The Surreal Filings Of Team Libby

[Me.]

“Team Libby is now objecting to the presentation of classified information to the judge ex parte by the government. According to Pete Yost of the AP (via Guardian UK), the lawyers representing Scooter Libby have filed objections to the ex parte submission of the classified information to Judge Walton, saying that:

Libby "has diligently protected some of this country's most sensitive secrets throughout his many years of public service," the lawyers added.

In arguing for keeping classified information away from the defense, Fitzgerald has noted in court papers that the underlying criminal activity Libby is charged with is the failure to adequately safeguard sensitive classified information.

The operative phrase in the Team Libby quote is "has diligently protected some of this country's most sensitive secrets." (emphasis mine) That's just not good enough.” Cont…

Having access to classified material is a privilege, not a right. According to the nondisclosure agreement that you sign -- the SF 312 (PDF) -- requires that you never, ever discuss classified information with another person who does not have the requisite clearance to know about the material in question. This includes not leaking classified information to reporters. (For a basic primer on classified information and the duties involved in having your privileged clearance, see this.)

http://firedoglake.blogspot.com/

[Me.]

1. A Few More Of The Juicy Bits

“Additionally, as a clearance holder, you not only have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether the person to whom you are disclosing the information has adequate clearance before even opening your mouth about the classified information, you also have an affirmative duty to report anyone who has violated their clearance agreement by improperly disclosing such information. And when you are dealing with "need to know" matters, you do not disclose that information at all whatsoever unless that person has requisite clearance and a "need to know."

It's pretty simple, really, and Scooter Libby, in confirming Valerie Plame Wilson's status with Matt Cooper (after Karl Rove had already done so) violated the terms and conditions of his SF 312. Period. Let alone all the other classified bits and pieces that were leaking out of the Vice President's office via Scooter as an ass-saving measure for the Administration once the fact that they had lied their way into the Iraq War started becoming public knowledge.” Cont…

[H2O Man]

2. Stunning.

The arrogance is hard to believe.

[kayice]

4. Humble people never have a problem with arrogance biting them

in the arse. Everything the WH says and does smacks of arrogance, corruption, lies, greed, and hunger for the almighty POWER.

[stop the bleeding]

3. Stephanie Miller had a piece on her show this morning about these

proceedings, they really are throwing everything they can think of - even the kitchen sink in order to delay, trip up or derail the prosecution's case.

It really is interesting to see how Fitz counters their radical claims.

[annabanana]

5. "We're ALL mad, here....

I'm mad, you're mad."

"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"Because", said the cat, "If you weren't, you wouldn't have come here."

[Me.]

6. Perfect

The Bots are doing their best to send us down the rabbitt hole. This stunning logic reminds me of the breach/overflow type of spin they produce over in that lunatic asylum. Aren't most asylums white?