Their argument holds no water: by declassifying a doc. you should be able

[merbex]

to Shout that something (doc) to the rooftops

But did they?

No, they surreptitiously snuck around contacting journalists on the qt and even in the case of Libby and Judith Miller concocted a different job description for Libby so he would not be identified as the source of something by its very nature now that it was supposedly declassified could be announced loudly and clearly

They knew what they were doing was illegal and wrong

[rodeodance]

1. while the declassify/classied debate is fruitful--the fact that Bush is

linked directly to pushing the Irag war through dubious intel, i think is key.

[merbex]

2. Absolutely - clearly shows a pattern of cherry picking - which in effect

is lying because this administration is not being truthful about the whole picture.

The only people who still believe this bunch consume gallons of koolaid on a daily/hourly basis

[Disturbed]

5. Declassifying a Covert Operation-Brewster Jennings

and allowing the Libby Chief of Staff, of the VP and Rove the Proganda Minsister to expose of that Op to the Press is not a criminal offense?

The President or VP is NOT authorized to declassify Covert CIA Operatives &/or their Operations.

From Executive Order 13292
Sec. 6.2. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall supersede any requirement made by or under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, or the National Security Act of 1947, as amended. "Restricted Data" and "Formerly Restricted Data" shall be handled, protected, classified, downgraded, and declassified in conformity with the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and regulations issued under that Act.

(b) The Attorney General, upon request by the head of an agency or the Director of the Information Security Oversight Office, shall render an interpretation of this order with respect to any question arising in the course of its administration.

(c) Nothing in this order limits the protection afforded any information by other provisions of law, including the Constitution, Freedom of Information Act exemptions, the Privacy Act of 1974, and the National Security Act of 1947, as amended. This order is not intended to and does not create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law by a party against the United States, its departments, agencies, officers, employees, or agents. The foregoing is in addition to the specific provisos set forth in sections 3.1(b) and 5.3(e) of this order."

(d) Executive Order 12356 of April 6, 1982, was revoked as of October 14, 1995.

link: http://www.fas.org/sgp/bush/eoamend.html

Then an excerpt from the National Security Act of 1947 as ammended:

TITLE VI - PROTECTION OF CERTAIN NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION

PROTECTION OF IDENTITIES OF CERTAIN UNITED STATES UNDERCOVER
INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS, AGENTS, INFORMANTS, AND SOURCES

SEC. 601. <50 U.S.C. 421> (a) Whoever, having or having had authorized access to classified information that identifies a covert agent, intentionally discloses any information identifying such covert agent to any individual not authorized to receive classified information, knowing that the information disclosed so identifies such covert agent and that the United States is taking affirmative measures to conceal such covert agent's intelligence relationship to the United States, shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

(b) Whoever, as a result of having authorized access to classified information, learns the identity of a covert agent and intentionally discloses any information identifying such covert agent to any individual not authorized to receive classified information, knowing that the information disclosed so identifies such covert agent and that the United States is taking affirmative measures to conceal such covert agent's intelligence relationship to the United States, shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

(c) Whoever, in the course of a pattern of activities intended to identify and expose covert agents and with reason to believe that such activities would impair or impede the foreign intelligence activities of the United States, discloses any information that identifies an individual as a covert agent to any individual not authorized to receive classified information, knowing that the information disclosed so identifies such individual and that the United States is taking affirmative measures to conceal such individual's classified intelligence relationship to the United States, shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned not more than three years or both.

(d) A term of imprisonment imposed under this section shall be consecutive to any other sentence of imprisonment.


http://www.iwar.org.uk/sigint/resources/national-security-act/1947-act.html

[merbex]

7. I think it is a criminal offense

but their argument now is- well it was ok because the POTUS declassified the info

But their actions regarding that "declassification" certainly don't conform to how anyone would behave if that "declassification" were above aboard.

[sandnsea]

3. He said he'd find the leaker

knowing HE was the leaker. Nothing else matters. We shouldn't even give breath to their arguments by repeating them.

He's been looking for himself for two years.

That is all.

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. Then if it was okay to talk about Plame and her status

why didn't they just say so from the beginning?

Instead, they lied, changed their stories, lie some more, and obstructed justice all for something that they are trying to claim was desclassified and public knowledge?

[Garbo 2004]

8. It wasn't OK and they knew it. Which is of course why they lied.

But Libby only claimed some NIE info was declassified. Not Plame's identity and workplace. Libby denied he leaked Plame's identity to Judy Miller, first claiming that he didn't yet know it and then (after Russert was deposed) claiming that he'd forgotten that he knew it.

Fitz's court filing says that in Sept 2003 Bush was not aware of Libby's role in disclosing Plame's CIA employment. So the filing itself does not suggest that Bush authorized Libby to leak that info.

[Justice Is Comin]

6. Most of America (thanks to the dork media)

does not know about the Downing Street Memos.

If that ever comes together with this, it is a closed circle. The fact that it was determined Bush would invade resolution or no resolution.

This ties right in with it. He couldn't have Wilson running that train off the track and needed to get that BS out there about the aluminum tubes. Enter Judy Miller.

Otherwise he was screwed.