Libby convicted of the smallest of the crimes he committed.

[WilliamPitt]

Yeah, I'm happy the jury convicted him.

But he outed a deep-cover CIA agent.

Said agent was working to track any person, nation or group that would give weapons of mass destruction to terrorists.

He destroyed Brewster Jennings, whose role watching Iran (among other nations) and delivering good data on their capabilities will be missed.

He participated in leaning on CIA analysts for "forward-leaning" intelligence.

He got busted for lying. That's all.

He did a lot more, and should have been tried for treason.

I'm happy...but don't forget what he really did.

[budkin]

1. Agreed.

I agree... this is small peanuts. Cheney should have gone down for this.

[tridim]

2. Stay tuned for the civil trial

It's going to be good!

I don't get it either, I thought Fitz's task was to expose the leaker(s). Guess I was wrong.

[John Q. Citizen]

29. Yes, and the movie should be good as well. n/t

[radfringe]

3. not forgeting...

but it's been a long 6 years of a deep dark winter, the aspens are blooming - allow us a small bit of sunshine

[blossomstar]

27. They will all go down... we just have to be patient.

"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end they always fall—think of it. Always."
— Mahatma Gandhi

[Richard Steele]

4. Indeed. recommended

[matcom]

5. Libby got punished for what he did

CHENEY outted her. CHENEY should be tried for Treason.

make now mistake - Libby was following orders

[The Night Owl]

6. Good point.

One thing I've said all along is... If Scooter Libby's lawyers were correct in suggesting that the White House is forcing Libby to fall on his sword, then Patrick Fitzgerald is doing a great job pushing him on to it for them.

[EstimatedProphet]

7. No argument, but at least he was convicted.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

8. Al Capone went down for tax evasion...

I'll take what we can get. I have a feeling the Libby isn't going to play "pick up the soap" in a federal prison for the next 25 years just to protect Uncle Dick.

And can you imagine the hard time you're going to do in prison when you're a grown man nick-named "Scooter." He'll be somebody's bitch before lunch.

[BuyingThyme]

9. From the beginning, Fitzgerald explained that he had no idea

what really happened.

Now the media, with the help of liars like Bob Woodward and Richard Armitage, will have an opportunity to write their own history.

It is the obligation of Congress to go after the criminals, from Cheney on down.

[merh]

10. Yeah, pretty remarkable given the control of this administration

has had on all things - the media, the judiciary, the prosecution, the investigative arm of the prosecution, the CIA -- I thinks it is awesome that the justice system (& Fitz) were able to get an indictment, let alone the convictions, despite the interference and lies of all involved.

[cynatnite]

11. Lying was all Fitz could prove...

He has to work within the confines of the law and didn't have the evidence to prove the rest.

You are right, Will. It's my hope this leads to the resignation of Cheney. I'm not expecting more than that at this point.

[Mist]

12. Libby was charged with perjury, not outing Plame. He was sentenced on those charges. nt

[Horse with no Name]

13. Agreed.

But after years of nothing, small victories can seem large.
Seems to me THAT is an indictment of our society.

[La_Fourmi_Rouge]

14. Sure you're right, Will.

but I am really pleased, and hope for more justice on up the food chain.

[Rosemary2205]

15. It's always the little stuff that trips them up.

remember, Nixon bought it on the cover up of a third rate burglary. He thought it was such a small thing no one would give a shit compared to the massive crimes he was already involved in.

[LSK]

16. no kidding, and apparently thats the end of it

[maine_raptor]

17. Remember Will

The longest journey starts with a single step.

Fitz is saying the the investigation is currently over, unless new information comes to light.

And where might that come from, eh?

Press investigation, Congressional investigation into this matter or Bush's pardon of Libby (you just gotta know that's a'comin'), or from Scooter's own lips?

Methinks that today might be, to paraphrase Sir Winston, not the end, not the beginning, just the beginning of the end.

[LSK]

18. how much more information does he need?

:shrug:

[leftofthedial]

19. this is the repuke way

our rulers don't want the system to provide justice; they want it to preserve the status quo.

Iran Contra, even Watergate . . . same thing. No charges for the worst crimes, merely controversial convictions on minor facets of the coverups and massive pardons.

[johnnie]

20. Charges can still be brought against him

No?

[glitch]

21. Don't forget what THEY really did. This better not be over. nt

[BlooInBloo]

22. Um, the smallest number of crimes he committed would be 1.

[autorank]

23. Good point ...but there's a lot of leverage here...

* - Obstruction of Justice: GUILTY
* - False statements to FBI investigators (about Russert conversation): GUILTY
* - False statement to FBI investigators (about Cooper conversation): NOT GUILTY
* - Perjury to the Grand Jury (about Tim Russert conversation): GUILTY
* - Perjury to the Grand Jury (about the Matt Cooper conversation): GUILTY

Good old Judge Walton, angry at the bait and switch, can load up with some heavy duty
jail time. With the evaporation of "country club prisons for the well groomed executive,
Libby will have to do some thinking.

And he'll roll, only to find out that later on, he gets tried for perjury in this trial or
some crime that's not known and no doubt out there.

[Marie26]

24. Not really

Treason isn't something people are actually tried for anymore.

The Intelligence Identity Protection act is so narrow that it'd be virtually impossible to convict under it.

Obstruction of justice was the most serious charge, and he was convicted of that.

I think Fitz did pretty good - Libby faces serious jail time, and the public now knows the truth about how Plame was outed. What's more, they know the truth about how Cheney attacked war critics, manipulated the public, and coerced the media to get into this war. The "cloud" over VP Cheney won't ever be dispelled.

[Roland99]

34. Exactly. If anyone originally outed her it was Armitage.

And if you want the architect of the smear campaign and those instrumental in blowing the cover of Brewster-Jennings, look to DICK and the Decider.

[lonestarnot]

25. I will NEVER forget!

[Raven]

26. Hey Will, I'll take the small victories...

the big ones will come. :-)

[VelmaD]

31. Hey Raven

Long time no see. :hi:

Hope all is well with you.

[H2O Man]

28. It's the Capone thing.

This is not the end. There is the Wilsons' civil suit. And there is reason for Congress to look closer -- much closer.

More, it is possible that Mr. Libby will consider options other than an appeal.

Today is a good day, Mr. Pitt, and you have played an important role in this. Thank you.

[WilliamPitt]

30. .

[Richard Steele]

32. !

[ComerPerro]

33. exactly

[deaniac21]

35. What is the scheduled date for the Rove trial?

[smb]

36. What I Heard On The Grapevine

What is the scheduled date for the Rove trial?

It's scheduled to start in 24 business hours.