What Part of "Classified" Don't You Understand? Cheney Chief of Staff Lewis Libby Also a Source

WASHINGTON (ZP) - Dick Cheney's Chief of Staff, Lewis Libby, provided information to the press about former CIA Officer Valerie Plame, Time correspondent Matt Cooper revealed Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Karl Rove, the president's senior political advisor, had earlier been revealed as a source of information for the Time piece that identified Plame, the wife of Bush critic Joseph Wilson, as an agent for the U.S. intelligence agency.

The president had previously denied Rove's involvement and pledged to fire anyone in his administration connected with the leak. So far, the President Bush has stood by Rove, the architect of both of his presidential victories.

Democrats have called for Bush to keep his promise to the American people, either by suspending or firing Rove or removing his security clearance until an investigation can be completed.

So far, the White House has chosen to stand by Rove. With this new revelation concerning another top-ranked official, President Bush may be forced to reevaluate that support.

If allegations prove true, and Rove and Libby face criminal indictment, the political fall-out will be immeasurably bad for the Bush administration and will further weaken its credibility with the global community.

With this in mind, the American people must ask the administration some very tough questions. And the administration must be willing to answer them, openly and honestly.

The president's silence and the administration's stonewalling serves no one but the interests of the GOP. If Bush fails to uphold his word, he will be repeating the same mistake Richard Nixon made three decades ago.

Nixon was forced from the White House because of it. Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to being the Leader of the Free World.

The leaking of classified information to any outlet -be it nation, media outlet, or other organization - is unacceptable behavior and should be investigated with the vigor and sense of urgency like any other breech of security. Anyone accused of such an act should not only lose classified clearances but should lose the right to unsupervised meetings with the president or vice-president. Neither Rove or Libby should be given a pass because of political allegiances, nor should they receive special treatment. This leak could have gotten a lot of dedicated Americans and Allies killed.

The American people, for good or bad, elected George W. Bush to the most respected, powerful post on the planet. And Mr. President, we did not elect Karl Rove or Lewis Libby. To paraphrase Harry Truman, the buck stops with you. Not with the GOP leadership. Not with corporate lobbyists or special interest groups. It was your name on the ballot; you're the one who has to grow some cajones and behave like a president should.

This is a matter of national security, Mr. President. If the American people even begin to suspect a cover-up, then it will be your ass boarding Marine One in disgrace while someone else gets finishes out your term. It will be your name forever linked to this affair. And it will be your legacy to be known as the president who put party loyalty ahead of his dully-sworn duty to defend and protect the United States of America.

Of course, Mr. President, you could ignore it all and wait for the issue to go away.

That was Nixon's plan.

I'm sure there's still a village idiot somewhere who still buys that "I'm not a crook!" line.

JWJ

---

For more coverage:
APWire - Reporter: Top Cheney Aide Among Sources
Reporter: Rove was first source on CIA leak - Politics - MSNBC.com
APWire/Washington Post - White House Denials in CIA Leak Probe