I still can't make sense out this Plamegate thing. There still seems to be serious doubt that Plame was undercover and therefore it was a crime to reveal her. Plus this article goes directly against what Libby and others have been saying for the past year.

Libby's trial was pushed to 2007 - some feel this helps the Dems because it can be an issue for the '06 elections while others feel the case will be dropped well before then.

AWW:

There was no crime until Libby started lying about it.

OJ - I understand that. But this article makes it appear that a) a crime was committed and b) Libby purposely leaked this classified information as opposed to lying about it later.

Orrin, leaking classified information is always a crime, and neither Cheney nor anyone else has the power to "authorize" it.

Wouldn't authorizing it, declassify it?

Leaking Plame's identity wasn't illegal which is why he wasn't charged for it. Had he told the truth the investigation would have been over, more likely never would have started.

If its authorized, it isn't a leak. By definition a leak is unauthorized disclosure of information. If it was authorized it was just a briefing, albeit it is likely it was anonymous.

Cheney has power under the relevant statute to classify info when he is acting in his "executive" capacity. So, he can de-classify as well.

Libby should have pulled a Jack Nicholson: "You're damn right I talked to reporters about Valerie Plame!" No one as stupid as his behavior indicates should have been allowed anywhere near the White House.

The supposedly classified information was not Plames identity but portions of the NIE. Parts of the NIE were already declassified and several administration figures were openly discussing them that summer -- and its unclear whether it was these parts that Libby mentioned to reporters or the redacted portions.

Shorter Jim in Chicago -- another made up scandal. Thanks AP/dems.

Probably so, but Bob, Mikey and RC are still wrong about "authorization." In general, authority to declassify a document rests with the agency that wrote the document. In the case of the NIE that's the CIA, not the office of the president or the vice president. And releasing classified information to anyone without both a clearance and a need to know is a federal offense, always. The fact that political appointees get away with it all the time doesn't make it any less so.

The offices of President and Vice-President are superior to the agencies that report to them. To claim that the CIA has more authority that the Pres or VP is nuts.

No, Joe. That isn't what I meant by "authorized". He was told by his superiors to do it, hence it wasn't a leak. And his superiors don't get much more superior.