Wayne Madsen article... Roberts intends to interfer in Fitzgerald probe!

[Joanne98]

July 26, 2005 -- Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) intends to interfere in Fitzgerald probe. Senator Pat Roberts, chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, announced that his commitee will be "reviewing" the criminal probe by special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald of the White House leak of the identities of covert CIA agents. If Roberts is serious and not just grandstanding, this may indicate that the White House is looking to give Fitzgerald's targets (Karl Rove, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, and others) congressional general immunity from prosecution in return for their testimony before Roberts' committee. This was the method by which John Poindexter and Oliver North were able to avoid jail time for their roles in Iran-contra, their convictions being overturned by a federal appeals court because of their previously granted congressional immunity. There is also a bit of Watergate redux in Roberts' statement. Pressure by the GOP on Fitzgerald is reminiscent of the Nixon administration's decision to fire Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox. That prompted the resignations of Nixon's Attorney and Deputy Attorney General. Meanwhile, the Karl Rove/neocon spin machine is stepping up its criticism of ex-CIA officers who are defending Valerie Plame and Joseph Wilson. The Project for a New American Century (PNAC) director Gary Schmitt penned a screed in William Kristol's and Rupert Murdoch's Weekly Standard attacking former CIA officer and Valerie Plame colleague Larry Johnson, who gave the Democratic weekly radio response to Bush's address on July 23. The neocon attack on CIA veterans, including the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS), began in earnest on the/Republican Freerepublic.com site, a bevy of white supremacists, JDLers, and John Birchers largely based in California's San Joaquin Valley and Orange County.


http://www.waynemadsenreport.com/

[ncteechur]

1. I just don't know what to say.

[FogerRox]

3. I do--

they are guilty

[FreedomAngel82]

34. I think so too

And from my understanding they're not going to find anything on him.

[MsTryska]

2. well to steal a page fromt he playbook.....

how can Roberts be smeared before he has a chance to get any cachet on this?

[Joanne98]

4. He mentions freerepublic! LOL

The neocon attack on CIA veterans, including the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS), began in earnest on the/Republican Freerepublic.com site, a bevy of white supremacists, JDLers, and John Birchers largely based in California's San Joaquin Valley and Orange County.


http://www.waynemadsenreport.com/

He calls them white supremacists! HAHA!

[ClintonTyree]

11. That's calling a spade a spade............

it's a right wing, white supremacist hate sight. Hit the nail right on the head there!

[flpoljunkie]

5. Hope Andrea Mitchell is right and Fitzgerald will finish this summer...as

Robert's hearings will not begin until after the August break in September.

[DURHAM D]

10. I heard on MSNBC earlier today that Fitz may extend the

grand jury for 4 extra months. This could be a story planted by the White House or it could be true. If Fitz does extend for 4 months than Robert's hearings will get Rove, et al off and will let Fitz off the hook.

[tridim]

22. Or it could ba a Fitz diversion

To make Roberts think he has more time for his BS "review".

[DURHAM D]

23. I just don't think Fitz has said a single word to the press - this

came, most likely, from Rove's strategy group.

[FreedomAngel82]

35. Could be

Because they know they're all guilty which is the only reason why I think they're doing this. Didn't they all praise Fitzgerald at first? Then they knew they were fucked I think. So could be happening (that Fitzgerald puts out his own review).

[NativeTexan]

6. This is not a complete surprise....

Republicans only know how to manipulate the system to their advantage, they have no clue, anymore, as to how to face the fury when someone on their side steps over the line.

Remember, back during Watergate, the Republican's stepped up to the plate and said enough is enough. Howard Baker, the Republican ranking member during the Senate Watergate Committee hearings, wouldn't allow the White House to stall or ignore without his own personal reprimand.

Even Fred Thompson...yes THAT Fred Thompson for us Law & Order fans... who was the Republican counsel, was hard, but fair, and wanted the truth no matter how hard it was going to be on his party.

Those hearings gave me two things: Respect for the Republican's in Congress at the time, who not only recognized the seriousness of the situation, but who acted on it; AND the last time I saw the Republican Party act in a responsible way!!

I am sure they are getting tired of this crap. Watergate, then Iran-Contra....then trying to get even with GotchaGate against Clinton...and now ROVEGATE, but they should learn to play fair and open, and quit buying into all of the BS that their leadership keeps expelling!

http://truthfromtheamericanmiddle.blogspot.com/

[Eloriel]

26. That's precisely how I felt

re the Watergate hearings and the Republicans at the time as well. Hell, it was Howard Baker who convinced Nixon to resign. True, it may have been political expediency (since Nixon WAS going to be impeached), but at least he did that, and he and other Republican Senators conducted themselves like statesmen during those hearings. I miss that in Washington. I see precious little of it from either side, and I miss it.

I was thinking about the changes last night -- I still blame Reagan and Gingrich entirely, absolutely 100%.

[NativeTexan]

43. Well noted

You are 100% correct! Reagan and Gingrich were the culprits in the changes. Throw in Kenneth Starr and you have the trifecta!

[Alizaryn]

7. We KNOW that is the intent and each and every

Democrat Senator needs to raise hell and PUBLICALLY call Robert's bluff by exposing the similarities to the Iran Contra investigations. I can't believe for a minute that our Senators will not see this coming.

[BlueWolff]

9. I agree

The freepers are going to go ballistic over this post! LOL

[Supersedeas]

8. Roberts and Sennsenbrenner have been given marching orders

[EVDebs]

27. Obstruction of justice, even by Congress, is something these weavers

should be aware of themselves...tick tick tick.

[ClintonTyree]

12. It's painfully obvious............

that the GOP is more concerned with covering the bush administration's ass than they are with truth and the security of the United States. If this isn't hammered into the heads of voters in '06 by the Democrats, I'm going to have to jump off a freaking bridge! :grr:

[FreedomAngel82]

37. Oh of course

It's Bush loyalty first and everybody else later. Even if it means security and someone getting killed.

[mikelewis]

13. The reason North and Poindexter were exonerated is different and won't fly

To understand why North and Poindexter were exonerated requires an understanding of the end of the Cold War. The Soviet/Afghan conflict was our plan to embroil the Soviet's into thier own vientnam. With an out of control arms race with the U.S. and constant warfare or tension in the southern borders, the soviets would need to commit more of thier GDP to secutiy and military spending. They did this for nearly 10 years before it broke them, but it did break them. Now, a lot of people believe we were at odds with Iran because of the Iranian hostage crisis and the Iran/Iraq war but this may not be the case. It hardly seems logical that we would work to install a Radicalized muslim oppostion in Afghanistan with the intent on forming an Extremely right-wing government and not find any geopolitical advantage in Iran developing along those same lines. In truth, the Iran/Contra scandal only confirms the fact that our government wasn't as openly hostile as they pretended to be. The reason the Iran/Contra scandal was such a big deal was not because the CIA and Military were illegally trading arms with Iran, it's because they were taking the money from the sale of those arms, buying drugs with it and using the profit from that to fund the contras. However, since these men were somewhat responsible for winning the Cold War, they got a free pass.

Rove's situation is a bit more sticky than that. He hasn't such credentials and it would look very bad for any Senator to offer immunity to any of the people being investigated. North and Poindexter were involved in an illegal enterprise that was intended to serve American interests, no matter how misguided. Karl Rove was involved in an illegal enterprise to better his own political agenda and engage in a deception to undermine the integrity of the CIA. There is a huge difference. There is no way to offer immunity in this case, it would be tantamount to political suicide and could result in obstruction and comspiracy charges brought against Roberts and anyone else involved. I'm not saying they won't try it but it would backfire on them. The blowback would be deadly.

[FogerRox]

14. Good points mike

The CIA asked for the DOJ to look into this--
This may pit the CIA against the NEo COns in the White House.
Like Larry Johnson on Randis show (AAR) yesterday he a repub -- and he is pissed

[Joanne98]

31. Shameless Hubris. They'll try it. Karl "War Hero" Rove! YUK!

[mikelewis]

33. Now Congress could grant immunity if there were greater...

national security interests but they'd have to show how the crime of perjury was serving the interests of the nation. The only other way they could grant it would be if Rove decided to roll on Bush. This could happen but it's pretty unlikely. We'd have to shake them real hard for that to happen. But without anything more than Madsens article, I'd say Roberts would be pretty damn foolish to try a stunt like this, especially if it stands a chance of costing him his seat and possible incarceration.

[FreedomAngel82]

38. I think it'd backfire too

I think if they fire Fitzgerald or give Rove immunity or anything like that it will backfire them for 2008 for sure and next year. All the polls I've seen have sided against Rove.

[mikelewis]

42. Not just politically - they would essentially be using thier power to

obstruct justice. That's a crime of conspiracy, thye'd go to jail if they try it. I can't imagine any lawyer suggesting this is a wise course. Even though Gonzales found a loop-hole in the Geneva Conventions to allow torture, I'm sure he cautioned the President against it. If he didn't, he's an idiot. The same would go for Roberts lawyer, if he doesn't advise him against this, he should be disbared. Imagine how leanient a liberal activist judge would be towards thier case. Remember, the cover-up is worse than the crime.

[GreenArrow]

50. nevermind

not pertinent.

[Vinca]

15. I have a strong feeling they shouldn't go after Fitzgerald.

The man has dealt with the mob for Pete's sake and is not intimidated by the likes of Pat Roberts. If anything, it'll probably egg him on.

[cyberpj]

20. That was my thought as well... nt.

[Joanne98]

25. That's good experience for this mess! Maybe he'll use RICO after all!

[Roland99]

16. Let the Propagandist pre-pardon these traitors. America will exact revenge

in Nov. 2006!

[kansasblue]

17. Roberts (R-Ks) is an embarrassment. Kansas apologizes

[fooj]

19. Thanks, Kansas. Don't feel as though you need to apologize.

He's a rat bastard and he could have crawled out from under just about anywhere.

No worries.:hi:

Do us a favor, ok? Try like hell to get rid of him next time.

Peace.

[cosmik debris]

24. Imagine how much guilt we feel in Texas

We tried to plead temporary insanity, but the real world won't buy it.

[nookiemonster]

47. Neighbor, you're in good company

Since the idiots here put Baby Blunt in office, we have no right to bitch about another state's politics.

BTW, it's not your fault.

[Eloriel]

18. Can you post a permanent link?

Months from now, if anyone goes to the link you've provided looking for this story, they aren't going to find it. Thanks in advance.

[Joanne98]

28. I can't it's a blog! Or if I can I don't know how! Sorry!

[genius]

21. Everyone keep this kicked and forward copies to everyone.

[Joanne98]

29. OMG! He wrote an even better piece right below this one!

It's about counter-intelligence forces hitting Valerie Plame and CIA's sources and making it look like terrorist attacks! I love this guy.

July 26, 2005 -- CIA agents concerned about counter-intelligence "hits" masked as terrorist attacks. In the aftermath of the outing by the White House of the identities of covert CIA agents, CIA professionals are concerned about past and future terrorist bombings being used by foreign counter-intelligence agencies and terrorist organizations to selectively assassinate CIA agents and assets identified as being involved in America's counter-WMD proliferation operations. Of particular concern are small scale terrorist attacks directed against restaurants, cafes, hotels, and bars where agents and their assets meet. They point to the July 23 bomb blast at an Istanbul cafe near the Galata Bridge which is frequented by Turks and foreigners. The relatively low yield blast injured two people, a Dutchman and a Turk. Turkey remains a central focus by U.S. intelligence agencies on WMD proliferation because of its close links to the former Soviet Central Asian states, Pakistan, Israel, and former Warsaw Pact eastern European nations. The Marriott Hotel in Jakarta was car bombed on August 5, 2003, just a few weeks after the White House leaked Valerie Plame's name and her NOC firm, Brewster Jennings & Associates, to several reporters, including columnist Robert Novak. Some 14 people were killed and 148 injured in the Marriott bombing. According to intelligence sources, a covert team of CIA agents on a classified mission were due to stay and meet at the hotel the day the bombing occurred but they canceled their reservations at the last minute when they were tipped off that they were targets for an attack. The CIA team was reportedly involved in the capture in Thailand of Al Qaeda terrorist chief Hambali, thought to have been involved, in addition to the Bali nightclub and other bombings, in trying to procure radioactive material (cesium-137 and cobalt-60) smuggled from the former Soviet Union via Laos to Thailand. It is not known whether any Brewster Jennings NOCs or assets were members of the CIA team that captured Hambali but the terrorist's connections to an international network of radioactive material smugglers would suggest CIA Counter Proliferation Division (CPD) involvement at a minimum. Plame and her Brewster Jennings colleagues reported to the CPD. The Jakarta bombing was blamed on Al Qaeda's Indonesian affiliate, Jemaah Islamiya.


http://www.waynemadsenreport.com/

This probably needs it's own thread! WOW!

[Al-CIAda]

41. I agree, kick. n/t

[wiggs]

45. Implications of this article are earth-shattering

I liked it better when I was naive and knew who the good guys and the bad guys were.

Is the rug going to be pulled out from under the public perception of who we are and what we do as a nation?

[applegrove]

30. Give them immunity for testimony? Yeah - like Fitzgerald want to

sit and listen to Rove & Libby lie again.

[mikelewis]

36. No, it's a Senate Hearing - He wouldn't be there - only Rove & Libby

and anyone else they chose to help them whitewash his story. Don't look for it to happen though. If it does, we've got them on RICO violations for conspiracy to obstruct justice and a few other statutes. Roberts would have to be insane to try it.

[applegrove]

39. Right. Okay. The Repukes in congress are going to run an alternative

reality to an ongoing investigation that Scotty or Bush will not talk about because they don't want to interfear in an ongoing investigation. I'd love to see that one happen.

[roguevalley]

32. Pelt him with emails, the more the better:

https://ssl.capwiz.com/congressorg/mail/?id=256&type=CO&state=KS

[burythehatchet]

40. I hope you folks don't worry too much about this.

As far as I can see this is a very good development. Lets consider...
1. The bastards in the White House are in deep shit
2. Every favor is to be called and every operative is put into action

...BUT...we have reached a tipping point. If you haven't noticed, every move they make backfires on them.

...SO...by getting their lieutenants into the fray, they are actually tyeing the rats to the sinking ship. Come '06, guys like ROberts will pay, as long as they're tied to the ship.

[McCamy Taylor]

44. Neo-Cons vs. CIA wont sit well with Mom and Pop Gop. Look for poll drop.

And any Congressman dumb enough to do what Sensenbrenner has already done had better be in the safest Republican district imaginable, because 2006 is going to be a tough year for the GOP.

This whole thing stinks of Cheney. He lacks political sense, likes to play hardball cause it makes him feel macho, but is clueless when it comes to manipulating people. I think Rove is so compromised that he cant orchestrate an effective response right now. Karen Hughes could do a lot better, but I dont see her sticking her neck out to save Rove's sorry ass. She is much more likely to be behind things such as *'s selection of Roberts, the administration's recent interest in the genocide in Africa---stuff that will improve *'s PR.

[Gelliebeans]

46. Sent a letter to Feinstein

since she is my Senator and I told her what I thought about Roberts partisan ploy to silence Fitzgerald. I urged her (FWIW) to stand up and not to be a party to this.
Fingers x's

[DoYouEverWonder]

48. Roberts stunt isn't going to work

because this is not the same situation has with the Iran-Contra hearings. What happened with the Iran Contra hearings was that they occurred before the federal investigation. The Senate granted immunity to folks like Ollie for their testimony to Congress and then whatever they told Congress could not be used has evidence later on in any federal investigation or trial.

This time we have exactly the opposite situation. Rove and the rest have already testified to the Grand Jury. The Senate can not immunize them at this point because it is too late, their testimony is already on the record and is now considered evidence.

The only thing that may happen has a result of Roberts grand standing is that Fitzgerald wraps things up faster then expected in order to bring indictments before Congress comes back from recess and tries to pull anymore crap.

[NuttyFluffers]

49. Pro-Treason = Enemy of the State

Go ahead Roberts, make everyone's day. The Scarlet T's are being prepared as we wait.

[Alizaryn]

51. EVEN IF THIS SCENERIO PLAYED OUT...

Would it prevent prosecution for perjury and conspiracy?