Backstage
Unless the last Trumpets of Judgment are sounded this week, nothing will upstage the eagerly awaited report of the Fitzgerald inquiry into the leak of Valerie Plame's name to the press. According to the New York Times:
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 - After a 22-month inquiry, the special counsel in the C.I.A. leak case, Patrick J. Fitzgerald, is expected to announce this week whether he will seek indictments against White House officials, a decision that is likely to be a defining moment of President Bush's second term. ... It is not publicly known when Mr. Fitzgerald will take action, if any, but whatever he decides, the prosecutor is expected to make an announcement before Friday, the final day of the term of his grand jury.
This is a subject on which everyone has a theory and not a few the illusion of a supposed inside track. Whatever Fitzgerald concludes, and whatever serious policy questions arise from his inquiry, the process has provided a glimpse into that other celebrity world, the universe of Washington power politics. This one has it all: the big name media, intelligence agencies, White House operatives, partisan politics. And a backdrop provided by war. The subjects couldn't be more serious: national security, nuclear weapons, federal statute, jail time: all diminished by the pettiness of politics, whichever side one is on.
But personally, the most fascinating aspect of the Plame affair is the illustration of how information is used within Washington as a weapon, whether offensively to spread a story or defensively to discredit it; whether to build up the credibility of a source or to cast the gravest aspersions on its integrity. Whatever the power of a 2,000 lb smart bomb in the Outlands may be, it is as nothing beside the whispered word, the glimpsed memorandum, the indictment or the leak in Washington DC. That central fact almost determines the dramatis personae. The confluence of the media, intelligence agencies and partisan politics is not only unsurprising in that context, it is almost inevitable. Who else would be involved in the Plame affair except those whose jobs revolve around the processing of insider information?
And although the Fitzgerald inquiry is ostensibly about stopping leaks, no one actually wants them to stop. An amicus curae brief filed by 36 media organizations including ABC News, AP, CNN, CBS News, WSJ, Fox News, USA Today, NBC News, Newsweek, and Reuters, argued that it would be a bad idea to force journalists to identify the purveyors of confidential information. The brief itself (via Wikipedia) says
The Media organisations' interest in this case is that of preserving the right of journalists such as Judith Miller and Matthew Cooper not to be compelled to reveal the identities of their confidential sources absent a heightened degree of searching scrutiny ... In this case, there exists ample evidence on the public record to cast serious doubt as to whether a crime has even been committed under the Intelligence Identities Protection Act ...
Leaks are used to source stories, to start investigations; leaks are even used to track the progress of investigations into leaks. The only thing in the universe more useful than duct tape or WD-40 is the leak. Therefore even those who hope Karl Rove or Scooter Libby are indicted are praying it will be on grounds of perjury or obstruction of justice, lest the whole show grind to a screeching halt.
(Speculation alert) I'd guess that thoughtful bloggers watching the Plame affair are now regarding every email and news release they ever received in a new and somewhat sinister light. Whatever they actually say, the subtext of those emails and releases is really 'welcome to the party, pal'. The hard question to answer is 'whose party', 'whose pal'?
posted by wretchardthecat at 10/24/2005 06:16:00 AM
31 Comments:
W.
The only thing in the universe more useful than duct tape or WD-40 is the leak...
I guess we can now modify the old adage to read:
If it moves, and it shouldn't: Duct tape.
If it doesn't move, and it should: WD-40.
If it's quiet and it shouldn't be: Leak.
;-)
Jamie Irons
"This one has it all: the big name media, intelligence agencies, White House operatives, partisan politics. And a backdrop provided by war."
You forgot the beautiful, mysterious blonde!
"nothing will upstage the eagerly awaited report "
Won't the inevitable leak of the report upstage the report itself?
I thnk perhaps the worst aspect of working in a government job in the D.C. area - for example, the Pentagon - is that you have to lie.
You have to lie because the people "attacking" you lie.
You have to lie because you don't have time to get the real answer exact answer so you have to guess and elaborate on your guess with false detail.
You have to lie because for some people no matter what you say will be used against you and misinterpreted to the most possible disadvantage (e.g., the GAO).
You have to lie because the media, Congress, other people in DoD, special interest groups, and John Q. Public frequently will not be able to comprehend the correct answer.
You have to lie because some people don't want to hear the truth.
Finally, you have to lie because of security. This is the the best reason and the one most infrequently applicable.
P.S. WD-40 was invented for the purpose of preventing corrsion on the bare, unpainted steel skins of Atlas ballistic missiles.
Duct tape was used, along with wet sponges to fix LOX leaks. The LOX leaked out, froze the sponge and stopped the leak.
And that is no lie!
There is another utility to leaks. In an information intensive environment, there will always be a strong impulse to simplify, categorize, and label. The rush to define first becomes the ultimate sport, with DC as the new coliseum where the professionals play.
This is how it goes: Wilson places his data into the information stream, data that tends to damage the Administration, so the Administration responds in two ways. First, it counters Wilson's data with data of its own, highlighting Wilson's inconsistencies and pointing to the British report in the alternative, but that is never good enough. Secondly, the Administration offers collateral information to label and categorize Wilson himself, and that is where the leak comes in.
Thereafter, the information consumer, if he buys what the Adminstration sells, is armed with the alternate version of Wilson's trip to Niger and, perhaps more importantly, a damaging definition of Wilson the man. A complicated issue is rendered into short-hand, and a former Ambassador is categorized as a partisan hack. Game, set, match...unless you broke the rules.
There is a paradox to the leak. It is offered to add data, to highlight an issue, and to fill in detail, but it is not an additive. It is a solvent, and therein lies its utility.
Ahh aristide, but often there is illegality in the leakage. Security Clearances violated, oaths broken. Laws trampled and selective prosecution triumphant.
Anonymous and Unnamed Sources, telling tales that are uncheckable and subject to major factual error. Ask either Mr Rather and Jason Blair. Inaccurate but true, the leakers "Standard" of accepted accuracy.
The challenge that rwe relates is that to live in a world of lies diminishes the integrity of even the most honorable. Each lie told tarnishing the teller, no matter the perceptions of a greater cause.
rwe said:
"You have to lie because some people don't want to hear the truth."
I believe more & more people are only reading news from sources that give their version of the story - regardless of facts. Objective journalism is a rare commodity these days because, unfortunately, there is money in selling copy to those who appreciate their worldview and no other. 'Find your niche'.
Is there a false sense of security in veiwing news from whom no income is derived?
Also unfortunate is the disregard for accuracy and, by extension, truth. This explains the rise af alternatives to the MSM - which has discredited themselves.
Bottom line: many live in a constant state of denial.
Alas; so much information and so little time.
BTW, rwe - nothing resonates like the truth.
I may be in the minority, but my reading of available tea leaves suggests the likelihood that there will be no indictments. The sudden appearance late last week of Fitzgerald's website seems to me to presage that something will be published there this week. I'm not a lawyer, but aren't indictments usually sealed or otherwise secret? If that is true and the speculation is that there will be either indictments or a report, but not both, then I'm betting on a report. Look for in on Fitz's website as a pdf file in the next few days.
Someone knows what this is all about but none of the major players are talking. This is obviously a serious struggle between government beaurocracies and (speculation alert) it probably has to do with all the "secret agencies" being totally out to lunch on 9/11.
It appears that Wilson wrote his book as a preemptive smokescreen, a diversion, to protect his own behind and his wife's and???? Wilson is obviously a "player" in his own mind and way out of his league. He has wound up looking like a fool. Who threw him to the wolves? Who sacrificed him? Maybe he volunteered? Is there any room in the barbwire hotel for him? Too small, throw him back.
Bush wants to stay out of it. He looks at it like two members of his kitchen staff fighting to see who gets to take the garbage out. He is unconcerned so long as the garbage gets taken out in a timely fashion.
It is instructive to see how much the world outside DC is affected by all this. So far only the MSM seems to be engaged.
I hope and pray that the better men and women win.
Thanks for the Post Wretchardo.
Artisides and enscout: Much of the furor caused by SECDEF Rumsfeld is the fact that he simply does not lie in the approved manner.
I recognize him as one of those who, like me, came out of the crucible of The Building even more honest than when they entered it. The alternative is to become corrupt, and even in a "good cause" corruption is corruption.
Most government leaders get p.o.ed royally at people who are too honest, and when such folks are telling the truth and can prove it, that only makes it worse. If they are reasonably erudite in expressing the truth, that is found to be utterly unforgivable.
After one highly unsatisfactory meeting in which I pushed the truth, - years before I got to Ft Fumble on the Potomac - a sympathetic SAC major summed it up to me: "Your problem is that you are trying to deal with this issue ian logical manner." Logic was unacceptable in that case and the taxpyers ended up shelling out a half million dollars more than they should have.
Artisides and enscout: Much of the furor caused by SECDEF Rumsfeld is the fact that he simply does not lie in the approved manner.
I recognize him as one of those who, like me, came out of the crucible of The Building even more honest than when they entered it. The alternative is to become corrupt, and even in a "good cause" corruption is corruption.
Most government leaders get p.o.ed royally at people who are too honest, and when such folks are telling the truth and can prove it, that only makes it worse. If they are reasonably erudite in expressing the truth, that is found to be utterly unforgivable.
After one highly unsatisfactory meeting in which I pushed the truth, - years before I got to Ft Fumble on the Potomac - a sympathetic SAC major summed it up to me: "Your problem is that you are trying to deal with this issue ian logical manner." Logic was unacceptable in that case and the taxpyers ended up shelling out a half million dollars more than they should have.
Heather has it!
and over in the real world, the Iraqi incursion...
This drivel incident is circuses, Wretchard. Does anyone *really* care? Why?
Saddam is no trial.
We're winning in Iraq.
Miers is in the dock.
Congressional spending is reaching drunken levels.
An avian flu pandemic gets more likely with the first discovery of it in Britain...
Whoever gives a flying fig about Plame, could you please explain to me why this is important in the long run? I'll even settle for the short run.
Thanks.
~D
jamie irons how come you look as noble as your name? And who is the guy in blue with you?
Oh-- I forgot to put this one on my list of important stuff: A new Fed head! wow...this is going to feel strange.
Several months ago I believe Glenn Reynolds pointed out that Valerie Plame's indentity was revealed in Joe Wilson's entry of 'Who's Who in America.'
Some secret. That's when I lost interest.
That same brief suggests that Plame was outed BY THE CIA ITSELF early in Clinton's 2nd term.
When everything is said and done...whatever the outcome, I just hope it opens up investigation and prosecution as proscribed under Section 3 as ammended in 1918.
Whoever gives a flying fig about Plame, could you please explain to me why this is important in the long run? I'll even settle for the short run.
This made-up brouhaha is the closest the American party of the evil left have gotten to plunging a knife in Bush's back. What you have is a combination of the CIA leaking, the MSM publishing, and the liberal left pushing and they're damned close to indicting Rove and Libby (which would implicate Cheney).
As far as I can see, this is TOTALLY concocted bullshit but if it happens, what we will see is Nixon/Watergate redux, as well as Clinton/Monica the Sequel ... and *all* the time those two Presidents had to take from dealing with communists and terrorists Over There to deal with internal subpoenas and depositions Over Here.
Bush is also being hit internally with disagreement from his loyal Republican base over his Supreme Court (crony) pick, as well as a growing groundswell of dissatisfaction over exploding budget overages.
And I, personally, would really really like to see him do something about airport (in)security and Mexicans flooding over the Texas/California border but understand that he may be a little bit distracted by the other alligators who are literally nipping at his ankles.
You lknow what really frosts me about the Plame flap, - not only is it "totally made up B.S." as Cederford puts it - BUT.....
Recall where right here in River City Our gracious host told us of the Army officer, tortured by the VietCommies and then, years later, killed. He was deliberately OUTED - FOR REAL - by the anti-war types here in the U.S. And no one is doing a thing to track those guys down - AND I think we all realize that IF WE DID there would be NO WAY they would ever receive anything but heartfelt congratulations from the SAME PEOPLE who are supposedly so wound up about the Plame business.
NOT ONLY THAT - but did you ever hear of November Surprise? Probably not. That was the suggestion by Congressional Republicans that credible reports be investigated to the effect that the NSA had communication intercepts of Democratic Congressional Staffmembers giving advice and counsel to the Nicaragran Commies in the 80's - on ways to counter U.S. support for the Contras. When I was in D.C. the Democratic Congressmen became utterly enraged if the Republicans suggested looking into this - So enraged, that you Just Knew there was something to it.
So we have REAL crimes going uninvestigated by Congress, the Courts or The PRESS - while this sbsurd tableau is presented hourly.
P.S. came through the hurricane pretty much Okay. Some small damage to fix.
I just Abu-Ghraibed myself by reading the Week in Review section of the NYT. First, David Sanger has what appears to be a news analysis piece on classified info that says "the disclosure of the identity a then covert C.I. A. operative...." Was she covert? She worked at CIA headquarters, right? Is that covert? I don't think so.
Then the fatuous bore Frank Rich starts off his editorial by stating that there were no WMD's and no connection between Al Qaeda and Iraq. He seems very comfortable in his assumption that all of his readers are as purposely ignorant as he is. No one Frank knows has ever read "The 9/11 Commission Report" and certainly no one remembers anything from the 90's when we bombed Sudan specifically because of belief in connections between these two enemies and their collaboration on WMD's. IFF any humans were alive in the 90's, but we can't be sure because back then history hadn't started yet.
It's no wonder that NYT stock value is down 30% - when you are only writing for a self-determined audience of the willfully ignorant, you are not in a growth industry. Most people who take the time to read are actually interested in truth and reality. The purposely self-deluded have better, more concentrated, perky and impersistent delusions on the web. Like blogs. Blogs are free, NYT is trying to charge money - something's gotta give.
It's a shame, I used to enjoy the NYT.
Ps. If you shuck off the first couple of sections, you can still get to good reviews of art shows and precious auctions. They're still the best.
I believe the 'Plame Gate' scandal is a classic case study of self-promotion on the part of Joe Wilson (and case of retaliation against the Bush Administration).
I have followed the case for sometime and basically Wilson/Plame out'd themselves to generate book/lecture/media appearance revenue (and retaliation). But, there a possible criminal aspect of the case which deals Judith Miller in a prior case (Ms Miller tipped-off Islamic "charities" just before the Feds search the places).
In fact, some now believe Judith Miller bravely marching herself of to jail under the noble guise of saving the 1st Amendment is but just slight of hand. She has greater legal troubles which could have surfaced if she was compelled to broadly testify in the Plame Scandal and reveal her phone book and notes.
Powerline explained the criminal issue via a New Lawyer. Ms. Miller tipped-off two Islamic "charities" just before the Feds swooped in. The Islamic charities cleared out their HQ and ran once they knew a Grand Jury issued a search warrant. Naturally, the Fed's were P.O.'d and ask a judge to compelled Ms. Miller to reveal how and why she tipped-off these Islamic "charities" just before the place was searched. Some believe this is a criminal offense. Her superiors at the NYT backed away from her after that.
Next, Ms. Miller got further into trouble with Plame Scandal. The Fed's again wanted to compel her to reveal her sources - this could have resulted in more information being revealed about the tip-off of the Islamic "charities." Ms. Miller went to jail probably hoping avoid incriminating herself in Islamic tip-off case.
[NY lawyer to Power Line]:
...U.S.D.J. Robert Sweet (S.D.N.Y.) denied Fitzpatrick's motion to compel Miller to testify before a grand jury relating to a leak to Miller about a warrant issued to the FBI for a search of a New York Muslim charity's offices. A source leaked this information to Miller, who, incredibly, promptly contacted the Muslim charity and revealed the warrant prior to the search. Fortunately, no FBI agents were injured when they searched the offices the next day, in what clearly could have developed into a very dangerous situation... I always thought that Miller agreed to go to jail not to protect a dubious principle and a source who had already clearly released her from confidentiality in the Plame matter, but rather out of self-preservation, so that she could safely ride out the duration of the grand jury in jail without having to testify about the search warrant affair and her frankly criminal role in that. If my sense about this is correct, she caved once it was suggested that the grand jury could be extended for up to 18 more months... If you haven't read the decision you really should. I found it to be an eye-opener.
NYT v Gonzales
[The judge in the case notes]:
"...The telephone records at issue, held by and unidentified third-party telephone company or companies, are being sought by the government as part of an investigation to uncover who purportedly "leaked" information to Miller and Shenon relating to the government's plans to block the assets and search the office of the two Islamic charity organization in the fall of 2001...
see: NYT v Gonzales P.7
For more links and more details see Ledger1's post 85% down:
#194 Ledger1 10/17/2005 01:56PM PDT
... legal effect of an announcement that if Rove, Libbt or Delay are convicted of any drivel conspiracy/perjury charges in connection with either crock of BS, that they have a Presidential pardon.
What would be the legal effect if Delay sued that Texas DA for defamation of character, and Rove/Libby did the same to the NY Times, Joe Wilson, and bimbo Times reporter? Or libel. Or *something* that would hold their feet to the fire for telling fibs in public, trying to cause trouble during a time of war, and just being generally ugly.
According to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the most useful item in the universe is the TOWEL. Now, I have never read the book nor watched the movie nor a single TV episode, but I heard this from others and believe it to be true. Yes, I have some duct tape in my car (but no WD-40) but never would leave home without an "emergency towel." It'd be nice to know who's leaking the Fitzgerald information to the Press about the Plame leaks, but this is mostly idle entertainment. Plame was not a secret agent, her husband is a documented liar, and I figure she recommended him for the uranium investigation just to get him out of the house. But I'll betcha these leakers and those at the White House all use TOWELS. Towels rule!
Check out this twist being reported by UPI.
AJStrata
c wrote: "IIRC, history ended in the 90s and hadn't restarted, yet."
Is that what IIRC means?
Ding-dang persistent memory!
Google will flood it over, don't worry.
And you can use the towel to stop the leak!
Trangbang - don't ask!
The bad guys can do anything, and the good guys can't do anything.
Memorize that and don't ask.
Parties Develop Spin Strategies As Conclusion of Leak Probe Nears:
"This may be the fourth time I've been asked about this, which I appreciate, you're doing your job," Bush told a reporter on Monday. "This is a very serious investigation, and I haven't changed my mind about whether or not I'm going to comment on it publicly."
With that, the president stayed publicly mum on the issue.
http://www.13wham.com/news/national/story.aspx?content_id=ADD1BCE1-3EE7-42D4-A241-CB6A00A7DD1A
Michael McCanles
The growth of the Federal Government continues apace. Never before would so many limitiations of free speach or property rights been allowed or found Constitutional.
The Republicans or Democrats, two sides of the same coin. We are far far away from Civil War.
Where stands the US Army in your scenario?
I didn't imagine that anyone would have a fresh take on l'affaire Plame, after the terabytes wasted on this silliness. But Wretchard managed to pull it off!
When are you going to get your own Sunday show?
Very interesting commentary.
I stepped into the middle of yet yesterday by linking to another blog linked to by Drudge. Did you catch the story about Al Franken on Letterman? He is counting down the days until Rove, Libby, and the President are executed. How ironic, Code Pink passes on thousands upon thousands of dollars to the Iraqi terrorists (who of course, were not there before the invasion) and is hailed as patriotic dissneters.
While I agree this is not a big a of deal as its made out to be, it is very dangerous for the administration and the conduct of the situation in Iraq. Fact of the matter is indictments may be coming against high administration offiicials and this will definitely chill any attempts to counter criticisms especially considering how the Mainstream Mastadons and the President's opponents seem to be very succesful in framing this fight.
C4, your former comment I agree with you for a change.
The MSM misunderstands and misrepresents its role in the leak game. They like to pretend that they are "investigating" wrongdoing, and are protecting the people from abuses of governmental power.
The reality of the situation is quite the opposite. The press is the unwitting but cooperative tool of the bureaucrats who "leak" information to wage their wars against elected officials and other bureaucracies.
This is illustrated by the recent identification of "Deep Throat" of Watergate fame, as a high FBI official.
The Plame affair is wonderful in its construction. The strophe was a CIA attack on the Bush administration, mounted it appears to defend themselves from being blamed by the administration for faulty pre-war intelligence. The "leak" was a defensive move by the administration, intended to reveal the source of the CIA attack through Wilson.
The CIA's counter of criminal referral was a desperate move, since they could not control what would happen or its timing. They clearly hopped for the indictment of Rove before the November 2004 election.
If Fitzgerald wanted real justice he would indict Plame, Wilson and a few reporters.
If Fitzgerald indicts Rove or Libby, he will be punishing the Administration failing to do what they should have done in 2001 -- do a top to bottom house cleaning at the CIA and the State Department.
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