Let’s take a long hard look at the facts again, shall we?

• Story was leaked on July 8th, 2003
• Documentation was not declassified until ten days later.
• Libby states he was told by VP Cheney that the President had authorized the release of the information.
• The President “staunchly opposes” the release of material that could impact National security.  However, it was determined that because of public interest, the information should be declassified.
• Documentation states that the President allowed declassification ten days before it actually happened.
• According to Libby, he had authorization to release information on NIE on Iraq.  NIE did not contain references to Valerie Plame Wilson
• The President changed his stance on this, at least once, if not twice.

It appears as if the President does not really know what is going on.  Initially, the President was on record as being very pissed off about the “leak,” and stated that any individuals involved would be immediately fired.  Once (I should say “around the time that”) it was discovered that top Republicans may have been involved, the President changed his stance to if those involved were found guilty in a court of law, they would be fired.  The President never stated before that
he had given any authorization to release any information.

Now, it appears that the fit is hitting the shan around the President, and there is - apparently - a lot of back tracking and admissions.

The thing is, where did the buck stop in this matter?  Did VP Cheney give permission without first obtaining it from the President (in the Pres’s name, even)?  Did the Pres. give permission, originally, but not publically release that permission until ten days after?  Who knew about this, before it happened?

Now here’s the big thing.  It is entirely possible that Libby released Valerie Plame Wilson’s name without authorization.  I’m not disputing that fact.  What I’m hot about is the fact that when all of this came out, Bush categorically denied - for TEN DAYS - that any permission had been given for any confidential information to be released.

Now, however, documentation from the prosecution (in the Libby case) shows that Bush approved the release of information 10 days before the White House said the information was declassified.  Either someone has shot themselves in the foot (no Cheney jokes, please), or someone mis-spoke in the worst of fashions.

Apparently, Bush knew good and well that this information was approved for release, yet for ten days after its release, permission was denied.  The big question, however, is:  Did Bush give permission for the information to be released, at a time at which it was still classified?

If so, then our seemingly inept leader would be liable for a whole slew of charges, and a lot of explanation.  Especially given his statement in September of 2003 of:

I don’t know of anybody in my administration who leaked classified information. If somebody did leak classified information, I’d like to know it, and we’ll take appropriate action. (Source, as above)

Now let’s dive into another way of looking at it:

Twenty-four hours after the story [in 2003] broke, one very big question had already been answered. Had the president violated the law protecting the nation’s most sensitive secrets? No. The president has the authority to declassify material. So, once he authorized the leak, it became declassified material. (Source: ABC News)

Add to this the fact that McLellan stated, ten days after the story broke, that the information was not “officially declassified” until that day.

Either the President authorized the leak on July 8th, and McClellan screwed up (big time); or, the President did not authorize the leak until ten days after it happened.

What do I think happened?  I think it breaks down like this:  Libby, then Cheney’s aide, was given permission from Cheney to make the leak.  Cheney claimed Bush had given permission.  At that time, however, Bush had not given final permission for the leak.  When the leak happened, Bush was understandably upset.  However, ten days after the leak, Bush finally gave the executive decision to okay the leak, and declassify the information.  Now, the administration is playing a small
cover-up routine, attempting to keep the fact that Libby was told he had presidential authorization, when he did not, a non-fact.

As my extremely liberal fiance (she makes me look conservative) states:  It’s extremely frightening to think that decisions regarding national security may be being made without the President’s knowledge.

I have to agree.

Time will tell, in this case… time well tell.