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Fitzgerald Speaks
You can go view the video for yourself, but here are my impressions:
Pat Fitzgerald is a guy who takes his job very seriously. Moreover, he is a man who clearly feels the weight of his responsibility in this investigation, because at the heart of it, is nothing less that national security.
Clearly, Fitzgerald is going to present a damning case against Scooter Libby, and in doing so, he will be damning those around him, those that knew what had happened, and what Libby had done, and the entire Bush Administration's modus operandi as well.
In closing, Fitzgerald reminds everyone watching today, covering this trial, and watching at home, that in America, we follow the rule of law. We follow due process, and we do so with dignity, and asks for people to treat the process with dignity as well.
I sincerely hope that the dignified and straightforward tone that Fitzgerald has set in this newsconference is followed during the course of the trial.
UPDATE: John over at Crooks and Liars will have the video of the press conference as soon as it is over.
What an impressive guy!
As a person with close ties to this man's alma mater, I have to say, he is an excellent example of the caliber of student coming out of this institution!
It's nice to listen to someone with a brain, for once! Twice in one week, actually. JK the other day, and now this. How refreshing!
It's so rare to hear someone
1. Actually answer questions
2. Have such deep understanding of the process he is involved in
3. Lucid and able to explain what he means.
I have to listen again-- too excited & unfamiliar with the Grand Jury process to take it all in the 1st time through
Anybody who call this guy partisan is talking through an oriface through which the sun never shines
Carol-- which alma mater?
Fitzgerald for Attorney General!!!!
If people actually hear Fitzgerald side by side with the slime-spinners, there's no question about clear truth vs prevarication.
John Kerry on the Libby Indictments in CIA Leak Case
John Kerry issued the following statement on the indictment of Scooter Libby on 5 counts (one count of obstruction of justice, two counts of making false statements and two counts of perjury in the CIA leak probe) today:
“Today’s indictment of the Vice President’s top aide and the continuing investigation of Karl Rove are evidence of White House corruption at the very highest levels, far from the ‘honor and dignity’ the president pledged to restore to Washington just five years ago.
“A chief architect of the war in Iraq, Scooter Libby, sworn to protect this country, used access to national security information not as weapons against our nation’s enemies, but as weapons against someone who dared to ask tough questions of a dishonest policy. Then they tried to cover it up rather than come clean with the American people, even as the President falsely claimed his Administration was cooperating with investigators. Not only was America misled into war, but a Nixonian effort to silence dissent has now left Americans wondering whether they can trust anything this Administration has to say.
“Today, almost on cue as bad news struck, the President delivered another rhetorical blast on the war on terror. But the war on terror is not a convenient political distraction, it’s a war we have to win. And to win the war on terror, we can’t afford to have senior administration officials playing political games with national security. The President needs to get serious about addressing our nation’s problems, starting by cleaning out the corruption in his Administration and then addressing the situation in Iraq, soaring gas prices, and a still sluggish economy.”
But what do you think Indie Liberal?
Fitzgerald was also very clear about: "This investigation isn't about whether the war was right or wrong." hmmn
He's so patient & so willing to explain without cutting the news conference off-- even thougt he can't be specific.
I admire that he is unwilling to say anything that might compromise the cases to get headlines
Patti:
I think Fitzgerald is more intent on the RUSH to war versus the war itself. The RUSH is where the lies, and therefore the crime, began.
I would rather he be neutral on the war right now, and more intent on getting the facts. He is doing a great job.
Wow-- Fitz'z assessment of damage to CIA and to us-- shame to the slime-spinners!
Aimzzz, I posted this on 10-18; it addresses the NOC impact Fitzgerald mentioned.
Terrific and very educational article on NOC's and what it really means to blow the cover of an NOC (non-official cover) agent from George Friedman of http://www.stratfor.com via poster SilverWings at kos.
~snip~
Then there are those with non-official cover, the NOCs. These agents are the backbone of the American espionage system. A NOC does not have diplomatic cover. If captured, he has no protection. Indeed, as the saying goes, if something goes wrong, the CIA will deny it has ever heard of him. A NOC is under constant pressure when he is needed by the government and is on his own when things go wrong. That is understood going in by all NOCs.
~snip~
The NOCs are the backbone of American intelligence and the ones who operate the best sources -- sources who don't know they are sources. When the CIA says that it needs five to 10 years to rebuild its network, what it is really saying is that it needs five to 10 years to recruit, deploy and begin to exploit its NOCs. The problem is not recruiting them -- the life sounds cool for many recent college graduates. The crisis of the NOC occurs when he approaches the most valuable years of service, in his late 30s or so. What sounded neat at 22 rapidly becomes a mind-shattering nightmare when their two lives collide at 40.
There is an explicit and implicit contract between the United States and its NOCs. It has many parts, but there is one fundamental part: A NOC will never reveal that he is or was a NOC without special permission. When he does reveal it, he never gives specifics. The government also makes a guarantee -- it will never reveal the identity of a NOC under any circumstances and, in fact, will do everything to protect it. If you have lied to your closest friends for 30 years about who you are and why you talk to them, no government bureaucrat has the right to reveal your identity for you. Imagine if you had never told your children -- and never planned to tell your children -- that you worked for the CIA, and they suddenly read in the New York Times that you were someone other than they thought you were.
There is more to this. When it is revealed that you were a NOC, foreign intelligence services begin combing back over your life, examining every relationship you had. Anyone you came into contact with becomes suspect. Sometimes, in some countries, becoming suspect can cost you your life. Revealing the identity of a NOC can be a matter of life and death -- frequently, of people no one has ever heard of or will ever hear of again.
In short, a NOC owes things to his country, and his country owes things to the NOC.
~snip~
There's much more interesting reading here...
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/10/18/51459/246
The war is not within the scope of his investigation. He is focused like a laser on his job, which preempts accusations of any partisan agenda or stretching facts, etc.
It's important that he's not trying to apply his findings to legitimacy of the war.
Thanks dwahzon
Will check those links a little later :)
CSPAN 2 now airing public calls re the news conference
aimzzz...the irc server info is: irc.winbeta.org .
When mIRC comes up...close any dialog box's that might appear, and type this line in the command line box: /server irc.winbeta.org then hit the enter button...this should connect you to the irc server...then, after connected, type: /join #dcp.lounge to join the chat ;) good luck! doc
joe wilson's attorney on CNN now
Even some of the shrubbites calling CSPAN impressed by Fitz. One was from his state & respects Fitz, but trashed the Dems.
One caller encouraged him to run for office
shrub to speak in 5 to 10 minutes
shrub on NOW
will he field questions????
OMG-- it was a 3 second statement--
Bush strode out to the mic. Said he accepted resignation. Scooter a great guy-- service, sacrifice. Innocent till due process. We are all sad, but we've got a job to do paraphrase
They will keep working on the economy and very soon he will appointing somebody to Supreme Court.
Stalked off
Cindy's National Press Club appearance now on CSPAN 2
Are you 'saddened' by today's events investigating the truth of this treasonus action?
Sad, is he out of mind. I am furious with these folks but a little relieved that we at least have a man of honor like Fitzgerald in charge of this investigation. But sad for Libby?
Sad to see justice impeded. Sad that the truth takes so long to come out. Sad that we see so few with the integrity, ability & courage of Fitzgerald in high offfice & none in the current regime.
I think what Fitzgerald meant when he said that the investigation does not involve the question of whether or not the war was right or wrong, is that he cannot seek conviction of Libby on that question and the evidence pertaining to that question is not the same evidence he is working with on the counts of the indictment. He has to stick to the counts of the indictment and find evidence of those particular alleged illegal acts. He has to be the lawyer. We have to be the people demanding accountability from our leaders.
Some great news out of Virginia:
In the latest Rasmussen poll, reported this morning in the Washington Times, Tim leads Jerry Kilgore 46%-44%,
I have been on the Commonwealth Conservative(a Va Conservative blog) all week and I finally got under their skins. After I posted numerous posts today challenging why Mr. Kilgore refused to appear on stage today with President Bush in Norfolk and be associated with the stinch coming out of the Whitehouse, their moderator decided to kick me off and call it spam. They sense their campaign is crumbling and it seems like censorship is the only way they know to try and win an election. We need to win that election and I would urge others to chime in at that site. One dirt bag blogger started making predictable comments like liberals hate the military. When I confronted him and asked him if he knows the political affiliation of each of the 2003 soldiers who have shed their blood in Iraq suddenly my posts were no longer welcome. That's OK I think I have made my point and had a small impact there in that vital race.
Posted by: aimzzz at October 28, 2005 02:49 PM
Aimzzz - Amherst College. Also his FBI sidekick Jack Eckenrode, an Amherst College parent, and Jonathan Landman of the NYT - an alum and trustee! We're all over this thing!
Ira -
Go get 'em!
Amherst? Yeah!!
Small liberal arts College RULE!!
dwahzon,
I like the term Nixonian. All of these criminals belong in jail.
George W. Nixon
Video of
Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald on Lewis Libby Indictments (10/28/2005)
http://www.c-span.org/homepage.asp
in this section :
VIDEO / AUDIO
RECENT PROGRAMS >>
Linda if you are out there today Wesley Clark is coming on Ed Schultz in a few minutes to talk about Plamegate. I know you like him, though wish you would learn to forgive JFK
new thread
I know there's a new thread, but...
I just want to say how impressed I was with Patrick Fitzgerald as I sat in my car listening to his press conference.
Without *seeing* him on tv, I could hear the integrity and honesty in his voice. He clearly came across as a man without an agenda other than to do his job and to do it to the best of his ability. Man, I wish we had more like him in government positions...