The Washington Post has a similar take as I do about the White House's reasoning:
"President Bush authorized White House official I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby to disclose highly sensitive intelligence information to the news media in an attempt to discredit a CIA adviser whose views undermined the rationale for the invasion of Iraq..."At the heart of this whole matter is simply, how much authority does the POTUS have when it comes to sharing our national secrets? What are the legal checks and balances and did Bush cross the liine? Perhaps these questions have been answered clearly but I haven't read it.
The LA Times also reports from the perspective of using national security secrets for personal gain:
"President Bush personally authorized leaking classified information to deflect Iraq war critics at a time when declining public support for the invasion threatened his reelection campaign, according to testimony from a former senior White House aide."
My feeling is no matter what side of the aisle you sit on, this just isn't okay. Again, legally speaking, I wonder how this affects the POTUS and the VPOTUS. I have been told that they can't be indicted so does that give them unlimited use of classified material for personal gain? There has to be some control here.
I'll leave you with this juicy bit fromCrooks and Liars
Why was poor Scotty kept in the dark for so long if dirty tricks weren't in the mix? Just asking...
Scott McClellan:“There's been nothing, absolutely nothing, brought to our attention to suggest any White House involvement, and that includes the vice president’s office as well."
White House, 9/29/03
