Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Bush-Rove loyalty a threat, CIA retirees say

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/0705/23natcialeak.html

Washington — A group of retired CIA officials on Friday accused President Bush of using a special investigation of White House leaks to avoid having to fire his longtime political adviser, Karl Rove. The group said Bush — by allowing Rove to remain as deputy White House chief of staff — had undermined American security interests abroad. Rove was named as a source for news accounts disclosing the identity of a covert CIA agent married to an administration critic.

In an unofficial hearing conducted by Democratic members of Congress, the retired CIA agents and analysts also complained that Bush has done nothing to stop the Republican National Committee and GOP allies in Congress from continuing a "smear" campaign against the outed agent, Valerie Plame, and her husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson.

"Instead of a president concerned first and foremost with protecting this country and the intelligence officers who serve it, we are confronted with a president who is willing to sit by while political operatives savage the reputations of good Americans like Valerie and Joe Wilson," said Larry Johnson, a former counterterrorism analyst at the CIA.

When the controversy over the leaks first began two years ago, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the president would fire anyone at the White House who was found to be involved. Since Rove's role has emerged in recent weeks, however, Bush has routinely deflected questions from reporters about his senior aide by citing the confidentiality of the special investigation under way. And this week, he appeared to shift his position a bit, saying he would fire anyone on his staff who "committed a crime."

What if the reason ** is protecting butt boy is because ** is going to be implicated also when the charges are handed down. So they have decided that they will all fight this together????

Just a thought.

...Bush has gotten away with everything so far, from stealing two presidential elections to the occupation of Iraq.

I think that what we're seeing is PRIMARILY arrogance. Sure, there might be reasons behind it, but we're dealing with the substance-abusing rich little AWOL frat boy who's ALWAYS gotten his way...and he KNOWS it.