Bush. It Depends How You Define The Word "Leak" ©

by: Betsy L. Angert

Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 21:55:00 PM EDT

In July 2003, there was no investigation. Republicans postured this was not an issue of national importance. Journalist and bloggist David Corn of The Nation postulated it just might be. This essayist compared the cries for an investigation of Clinton and the possible misuse of files to those not heard when the Bush administration was the charge. In 2003, the public was assured this was not a significant occurrence. However, its prominence grew. Bloggers made sure of this.

There was talk; Valerie Plame did not fit the definition of a covert agent. After all, she was working in the States at the time her name was revealed. Ah, the diversion. Yet, many were not sidetracked. They were focused. Bush and his boys had baited the hook; yet, the blog-fish did not bite. Traditional journalist wavered. The media waters were choppy.

Bush barely bothered to enter the discussion. Actually, he avoided it. Initially, the President said that did not think much of the situation. He was quite blasÃ©. However, that too changed. By February 11, 2004, the President was adamant. He said, "I want to know the truth. "If there's a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is."

Betsy L. Angert :: Bush. It Depends How You Define The Word "Leak" ©

Our nation's leader assured us, he too wanted to know who released the name of Central Intelligence agent Valerie Plame to reporters. He would take care of him, her, or them. While speaking on the subject, Mr. Bush continued boldly with blood in his eyes, "If the person has violated law, that person will be taken care of."

Our fair President stated, "I welcome the investigation. I am absolutely confident the Justice Department will do a good job. I want to know the truth." Supposedly unyielding as this Bush Boy is known to be, GW reiterated, "Leaks of classified information are bad things," adding that he did not know of "anybody in my administration who leaked classified information." Our President was now hungry for justice. This and truth are the American way.

Bush the senior knew the importance of Central Intelligence confidences. After all, he had been the CIA Director years ago. While President, George Herbert Walker Bush was among those that strongly supported the Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982, his son, the Boy Blunder, chose to violate it, stealthily. Up until now, Baby Bush did as neophytes do; he diverted the blame.

However, under sworn testimony, the facts were exposed. Mr. Cheney's chief of staff, I. Lewis Libby Jr. bore witness. The actual leak was not within the administration; it was the administration. The information was released by our Commander-and-Chief.

Today, this man-boy stood before the public and acted as though all was well, even legal. Mr. Bush stated there was no leak, or were his words, ??it depends how you define "leak.' He merely made official and confidential material not be so. As he said this morning, "I wanted people to see what some of those statements were based on. I wanted people to see the truth. I thought it made sense for people to see the truth. That's why I declassified the document.''

If this is so, why did this miracle man not share what was years ago, when it first arose, and more importantly, how does one man get away with violating the law so frequently? Why is Bush never prosecuted, put on trial, impeached, or even censured. We had a Teflon? President, a man that many labeled, "Slick Willy." Why is Bush, the Boy-Beyond-the-Law?

You might enjoy these resources . . .
• A White House Smear, By David Corn. The Nation. July 16, 2003
• Filegate: Case closed. BBC
• Investigation? No, Bush should pick up the phone, By Josh Marshall,The Hill July 30, 2003
• Bush welcomes probe of CIA leak, CNN News. Wednesday, February 11, 2004
• Many major media outlets continue to ignore story of missing White House emails. Tuesday, February 7, 2006
• Washington Post downplayed possible illegality of Plame outing by ignoring Plame outing. October 19, 2005
• CIA 'outing' might fall short of crime, By Mark Memmott, USA TODAY
• In Court Filings, Cheney Aide Says Bush Approved Leak, By David Johnston and David E. Sanger, New York Times. April 6, 2006
• White House: Bush did not flip-flop on leaks. CNN News. Monday, April 10, 2006
• Bush Says He Declassified Pre-War Intel, By Deb Riechmann. The Guardian. Tuesday April 11, 2006
• Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982. The Freedom of Information Center.