryerose]

I hope Scarborough's book implicates Val and then Hil will have really stepped in it with the Wilson endorsement. another reason for me to hope for an Obama nomination as opposed to a Hillary one. Joe will be on the losing end. Oprah has embraced Obama-can victory for the nomination be far behind?

[verner]

Here's a bit of Rowan Scarborough about the traitors from an interview with Human Events:

JB: The Wilson-Plame matter. You focus on that as one piece of evidence about CIA operating against the Bush administration instead of part of it We have endured a three-year media spectacular surrounding the leak of Plame’s identity, culminating in the commutation of Scooter Libby’s sentence for perjury. Why do you think that that was essentially a set-up, an attack on the president by the CIA?

RS: The CIA was so suspicious, and so angry at the Bush administration’s policies, that it had no interest in doing a proper investigation of Niger. That's what it boiled down to.

Look at Vice President Dick Cheney. There’s a report from the Defense Intelligence Agency that Saddam Hussein's regime may have contacted Niger to buy some 'yellowcake,' which is low-level processed uranium, and is used to make bomb-grade uranium. This was not far-fetched, because Saddam had bought yellowcake from Niger before, and in fact the yellowcake was still in his country, supposedly under seal. So a request goes over from Dick Cheney’s office to the CIA, and what happens? How is it handled? Valerie Plame, Joe Wilson’s wife. It comes down to her division, the Counter-Proliferation Division, and she decides, ‘Let’s send my former-ambassador husband down to investigate.' That’s what she decides. And she recommends him for the trip. He is not a trained intelligence investigator. He's a former diplomat, who decides he will fly to Niger and just ask some questions and then return.

So the bureaucracy sends a former ambassador to Niger for one of the most important pre-war questions on Iraq, instead of a trained investigator. He is not asked to even sign a confidentiality agreement on not disclosing what he finds, which is extremely unusual. So off he goes to Niger, unbeknownst to Dick Cheney -- who wanted the question answered --, unbeknownst to Tenet or his top people at headquarters.

After the 2003 State of the Union address, Wilson decides to leak his trip, breaking his own vow of confidentiality: Valerie Plame was sitting right next to him when he leaked it to Nick Christoff of the New York Times. She knew her role in getting him the trip. She wrote a memo recommending him. Spouses, in the CIA, are responsible for protecting the confidentiality of the covert status of their spouse. So, at that moment, the Wilsons were, in a sense, outing Valerie Plame, because they had to realize when this appeared in the New York Times, people are going to ask, “Who is this ambassador, and how did he get sent to Niger?”

And the answer was going to come back: his wife got him the trip. And that’s exactly what happened, because when that column appeared in the New York Times, the White House said “What? Who? Why?” and “When did this happen?” And they made an inquiry to the CIA, and the bureaucracy reported back: his wife got him the trip. And that is what spawned this scandal, not as some diabolical plot to get Wilson’s wife as punishment. It was just gossip. That's how Joe Wilson got the trip."

Can't wait to get the book. It should arrive in a couple of days.

[Topsecretk9]

for more stuck on stupid - here is how this scandal is going...

Prominent Madison lobbyist Bill Broydrick has been linked to the so-called "D.C. Madam" sex scandal in Washington, phone records indicate.

Broydrick's cell phone number appears three times in 2004 on a list of calls received by Deborah Jeane Palfrey, who has been charged with running a prostitution ring in Washington, D.C...

,,,Reached today at his Washington office, Broydrick said he had no comment. "I have nothing to say on the record," he said.

Calls to the number that appeared on Palfrey's phone records showed that the number is Broydrick's.

A former state lawmaker and longtime Democratic activist, Broydrick is considered one of the most influential lobbyists in Wisconsin and Washington...

...Broydrick has also long been active in Democratic politics. Campaign finance records show he has already given more than $5,000 to Democratic candidates for national office across the country.
Broydrick has also been a controversial figure. In 1989, he pleaded guilty and was fined for giving an illegal gift to a lawmaker after he admitted paying for former state Sen. Gary George's dinner. Wisconsin lawmakers are prohibited from accepting "anything of value" from lobbyists.

Broydrick's name also came up in the 2002 criminal case against former state Senate Majority Leader Chuck Chvala. Prosecutors said Broydrick told them that Chvala had solicited donations for a front group that helped Democratic Senate candidates.

http://www.madison.com/tct/news/202030

[Ann]

Maryerose

Wouldn't it be fun to see Hillary try and take down Oprah!

[PeterUK]

Some elements of the CIA were Clinton's IED,the politicising of the Civil Service seems to be the legacy of modern liberals.

[hit and run]

Um, so wait.

Kate Beckinsale to play the journalist...Vera Farmiga the CIA agent...

In that movie, here's Judy Miller and here's Val.

Uh, yeah, he said delicately, is it just me, or is Judy hotter than Val?

How do Joe and Val feel about this development?????

[Topsecretk9]

HIT - too funny.

[PeterUK]

That "Val" is aimed at the pink dollar.

[hit and run]

OK, going by Sue's method....in the movie, Judy gets out of jail with the prosecutor held in contempt and Val is indicted on charges of treason.

'cause Judy is hotter.

::grin::

[Topsecretk9]

Can Cheney, Rove, Libby and Arimitage go after the Wilson's for attorneys fees?

[hit and run]

Pink dollar or pink sapphire?

John Edwards shoulda played Val in the movie?

Wait. Genius.

[hit and run]

I will NOT say that pink dollar and pink sapphire are redundant.

Won't even insinuate it.

[Topsecretk9]

the dogswampers aren't happy about this movie and now Hollywood has always been apart of the disinfo propaganda wing of the chicken hawk-establishment and Kate Beckinsale must be too for choosing to play Judy Miller.

I will not be surprised if the Wilson's sue this movie production or some such.

[PeterUK]

This Edwards?

[Sue]

Kate Beckinsale must be too for choosing to play Judy Miller.

Good grief. Oh well, I thought the same thing about Barbara Streisand's husband when he chose to play Reagan so turnabout is fair play, I suppose.

[sylvia]

This from Pincus:

"On July 12, 2003, an administration official, who was talking to me confidentially about a matter involving alleged Iraqi nuclear activities,
It turned out that my source, whom I still cannot identify publicly, had in fact disclosed to the prosecutor that he was my source, and he talked to the prosecutor about our conversation... My attorney discussed the matter with his attorney, and we confirmed that he had no problem with my testifying about our conversation."

And this from MJW:

"I'm pretty sure Fleischer never admitted it. Somehow, though, Fitz knew by September 2004. Perhaps between the August and September affidavits Fitz persuaded Fleischer to sign the waiver he refused to sign after being given immunity."

I suppose the only way this could work without Fleischer committing obvious perjury is if Fleischer admitted to being a source about Wilson, and not Plame. However, talking about Wilson should hardly be considered a "source", since Wilson was all over the place already, so I don't know. Or maybe Pincus was just mistaken in his impression that Fleischer admitted to being a source, but if the attorney's talked about it, it seemed pretty hard to mistake. Hmmm. Still doesn't make sense.

[sylvia]

"Grossman went to Armitage with the information. Grossman then called Libby to give him "some of the answer."
I told him that "yes, actually people at State did know about such a trip."
Gave him Wilson's name. May have apologized that he didn't know. I told him that I had these two emails, fuller story yet to be told, I'd give a fuller story.
Reached out to Wilson, did it on the same day.
"I happen to know Joe Wilson, is it okay to just call him up""

Okay, that is the connection between Armitage and Wilson. Grossman called Wilson the same day, and probably knew about Armitage's meeting with Novak, and told Wilson about it. That's how Wilson and/or Grossman got the street walking by guy to accost Novak and run to Wilson, cause there's no way I believe that's a coincidence.

Perhaps the conspiracy theory is then since Wilson knew his name was about to start floating out there, he decided to check up on all the reporters and keep track of who knew what, and perhaps float a little of his own information to get a little nudge going and get some temptation going, in the effort to slam anyone in the administration who dared speak his name- so that he could launch his future failed lawsuit.

[Topsecretk9]

Anyone hear Hugh Hewiitt'e Dwayne just explain how the the Democrats just got pwned on an amendment to close Gitmo - oh my golly it was funny.

[anduril]

[Wilson] was sent to Niger in 2002 to investigate claims that Iraq had attempted to purchase uranium yellowcake from that country, id. ¶ 19(b), (i). Mr. Wilson's trip was reportedly taken at the behest of the CIA, in response to inquiries made by the Office of the Vice President into the alleged Iraqi activities. See id. Upon the conclusion of the Niger trip, and well before the State of the Union address, Mr. Wilson advised the CIA and the State Department that the allegations were based on forged documents and were wholly untrue. Id. ¶ 19(b), (i).

I'm sorry, I don't keep these matters at my fingertips--is this statement, taken from page 3 of the opinion, accurate? Especially about the forgeries?

[clarice]

anduril--this is a motion to dismiss and the judge is stating the facts alleged by the plaintiffs. It is not accurate, but for this purpose it's what he must use.

*************
Here's a fascinating story from today's New York Times:
For more than a year, the leader of one the most notorious insurgent groups in Iraq was said to be a mysterious Iraqi called Abu Omar al-Baghdadi.
As the titular head of the Islamic State in Iraq, Mr. Baghdadi issued incendiary pronouncements. Despite claims by an Iraqi Interior Ministry official in May that Mr. Baghdadi had been killed, he appeared to have persevered unscathed.
On Wednesday, the chief United States military spokesman here, Brig. Gen. Kevin J. Bergner, provided a new explanation for Mr. Baghdadi's ability to escape attack: he never existed.
General Bergner told reporters that a senior Iraqi insurgent captured this month said that the elusive Mr. Baghdadi was actually a fictional character whose declarations on audiotape were read by a man named Abu Abdullah al-Naima.
General Bergner said the ruse was devised by Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the Egyptian-born leader of the insurgent group Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia. Although the group is mostly Iraqi, much of its leadership is foreign, and Mr. Masri was reportedly trying to mask the outsiders' dominant role.
So the enemy has engaged in a propaganda effort designed to fool people into thinking that the Iraqi branch of al Qaeda is a domestic outfit. Among those fooled, as we noted last week, were the editors of the New York Times, who, according to public editor Clark Hoyt, "circulated a memo with guidelines on how to distinguish Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia from bin Laden's Al Qaeda." And the Times continues to follow those guidelines even in a story that shows how it serves enemy propaganda!
By the way, remember Khaled Abdul-Fattah Dawoud Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, the highest-ranking Iraqi member of al Qaeda in Iraq, who turned out not to be very high-ranking at all? We wondered yesterday if the Times would get around to reporting his capture. The answer is yes--in the ninth paragraph of the story on the fictitious Baghdadi.
It turns out Mashhadani was the one who told the Americans that Baghdadi was fictional. The Times notes the amusing detail that Mashhadani worked as al Qaeda's "Media Emir, or publicity director." Maybe he quit because the Times was making his job too easy.

http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110010354

[anduril]

Right, clarice. Point being, Wilson is still recycling his lies. Doesn't he have to attest in some way to the accuracy of his allegations in the complaint, and aren't some of them demonstrably untrue--as the Senate said? Talk about a charmed life. When all this sh** catches up with him I don't wanna be near.

[hit and run]

When all this sh** catches up with him I don't wanna be near.

But I want a film crew on site to document it.

[clarice]

It's a civil case and the attestation is to the best of his knowledge and belief..and we know (a) he's stupid so his knowledge is limited and b) we know he's a fabulist so his beliefs are not worth listening to.