Cheney and Libby Conspired or Why Libby lied.

Take these facts for granted. Cheney and Libby talked about what they would say to the GJ. Each knew what the other would say. Cheney told the GJ that he told Libby. Libby agreed to lie.

The brilliance behind this strategy is (1) Cheney can tell the truth and he is not doing anything wrong by telling another person with clearance (Libby). (2) by Libby lying, he doesn't have to expose Cheney as giving him an order to expose Plame, and (3) by Libby lying, he doesn't have to explain any motives for his behavior, since in his mind, he never did what Fitz is saying he did.

These evil, diabolical people had a LONG time to prepare their best strategy. Cheney didn't want to get involved - but settled for being tainted peripherally. And Libby's lies were just TOO blatant to be believable without some other motive.