Declassified 10 days after the fact; Criminal?

[dajoki]

NYT
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/07/washington/07cnd-leak.html?ex=1145073600&en=e964fa5084bc368e&ei=5009&partner=MSN_NYTHOME

White House Tries to Quell Anger Over Leak Claim
By DAVID STOUT
Published: April 7, 2006

<<snip>>

Mr. Libby told a grand jury he discussed the intelligence estimate with Judith Miller, then with The New York Times, on July 8, 2003. Ten days later, the intelligence estimate was formally declassified, a move that Mr. McClellan said again and again was in the public interest and not politically motivated. Mr. McClellan deflected questions on what role, if any, Mr. Bush had in setting the parameters of Mr. Libby's discussion with Ms. Miller.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------if it wasn't declassified until 10 days after Libby spoke to Miller then Bush authorized the leak of classified information. CORRECT?

[neoblues]

1. Since when does Bush declassify ANYTHING "in the public interest"?

Since "Never", that's when.

[Igel]

2. Right hand, left hand.

Of course not. Everybody knows that just because you delegate authority doesn't mean that you actually possess any of your own, esp. after delegation. After all, the CIA only declassified the NIE based on the authority and responsibility they were given by *; if you give authority and responsibility away, certainly you don't retain any.

I mean, if your boss gives you the authority to do something, he certainly could never override you, or make the decision behind your back. Right?

[dajoki]

3. is there a difference...

between giving the ok to leak info to a reporter or "when it was formally declassified 10 days later?

[Igel]

4. I don't think so.

I'd need details to not sound too foolish, though.

Maybe it was dumb luck: * intoned the sacred words, "This information is declassified, go and publish it to all the nations," and the apostles went forth to publish the word. A month later the CIA decided maybe it needed to declassify the report because Hadley was caterwauling about it, and did so.

Or maybe * knew the info was going to be declassified 'by the book', but would take time. After all, he did talk to Tenet from time to time (or, rather, Tenet held a monolog in *'s presence). * shortcircuited the process, but why tell the subordinates they're spinning their wheels and hurt their egos?

Another option is that * intoned the sacred words over the appropriate bits of the NIE, and sent forth his apostles. Then, a week later, Laura said, "You know, poodle, I told you to make sure that NIE was made public, but you really should have left a papertrail for that." George responded, "Yes, dear, I'll have Tenet get right on it tomorrow." And Tenet dutifully released as much of the NIE as he could 'by the book.'

Either way, I suspect there was a mismatch between what * said was declassified and what Tenet's guys declassified, a mismatch that has carefully been ignored in favor of the official, formal release. I suspect that simply because I can't believe * was very specific about what he wanted out, or would remember all the details.

[dajoki]

5. I sort of agree...

but I doubt chimpy could think that deeply. he could have been warned to leave a paper trail by Cheney or someone. BTW, i like your reference to apostles, I always called them the disciples.

[Toots]

6. So far all I have heard is hearsay

Hearsay is not permitted in court. When actual documants show up saying Bush* authorized the release of classified documents then I may get more interested. I am not saying though that this "hearsay" should not be spread far and wide so Americans can be their own judge on what they believed happened and why. I am just saying don't expect any criminal indictments over hearsay..