'Scooter Libby' Trial Starts Tuesday - Reuters: "Is Cover-Up Worse Than Crime In CIA Leak?"

[Hissyspit]

Weak off-balance analysis of it from a Reuters article:

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N14289947.htm

PREVIEW-Is cover-up worse than crime in CIA leak trial?
14 Jan 2007 13:59:55 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON, Jan 14 (Reuters) - The only criminal trial to result from a three-year investigation of government leaks begins on Tuesday and, as in previous Washington scandals, prosecutors will focus on the cover-up, not the crime. Rather than being charged with disclosing the identity of a clandestine CIA officer, former White House official Lewis "Scooter" Libby is accused of lying to investigators.

- snip -

Special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald's case may have been weakened by his decision to prosecute Libby rather than former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who has admitted he revealed CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity to reporters.

- snip -

The probe began in mid-2003 to determine whether government officials broke the law by naming Plame, after her husband, former ambassador Joseph Wilson, criticized the Bush team's use of intelligence leading up to the invasion of Iraq.

The case quickly became the talk of Washington, as insiders speculated about the identity of the supposed leaker, who had effectively ended Plame's career.

Liberal Internet bloggers saw it as a chance to hold the Bush administration accountable at a time it enjoyed broad public support and little scrutiny from a Republican Congress. "For a long time, it was like this beacon of hope," said Jane Hamsher, founder of the Firedoglake blog.

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[C_U_L8R]

1. Perjury is a crime

apparently Reuters doesn't know that

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. What do expect from Andy Sullivan?

Seems the talking airheads are trying real hard, to act like the Libby Trial is really no big deal, and that nothing is going to come of it anyway.

[C_U_L8R]

4. of course (slaps head)

i missed the by-line... figures some right wing stooge would write that

[Hissyspit]

5. It's a really bad one-sided article. I posted it for informational purposes.

I usually expect a little better from Reuters. He doesn't seem to address that this is part of the process. More can come out of the trial that could lead to other investigations and charges.

[Independent_Liberal]

2. Remember this from Watergate...

It's not the crime, it's the cover-up.

[Missy Vixen]

6. Someone needs to notify Reuters

that for an inconsequential trial, the press are taking 100 seats in the courtroom. The courtroom next door is being used for overflow, complete with closed circuit television and wi-fi. There is also a media center in the courthouse with the same set up.

The one-sided articles are flowing thick and fast today. The right-wing is terrified that the average American will take five minutes out of their day, do a simple Google search, and ask themselves or their elected representatives why a CIA NOC's identity and network was irretrievably exposed as a political payback to her husband by those in the White House.

Julie