Who leaked first? & other silly media points

That question is only relevant to the underlying charge of outing a covert CIA agent.

It has absolutely no bearing on the current charges against Libby because Libby is not charged with outing Plame.

Here is the Fitzgerald statement in the press conference that deals with the timing of speaking to a reporter:

"In fact, Mr. Libby was the first official known to have told a reporter when he talked to Judith Miller in June of 2003 about Valerie Wilson."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/28/AR2005102801340.html

The operative words are: the first official KNOWN to have told

Fitz was saying that at that point in time, he knew of no one else who had told about Valerie Wilson to the media.

NOW HE DOES! NOW HE KNOWS WHO WOODWARD'S SOURCE IS AND PERHAPS HE CAN GO FORWARD WITH CHARGES AGAINST THAT PERSON (HADLEY?) FOR OUTING PLAME.

Also, Woodward's revelation today has absolutely nothing to do with the existing charges against Libby either. The evidence clearly points to perjury, false statements, and obstruction.

Keep these points in mind as you listen to the talking heads in the media who DO NOT BOTHER to get their facts straight.

Example: Victoria Toensing with Wolfie today wondered why Wilson had not been charged for leaking classified information when he wrote his piece for the NYT. ARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGG! She is totally ignorant! The CIA promised to keep Wilson's involvement with them confidential, but did not ask the same of him. Nor did they ask him to sign a confidentiality agreement.

That is in the Senate Intelligence Committee Report on page 41: http://intelligence.senate.gov/iraqreport2.pdf

Why don't these people read and research before they go on television spouting bullshit!

The laws and regulations regarding any classfied material state that even if the material is exposed, you cannot comment on it, and you must avoid confirming it's truth or falsehood until it's properly declassified.

So it doesn't matter who leaked first, or second, or fifth. Plame's identity as a NOC agent was still classified even after Novak wrote his article.

on edit:
I wanted to add that Wilson himself refused to either confirm or deny the truth of his wife's career during interviews after Novak's article initially appeared. This was in keeping with the laws about classifed material.

But the media seems to be spouting that Woodward's revelation damages what Fitz said in the press conference. It does not!

That is the point I am trying to make, apparently not very well!

LOL!

I highly doubt their spin will have any effect on the judge and grand jury. This is about points of law, not PR campaigns.

It only makes the fall worse.

Who was the first person to loot that store or rape that woman...because only they count. All the other people who came after don't matter.

oh wait...it's EXACTLY what they are saying.

Right...because being the second person to rape someone or steal something isn't a crime. Solid Republican Logic.

Nevermind that it was a coordinated effort that the whole corrupt den of thieves were part of...just look at a minor functionary...don't look behind the curtain.