Lawyer: Bush Didn't Direct Libby to Leak
By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON -
President Bush declassified sensitive intelligence in 2003 and authorized its
public disclosure to rebut Iraq war critics, but he did not specifically direct that
Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, be
the one to disseminate the information, an attorney knowledgeable about the
case said Saturday.
Bush merely instructed Cheney to "get it out" and left the details to him, said the
lawyer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the
case for the White House. The vice president chose Libby and communicated
the president's wishes to his then-top aide, the lawyer said.
Most leaders work this way - give orders and expect them to be carried out while not worrying about the ticky-tack details. Bush may not have done anything technically illegal but it is still odious and reprehensible, and par for his Administration.
The question is will Bush follow-up on his own words and remove Cheney? Or are his words continuing to be mere empty vessels mirroring his lack of Ethics? If history proves right, Bush will continue to do whatever he and cronies feel like doing, much to the dismay of most Americans and much of the World.
If there were even one atom of integrity in the Bush Administration they would resign en masse after making a public apology for failing in their sworn duties to the American people. But since the Bush Administration has little or no faith in Science, they would likely dismiss the notion of atoms.
Our country is dangerously in need of politicians with:
Integrity to make decisions - right decisions - without influence from Big Business or Big Religion. Decisions that focus on Americans and peoples of the world, instead of what will bring the most profits to our buddies.
Intelligence to understand issues and to seek information where issue clarity is lacking. Intuition does have a part but intelligence is the far greater asset to have.
Vision to see beyond today, to envision the America, and America's role in the World, of tomorrow.
Ethics - we're all spun out. We're tired of people like Bush saying one thing but meaning and doing the opposite. We want honesty. If you smoked pot in your youth then fine, admit it and get on with the job. Don't hem, haw, waffle, and obfuscate. A ticket for drunken driving in your 30's is not a youthful indiscretion. In short, cut the bullshit.
Is there no one in our population of 250 million plus with these qualities?
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