CNN BREAKING NEWS - LIBBY SAYS BUSH AUTHORIZED LEAK

[kpete]

OMG Prosecutors: Former VVP Aide Says Bush Authorized Leak

At one period in time Bush said he would punish leaker...

MAJOR REPERCUSSIONS

According to associated press

Cheney told him to pass along info

And Bush Authorized


And OF COURSE it is against the law

No one has ever asserted that it was bush

Bombshell has dropped

(Kpete - Wow, I nearly had a stroke typing this...)

UPDATE:

CNN Corrects itself 9:20 pst
Makes it seem like a game between Libby & Fitz

Ensor: Gov says VP leaked NIE docs

Doc from gov says that the pres authorized Libby to leak info about what Iraq had

NOTHING TO DO WITH PLAME

Pres is legally entitled to do so

BUT WAIT...

NYT

April 6, 2006
Papers: Cheney Aide Says Bush OK'd Leak
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 12:11 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Vice President Dick Cheney's former top aide told prosecutors President Bush authorized the leak of sensitive intelligence information about Iraq, according to court papers filed by prosecutors in the CIA leak case.

Before his indictment, I. Lewis Libby testified to the grand jury investigating the CIA leak that Cheney told him to pass on information and that it was Bush who authorized the disclosure, the court papers say. According to the documents, the authorization led to the July 8, 2003, conversation between Libby and New York Times reporter Judith Miller.

There was no indication in the filing that either Bush or Cheney authorized Libby to disclose Valerie Plame's CIA identity.

But the disclosure in documents filed Wednesday means that the president and the vice president put Libby in play as a secret provider of information to reporters about prewar intelligence on Iraq.

The authorization came as the Bush administration faced mounting criticism about its failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, the main reason the president and his aides had given for justifying the invasion of Iraq.

Libby's participation in a critical conversation with Miller on July 8, 2003 ''occurred only after the vice president advised defendant that the president specifically had authorized defendant to disclose certain information in the National Intelligence Estimate,'' the papers by Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald stated. The filing did not specify the ''certain information.''

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-CIA-Leak.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print
http://nationaljournal.com/about/njweekly/stories/2006/...
http://www.thesmokinggun.com//archive/0406061libby1.htm...


EDIT: COPYRIGHT - PLEASE KEEP SNIPS TO
FOUR PARAGRAPHS. THANK YOU.

[NYC]

1. Please post updates as soon as you can.

Thank you in advance. :)

[cain_7777]

27. Again, this shocks many, but why?

This isn't shocking news as to the fact that Bush was involved, but it is shocking that the news that he is involved is actually getting out! Alright Bush, hold out your hands for a little slap on the wrist. Let's see how this plays out over the next few days. By Monday this will either blow up in Bushco's face, or it will fade away under Republican spin.

[NYC]

59. It shocks me that Libby implicated Bush.

It doesn't shock me that Bush was involved.

I've already heard some Republican spin. Essentially, it boils down to whatever the pResident does is legal. Bull.

[cain_7777]

71. I agree.

Even if disclosing classified material by bush is legal, he still lied to the public, he still lied to Fitz, and he continues to lie today. I don't think this is impeachable but it will certainly have a negative impact on his administration.

[stop the bleeding]

2. It has officially become Plamegate today.

Wow what a day, what a day

[katty]

53. Yes, it's "Official" now-had heart palps after hearing this....

[AuntiBush]

66. Who Was it on DU that Predicted April 6th?

Was it H2O Man? Can't recall, but someone did. What a day is right but where it leads is a whole other ballgame.

[JulieWisc]

3. YaY!!!

I wonder how he will explain this one away?

[rodeodance]

4. msnbc beat cnn

[tridim]

5. I had to pinch myself while watching that report

Wow! The dam waters are lose.

[Virginia Dare]

6. THANK YOU SCOOTER LIBBY!!!!!!!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[babylonsister]

7. I was just going to say, "What, no

McKinney?":sarcasm:

But I now stand corrected. They're back at it, the bastids!

[JulieWisc]

8. Can I have

the link please? I went there and see immigration..

[JulieWisc]

I found the AP link here

http://www.ap.org/

[AuntiBush]

68. Huffpost has it

National News Journal: http://news.nationaljournal.com/articles/0406nj1.htm

[npincus]

9. thank you thank you, kpete-- I'm trying to work

but it's hard!

[kentuck]

10. How important is this??

Sounds HUGH to me!

[PuraVidaDreamin]

32. at first glance it seems very damning HOWEVER

I'm thinking the are airing out all their
dirty laundry now in a spring cleaning
effort.

They are betting that the average Joe loses
patience with the story and will forget about
it come November.

[leftchick]

11. I am confused. Bloomberg says it is not Plame's name he authorized to leak

but the WMD info to miller?

Bush Approved Leak of Iraq Arms Intelligence, Libby Testified
April 6 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush authorized disclosure of classified information on Iraq's weapons program to rebut war critics, a former top administration aide told a grand jury, according to documents filed in federal court.

The documents don't allege the president approved the identification of covert CIA operative Valerie Plame, although they were filed in connection with the investigation into who leaked the operative's name to reporters in 2003. The court filing by special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald also doesn't suggest Bush violated any rule or law governing the handling of classified material.

The document described federal grand jury testimony by I. Lewis Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, who was indicted last October of charges of perjury, obstruction of justice and lying to FBI investigators probing the Plame case.

In the filing, Fitzgerald describes Libby's testimony about disclosure to former New York Times reporter Judy Miller of a 2002 National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq's pursuit of nuclear materials.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aTAo1LZSEZDA&refer=us

[bee]

16. msnbc just said Plame, Novak, pre-war BS.. all leaked by *. n/t

[Flirtus]

19. from another thread, see the smoking gun

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0406061libby1.html...

Libby: Bush Authorized Plamegate Leak

Indicted ex-Cheney aide told grand jury of White House approval

APRIL 6--A former top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney told a federal grand jury that President George W. Bush authorized him to leak information from a classified intelligence report to a New York Times reporter. (etc) (7 pages)

[Igel]

55. With the assumption being that the NIE document

contained information implicating Plame at least by role, if not by name.

I don't think it does; it was formally declassified on July 18, 2003 (19? 17?), and had it contained Plame's name, it would be a legal non-issue. I conclude the assumption is false, and that two similar events are being merged in the collective consciousness because they occurred on the same day at the same meeting.

[adigal]

12. It's not on the website yet -

did this just get announced???

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

13. Can you say "FIESTA!!"???

PLEASE DEAR GOD LET THIS BE TRUE!!!!

[The Backlash Cometh]

21. I'll bring the Paella!!!!!!!

Happy dance, happy dance, happy dance! 3-2-1 IT'S OVER!!!!!!

[Shine]

60. I'll bring the beer...

:beer:

:toast: Here's to Justice!

:hi: Vash!

[Cobalt Violet]

14. Is it TREASON yet?

:nuke: :nuke:

[Pacifist Patriot]

29. Will people care it is treason yet?

[Bob3]

15. Is CNN just re-reporting what the NY Sun said?

Or is this coming from somewhere else?

I only ask cause the NY Sun is not the most reliable of sources.

[The Backlash Cometh]

23. I would love to believe that the mainstream press has learned to

wait for the second source. I think this is really happening.

[Supersedeas]

69. We shall see...I trust the Corporate Media not one iota--the Spin Doctors

are in high gear now ready to make appearances tonite and tomorrow.

[RedEarth]

17. IMPEACH THE TREASONOUS LIAR

[Matariki]

18. Goddess, I hate being so cynical

but i've come to expect that Bush and Cheney could kill babies and eat them for breakfast and still nothing would happen to them.

[panhead1961]

44. And then

Club baby seals on the white house lawn for Easter while diddling children looking for eggs and Fox news would report what great family men they are.

Where are the people in the streets.

[Shine]

61. Everything Changes, sister....The chickens are comin' home to roost.

:hi:

[Jersey Devil]

20. The Fitgerald documents can be found at (LOL) The Smoking Gun

The documents filed by Fitzgerald can be found at (ironically) The Smoking Gun

[autorank]

22. Here's whats coming next...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3482593


Recommended, nice grab;)

[glitch]

35. Wow do you rock. Looks like you have been rocking for years! nt

:yourock:

[IndyOp]

40. So, now? Auto? Will it happen now?

Will SOMEONE step up and tell the world that ELECTION 2004 WAS STOLEN?!?!

I want my country back.
I want my sanity back.

:scared: :grr: :scared: :grr: :scared: :grr:

[katty]

54. good one!

[Shine]

62. Cool! Sounds good to me, brother.

:popcorn: we are living in Interesting Times...

[motocicleta]

24. Impeach? Hell, I thought treason was a capital crime. eom

[mzmolly]

25. Now how WILL they try to spin this?

:crazy:

I think I'm having a stroke with ya.

[Cobalt Violet]

30. 9/11, Terra, Clinton.

[Kablooie]

34. Presidential perogative. No biggie.

[katty]

56. they'll be stumbling all over their pompous,whiney asses!

[oasis]

26. Kerry's on "Hardball" today. He can't miss his chance to lay out for

the Ameican people the treachery and deceit of the Bushg Administration on this issue.

Plue Joe Wilson was on his campaign team.

[kpete]

28. CNN Corrects itself 9:20 pst

Makes it seem like a game between Libby & Fitz

Ensor: Gov says VP leaked NIE docs

Doc from gov says that the pres authorized Libby to leak info about what Iraq had

NOTHING TO DO WITH PLAME

Pres is legally entitled to do so

[Lochloosa]

31. That's what I heard also...damn.

[electropop]

51. That's not quite what they say...

There's a big difference between "The papers don't say exactly what information Bush authorized for leakage," and "The papers say Bush didn't authorize the Plame leak."

Here's what it actually says:

"Before his indictment, I. Lewis Libby testified to the grand jury investigating the CIA leak that Cheney told him to pass on information and that it was Bush who authorized the disclosure, the court papers say. According to the documents, the authorization led to the July 8, 2003, conversation between Libby and New York Times reporter Judith Miller.

There was no indication in the filing that either Bush or Cheney authorized Libby to disclose Valerie Plame's CIA identity.

But the disclosure in documents filed Wednesday means that the president and the vice president put Libby in play as a secret provider of information to reporters about prewar intelligence on Iraq.
...
Libby's participation in a critical conversation with Miller on July 8, 2003 "occurred only after the vice president advised defendant that the president specifically had authorized defendant to disclose certain information in the National Intelligence Estimate," the papers by Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald stated. The filing did not specify the "certain information.""

[Kablooie]

33. CNN also said it's just 'business as usual'. Nothing really wrong about it

What is WITH these news people? My God!

[glitch]

42. CNN doesn't chart reality's course.

Of course they'll try to spin it. Their best hope is to stall.

[janx]

43. And in the meantime, their phones are on fire!

:rofl:

[jberryhill]

36. I guess we have to look at exactly what was filed

Because the CNN version says:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/06/libby.ap/index.html

There was no indication in the filing that either Bush or Cheney authorized Libby to disclose Valerie Plame's CIA identity.

[electropop]

37. Here's the link:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/06/libby.ap/index.html

[Nickster]

38. Have I really become that numb to it all? I have absolutely no reaction

to any of this other than,"I don't believe anything will come of it."

[JulieWisc]

41. I agree

* will weazel his way out of this somehow...

[lonestarnot]

39. No stroking out allowed...

:*

[corkhead]

45. The Sh** hasn't hit the fan until * is wiping it from his orange jumpsuit

sorta like the fat lady singing. I don't want to set myself up for disappointment

[Dinger]

46. Oh My God, I Wish I Wasn't At Work!! - This Is What's Going On?

Sheesh !Wow!!!!!!! One questions . . .

At long last, is this it???

[janx]

47. It's the beginning.

A lot more will come out of this!

[katty]

58. it is...fitz, et al didn't go all this way to close up shop now

[Tsiyu]

48. Woohoo

The nest is on fire....

:woohoo:

Every last Neocon is an egomaniacal freak. We talk about herding cats over here, but controlling Neocons is more akin to herding rabid skunks. They all stink and they're all hazardous to our health.

[Garbo 2004]

49. Cheney told Libby Bush authorized leak of NIE info, Libby testified.

We already knew per a previous Fitz letter to Libby's lawyers that Libby testified "his superiors" had authorized leak of National Intelligence Estimate info re: Iraq. This may be news to the corporate media, but not to those following the case closely.

Have to read the court document itself to see if the media's "breaking news" claims in reference to the leak of Plame's identity and employment are accurate. The media is "shockingly" on occasion somewhat sloppy in its facts, remember. Looking through the court filing I have yet to read in it that Libby testified that his superiors authorized the leaking of Plame's identity. Go to the source info, not the media's renderings.

Also remember, as noted in the court filing, Libby testified that he couldn't have leaked Plame to Judy Miller on July 8 because he hadn't yet learned her identity from Russert. He "forgot" that Cheney had told him about Plame when he claimed he first learned it from Russert. (He also "forgot" his meeting with Miller on June 23.) Which is why Libby was indicted. Read Fitz's filing, not the media headlines.

As someone else noted, smoking gun has a download link to the .pdf of Fitz's court filing: http://www.thesmokinggun.com//archive/0406061libby1.html

[Cleita]

50. Never mind about CNN. It looks like Libby is singing like a

canary where it counts and no one is going to shut him up unless they kill him (a possibility). MSNBC is not retracting anything either.

[huskerlaw]

52. It has nothing to do with Plame!

People, seriously, read the documents before you get all excited.

It says that Bush authorized Libby to discuss a document with Miller...and at some point in that convo, Libby mentioned to Miller that Wilson's wife was a CIA agent. It does NOT link the document that Bush authorized with any information regarding Plame.

One step closer, perhaps, but this is NOT the smoking gun.

[woo me with science]

63. party pooper. nt

[Shine]

57. What goes around, comes around...

:popcorn:

[LuCifer]

64. Fry that fucker!

And Libby too!!!!!!!!

[kpete]

65. Bush, 10/6/03:

Bush, 10/6/03:

"As members of the press corps here know, I have, at times, complained about leaks of security information, whether the leaks be in the legislative branch or in the executive branch. And I take those leaks very seriously...

And, you know, there's a lot of leaking in Washington, D.C. It's a town famous for it. And if this helps stop leaks of -- this investigation in finding the truth, it will not only hold someone to account who should not have leaked -- and this is a serious charge, by the way. We're talking about a criminal action, but also hopefully will help set a clear signal we expect other leaks to stop, as well. And so I look forward to finding the truth."

[berni_mccoy]

67. Feed Bush his own words.... LUVIT!

[skip fox]

70. The fact that W. refused to speak to Fitzgerald under oath and the fact

that he hired a private attorney, indicate that he KNOWINGLY and WILLFULLY mislead the prosecutor of a federal criminal investigation.

Maybe he can have Martha Stewart's cell?