Saturday, July 14, 2007
"It's run its course - now we're going to move on...."
That's Bush on the CIA leak scandal. Watch above and read more:
"Despite a long history of denouncing leaks, Bush declined to express any disappointment in the people who worked for him and who were involved in disclosing the name of a CIA operative. Asked about that during a wide-ranging news conference, the president gave a dodgy answer.
"It's been a tough issue for a lot of people in the White House," he said.
He didn't even acknowledge the undisputed fact that someone working for him was the source, saying only that "perhaps somebody in the administration did disclose the name of that person."
In the beginning stages of the case, Bush said, "I want to know the truth," and pledged to fire anyone found to have leaked. As the investigation wore on, he expressed more weariness than outrage, saying only that someone who "committed a crime" would be fired and calling the case "background noise" he had to ignore.
As it turned out, several administration officials revealed Plame's identity. White House political adviser Karl Rove and Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage were the primary sources for a 2003 newspaper column outing Plame. Former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer also admitted telling reporters about her. Libby was the only one charged in the matter and not for leaking."
Click here for more from the AP report "Bush Dismisses CIA Leak As Old News."
Related (and, admittedly, slightly old but still newsworthy):
Britons convicted in Bush-Blair memo leak. Oh the irony....
Labels: George Bush, GOP corruption, Plamegate, Scooter Libby, Valerie Plame
