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host · 01-29-2007, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loquitur

au contraire, Host, I think you're persuading yourself of stuff that people who know the process and have gone through it know better than to take at face value. IIRC, DiGenova was himself a special prosecutor at one time. I understand you want Libby to hang, but you're jumping to conclusions now based on less than full information. Stupid pills? I don't think so. There's a reason judges instruct juries not to make up their minds until all the evidence is in......

loquitur, I think that I've prevented plenty of support at the two following links for my opinion that both DiGenova, and his wife, Toensing, should neve be allowed in a court room again....they have thrown away their integrity and credibility via blind partisanship with a greed driven dividend:

http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showpos...8&postcount=36

http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showpos...5&postcount=35

Quote:

http://www.americanthinker.com/2007/...ia_is_n_1.html
By Clarice Feldman

......Spikey says Libby told Fleischer that Ms. Wilson worked at the CIA and that was "hush hush". Having seen the mischaracterization of all the witness statements to date by the prosecution and the odd inferences drawn by the special prosecutor from them, I'll wait and see to what Fleischer actually testifies. My recollection is the hush hush was about other matters relating to the uranium in Africa tale, which was moving through the CIA declassification process at the speed of frozen molasses (because the agency was clearly trying to forestall further embarrassment that this nonsensical Mission to Africa was causing it).

Finally, Spikey says Fleischer then heard about Plame from Bartlett and passed it on to NBC's David Gregory. Last week during the trial, we learned for the very first time that Gregory who had earlier claimed "no one called him"-implying he'd received no information about Plame -- was leaked the information by Fleischer. There were a number of earlier reports that Fleischer saw the details about Plame in the INR which he was given while flying on Air Force One, and immediately told Gregory, who ever afterward pretended he never knew this and who was never questioned by the crack special prosecution team.........

IMO, Ari Fleischer's testimony reinforced my suspicion that Clarice Feldman (see above) is correct less often than a broken clock is......

Before you read Ari Fleischer's testimony about Libby and Dan Bartlett, consider that the State Dept. INR :
http://thenexthurrah.typepad.com/the...l_evidence.pdf
that Bartlett was reading on Air Force One on July 7, 2003, described Wilson's wife as a CIA employee, and the word "secret" is handwritten near the top of the document, and that it has "provisionally de-classified, (so that it could be used as evidence in Libby's trial...) later stamped on it, too. See for yourself, at the preceding link.....it seems safe to assume that Libby and Bartlett had to know that this information was classified when they both told Fleischer, without telling him that it was classified info.

Quote:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...012900504.html
Former Press Secretary Says Libby Told Him of Plame
Fleischer's Testimony On Timing Supports Prosecution's Case

By Amy Goldstein and Carol D. Leonnig
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, January 30, 2007; Page A03

.......Fleischer was the first witness to say Libby then passed on what he learned: that Wilson's wife was a CIA officer who had sent him on a trip to Africa. Wilson's mission there was to explore reports, ultimately proved false, that Iraq had tried to buy nuclear material in Niger.

Fleischer, testifying under an immunity agreement with the prosecution, also made it clear that Libby had told him Wilson's wife held a position in the CIA's counterproliferation division, where most employees work in a covert capacity.

Fleischer said he believes Libby mentioned Plame's name, although he told the jury he could not be sure. Libby "added that this was something hush-hush or on the QT, that not many people knew this information," Fleischer testified.........

Background of trial reporter/blogger, "emptywheel":
http://www.mlive.com/printer/printer...920.xml&coll=2
Blogger to provide Libby trial play-by-play Local consultant expert on the scandal
Monday, January 22, 2007.......

Quote:

http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/01/2...fleischer-one/
Libby Live: Ari Fleischer One
By: emptywheel

.....A reminder of housekeeping rules: This is not a transcript. I'm getting as close as I can get. But trust me, I'm not a court reporter!.....

.......P[rosecutor] Lunch on July 7.

Fl[eischer] I had announced I was going to be leaving, "Spend time with family." Shortly after Mr. Libby asked to go to lunch.

P enters govt. exhibit, schedule for that day.

12:00 lunch with Libby

P was it routine to have lunch engagemnts.

Fl typically I would eat at my desk.

P had you ever had lunch with Mr. Libby

Fl no sir

Fl our relationship good, I liked Mr Libby, I did not consider him as a source, when I asked him questions, he would tell me to ask Dr. Rice NSA.

P notwithstanding your relationship with Libby was good.

Fl yes

P where and who was present?

Fl just Libby and me

P was anything discussed

Fl my plans what I was going to do in the private sector. Talked about sports, football, both fans of the Dolphins. I don't remember if I brought up or Libby brought up the briefing. I said I got asked about Wilson. I said what I was asked by the OVP to say. What I recall Libby saying to me, reiterated that VP did not send Wilson. Amabssador Wilsongot sent by his wife, she works at CIA, Works in CPD, I recall that he told me her name. This is hush hush this is on the QT.

Schuster's Hail to Victors going. People pissed.

P[rosecutor] Context

Fl[eischer] I was asked about the briefing.

P What word did Libby use when he described Wilson's wife.

Fl I remember him saying she works at CIA at CPD.

P Did you know what it meant.

Fl not in specific, I don't know enough about CIA inner structure to know what it means.

P her name, how did he describe her name

Fl I believe he said Valerie Plame

Fl the news that VP had not sent him, it was the first time I ever heard it.

P what did you understand Libby to mean by hush hush

Fl I thought it was kind of odd. My sense was Libby was saying it was kind of newsie, no one knows.

P did you understand that it was classified

Fl absolutely not. There's a very strict protocol when classified info is spread, my experience, when someone conveyed info that I was authorized to hear, it was always, "this is classified you're authorized to hear." When it's oral, people always say, "this is classified you cannot use it."

P What was your understanding of purpose of bringing up the wife?

Objection Sustained

Sidebar.

12:24

Ari looking up, not focusing on anything. Sometimes using his hands to speak.

P Did you take from the comment about the wife that there was some improper comment

Fl My thought was that there was nepotism. That was what I thought I was hearing.

P Did you feel there was any restrictions. If we can approach.

Sidebar.........

http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/01/2...fleischer-two/
Libby Live: Ari Fleischer two

....Jurors coming in.

You may be seated, good afternoon. Asks about temperature. Ari is laughing about something. Now has his face fixed again.

P[rosecutor] resuming.

P just finishing up asking questions about lunch on July 7. Did Libby say anything to you to make you think the info was classified or protected. Later that day, overseas trip.

Fl[eischer] Overnight flight to Senegal. The President was going on a trip, left out of Edwards aboard AF1.

P Staff

Fl COS, SOS,NSA, Bartlett, and other support people from WH, press aboard AF1......

......P[rosecutor] Did you hear someone on AF1 make another reference to Wilson's wife.

Fl[eischer] Staff cabin, Dan Bartlett, Comm Dir, reading a different document. He said, "I can't believe he or they are saying that the VP sent Amb Wilson to Niger, his wife sent him, she works at CIA. He said this in front of me.

P Would you characterize this as a conversation?

Fl Dan was venting. That became the second reference I learned, I overheard. I don't recall who was there.

P What was your reaction?

Fl I heard all this before. Never seemed very newsie. The one thing it backed up my statement, VP didn't send Ambassador, he was sent by his wife. I had one more nugget to back up that statement.

P Were you in Uganda. Can you tell us if you had an occasion to talk to reporters by the side of the road.

Fl President walking toward second event. Meeting with young children who were going to sing songs. A group of reporters on the side of the road. I recall I said to these reporters, If you want to know who sent Amb Wilson to Niger, it was his wife, she works there. Tamara Lippert Newsweek, David Gregory and John Dickerson, Time Magazine.

P was this a formal interview?

Fl One of the many conversations I had with the press, the event was not one I had to be there. You sidle up to reporters and chat what was on their mind. Maybe this will address some of these issues about how people got sent. This backs up WH statement.......

........Walton, In reference to the Witness' testimony about what he read in the newspaper. That testimony is only relevant as it relates to his state of mind was. It has no relevance to this case. <h3>I don't know based on what has been presented to me, what her status was. It's totally irrelevant to this case. ("host" adds...I believe that this paragraph is comments by Judge Walton about Plame's status at CIA...)</h3>

P[rosecutor] Your last day at the WH was when

Fl[eischer] July 14, 2003

Fl The next I started my own business

P Late September, two and a half months later. Did you learn information that caused you concern.

Fl I saw article in NYT that CIA asked DOJ into investigation of identity of covert CIA agent. Went online at WaPo, read very big story about CIA asking for criminal investigation. I read that article.

P Was the person identified?

Fl As I recall it was Amb Joseph Wilson's wife. I was absolutely horrified. I thought I may have played a role in outing, oh my god did I play a role in outing a CIA officer, even though I had no idea that she was classifed or covert,

P What did you do?

Fl I contacted counsel.

P is that how you subsequently obtained immunity

Fl Yes

P Prior to obtaining immunity did you answer questions.

Fl No, bc I thought I might somehow be in trouble,

P Once you obtained immunity, did you answer all the questions put to you.

Walton reminds that this article only relates to Ari.

Defense cross examination follows at preceding link, and here:
http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/01/2...eischer-three/

http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/01/2...vid-addington/
 Libby Live: David Addington Monday, January 29th, 2007
By: emptywheel

(Patrick Fitzgerald) F Were you involved

(David Addington) A Yes. Took place in COS office to VP, West Wing, larger office in OEB. Very small office, probably about the size of your table. Question asked, did Pres have authority to declassify information. The answer was yes. It's clear a President has authority, I cited a specific case. In that case, court said Dept of Navy v. Egan. Pres by virtue of role as Commander in Chief. Flows directly from Constitution and therefore I said Pres does have the authority even though there is a separate provision, although there are procedures, that would not prevent Pres from declassifying something. It's open and shut. Libby didn't give context. he just asked question about Pres' power.

F DId Libby give you an idea of what he was going to do with info

A No.

F Conversation about CIA paperwork

A Asked if someone worked at CIA, would there be records. Normal for him to ask me bc he knew I worked at the CIA. Kind of paperwork would depend on whether you were on the Operations or Analytical side. On operational side, CIA officers are not just free to use whoever they want, need to get approval, requesting permission to use someone, would generate paperwork approval. On analytical side there'd be a letter of instruction or contract. In any case, this is the govt, when you spend money, there's a money trail. I did tell him also it had been 20 years since I worked at the CIA.

(Patrick Fitzgerald) F During this conversation did [you ask] Libby....why he was asking?

F Did he give you a name?

(David Addington) A No

F Where did it take place.

A In that small office.

F Were they the same conversation?

A I believe so

F Is there a door to this room?

A is babbling away. It's a very small office and you couldn't have more than two people.

A At one point he extended his hands and put them down [as if to quiet him.]

F How did that conversation end?

A I remember him getting up and going out the door. Went into VP's office, following somebody–I think it was Hadley.

A After Wilson was on television after he did Russert's talk show. Once I knew that I knew the Wilson thing was going on. Before we went on the Reagan aircraft carrier trip.

THis guy mumbles and has no apparent neck.

F Why is it you're certain it took place after Wilson's appearance?

A That's when I became aware of it, I wondered if it was about Wilson–he didn't use the name Wilson.

F Prior to that conversation were you aware of that Wilson's wife worked at CIA.

A No mumble mumble mumble .....

In the immediately preceding sentences, is the testimony of Cheney's current COS, and former Office of VP Counsel, David Addington. The following Jan. 29 morning cross-examination segment of Cheney PS, Cathy Martin, by Libby's lawyer Wells, established that the "Reagan aircraft carrier trip" described by David Addington, is the "July 12. Travel to Norfolk"

Quote:

http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/01/2...e-martin-four/
Libby Live: Cathie Martin, Four
By: emptywheel

....Martin: I don't know that, but I assumed that.

Wells: July 12. Travel to Norfolk. The plane left very early. That was the birthday [when he says it, it sounds like, "birfday"; update 7/28: I need to explain something about Wells. In the media room, we've joked about counting how many personalities he'll appear in. In particular, he shifts readily between a downhome personality to a very patrician attitude. It appears to be something he turns off and on at will. So I read the pronounciation as an effort to make this whole family thing seem more down to earth, which is the reason I mentioned the pronounciation.] So the kids had to be up very early to be on the plane to Norfolk. You understood Libby was anxious to get home bc of the kids.

M I understood it was bc it was his son's birthday, and his son shouldn't have to wait on his birthday.

W Part of the reason for bringing the kids was so they could enjoy the celebration.

M It was a fun trip.

W By the time you got back it had been a pretty long day. Also on July 12, call to Cooper. Libby made a call to Kessler. And Libby made a call to Evan Thomas.

M And left a message.

.....so we have testimony from Ari Flesicher that Libby took him to lunch for the only time, ever, and told him that "Wilson's wife" was named "Plame", and that she worked in the:

Quote:

Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall October 28, 2005 03 ...
The Counterproliferation Division (CPD) is part of the CIA's Directorate of Operations, i.e., not the Directorate of Intelligence, the branch of the CIA ...
www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/006881.php - 31k - Cached - Similar pages

....Fleischer testified that Libby did not say that this information was classified...just that it was "hush, hush"...."on the QT". Fleischer testified that he did not pass this info along to news reporters, until after....a day later, he heard his white house boss, Dan Bartlett, say, out loud, while talking to himself but with Fleischer, nearby, in a small enclosed section on "Air Force One", ""I can't believe he or they are saying that the VP sent Amb Wilson to Niger, his wife sent him, she works at CIA."

David Addington's testimony fixed the date (...about Fri., 7/11/03..) that Libby asked him if the president could declassify, classified infromation, and if there were paper records at CIA on employees there who worked "on the Operations or Analytical side".....

Addington's testimony also included his recollection that, after Libby asked his questions of the then OVP chief Counsel, Libby joined Cheney and now NSC advisor, Stephen Hadley, in a closed door meeting in Cheney's office.....

loquitur, if you've gotten this far, would you agree that the corporate press outlets are doing a shitty job of covering this trial, considering the testimony to date, and the fact that Karl Rove still enjoys a high level security clearance that provides access to classified material, is curious....especially during wartime....since he's already an established leaker of Plame's name and CIA employment, to reporters?