The Plame Game Gets Diabolical

The special investigation into the leaking of under cover agent Valerie Plame's identity goes even deeper into the Bush Administration. According to a report in the NY Times, Scooter Libby learned Plame's identity from Dick Cheney. This places Libby on the hot seat for perjury, but also may broaden the investigation to look at the administration's machinations on the march to invade Iraq.

Mr. Cheney apparently learned of Plame's identity from then CIA director George Tenet, which in and of itself is not a crime, nor even necessarily improper. George Tenet was also a key player in building the case for invasion, and was rewarded for his efforts by President Bush is the Medal of Freedom despite the CIA's (and his) failures on averting the events of 9/11/05. If the point of Tenet's revelations to Cheney was part of a plot to retaliate against Wilson for contradicting the White House on Iraq's preparation for construction of nuclear weapons (a major plank in the case for war) then a totally different picture emerges. That picture is not new for many, but it depicts an extensive plot on the part of the administration to make a false case for war.

As the speculations twist deeper, we have those surrounding Bush being directly implicated in a treasonous act - the outing of an undercover agent for the express purpose of silencing and discrediting Joseph Wilson. Karl Rove's role in the outing does not seem to be in question, and Rove is the primary political strategist of the administration. He is so close to Bush that he is often referred to as "Bush's Brain." Scooter Libby has also been directly linked to the outing, and he is the chief aide to Cheney.

Questions are being raised by the conservative pundits as to why Libby, who is considered to be unquestionably loyal both to the Vice President, and to the party, would offer up Cheney for implication in the sordid affair. The obvious answer is to protect someone beyond Cheney - namely George Bush - from being implicated in the scandal. This throws a different light on Bush's nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court, and his dogged defense of her nomination. Miers is depicted as extremely loyal to George Bush, and has been the White House Counsel, and therefore privy to the Oval Office plans and machinations. Placing her on the court, would give Bush (and Bush cronies) a friend on the court - should anything ever rise that far. It also places her clearly out of reach into perpetuity for what she may know of the policies and actions of the Bush White House.

Should things start to unravel in the Bush White House, and Dick Cheney be forced to step down as Vice President, then the line of succession would place Dennis Hastert -Speaker of the House into the Vice President's job. Hastert has not impressed folks with his stability and reasonableness after accusing George Soros of being mixed up in the drug trade, nor his more recent remarks that New Orleans should be bulldozed.

Regardless of what charges, if any, that Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald brings, the questions raised by the investigation are undermining the credibility and intent of the Bush administration.