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Chris Matthews reacts to Libby verdict

Posted: Tuesday, March 06, 2007 12:22 PM by Hardball

Why were Vice President Cheney and his chief of staff Scooter Libby so intent on avoiding responsibility for Joseph Wilson’s 2002 trip to Africa?  The trial heard sworn testimony from several witnesses that it was the Vice President’s inquiry that triggered the CIA trip. 

So, in the words of prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, what was all the “hullabaloo” when Joe Wilson wrote in the New York Times that it was “the vice president’s office” that had raised the question with the CIA of a possible Saddam Hussein effort to buy uranium from Niger?  Why did Cheney and Libby want everybody to think it wasn’t the vice president?”  Why did Cheney’s chief of staff call and complain so fatefully when Wilson’s claims were repeated on “Hardball?”

Could it be that Cheney feared that if the country knew it was his inquiry that led to the Africa trip then he, the president’s right-hand man, could be expected to have gotten a full report on the trip’s findings.

In that case, Cheney would have known a year ahead of time that there was no deal by Saddam Hussein to buy uranium yellowcake in Niger.  He should therefore have kept the president from making that assertion in his 2003 State of the Union that “British intelligence” reported a Saddam effort to buy uranium from Africa.  That assertion of a nuclear threat from Iraq is what tilted this country toward war.

I asked George Tenet, the CIA director, to explain why the vice president never got a report on a CIA fact-finding trip that was triggered by his inquiry.  Tennet’s reply was “Ask him!”

Click on the image below to watch Chris Matthews' analysis of the case on MSNBC TV

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Comments

Thank you Bob from Milford, Some people have been screaming treason all along on this one. The administration not only didnt like the report from Wilson, they attacked him and his family. They could have just shelved the report since it didnt fit into their "plan" What should be done with govt officials who commit treason during a time of "war"?

Eugene McDaniels, Great Falls, MT. (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:33 PM)

One can only be amazed at the roots of corruption and dishonesty that go up to the very tippy-top of our government.

Doris Lederman, New York, NY (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:34 PM)

I remember the repeated quote during the 2000 campaign that Cheney/Bush would bring "dignity back to the white house". Cheney's boy, Libby, is another player in falsely justifying a war that was conceived to make Cheney and friends record war industry and oil industry profits. The liars club. Very dignified. "You're doin a heck of a dignified job Brownie, Libby, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Powell, Bush, Gonzalez and the rest of the liars club.

Donald Purnell (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:34 PM)

I am sure they will pardon Libby that was the play right to just keep quite so they don't have to get into WMD or talking about the war on the witness stand. I just think they told him to keep quite and to stay loyal and everything will be alright. I am sure they have a house waiting for Libby in the Cayman Islands and they will all be down there when this is over getting sun tans or in Cheney’s case getting sunburned.

Rob Malone, Charleston, SC (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:34 PM)

i hope he is on his way to jail right now.. why do we bother with a very expensive trial that the tax payers pay for and then let these criminals out during appeals..

kitty stailey,skokie, ill (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:35 PM)

I AM THROWING IN MY GOP CARD AND MAKE MY FOREFATHER'S ROLL IN THEIR GRAVE'S.I AM ASHAMED OF THIS PRESIDENT AND STAFF,ALSO FOR VOTING FOR THEM.GOD FORGIVE ME....

JEFFREY J ZOLNIK (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:35 PM)

I keep hearing the "so what" montra from conservatives. Had the same things transpired under a democratic president -- (1) using known questionable intel and snitches(curveball) to start a war, (2) question peoples patriotism for disagreeing, (3) say one thing to the American people then having reports leaked that say the exact opposite, (4) hiding the flag drapped coffins so we don't see the true cost of war, and (5) a media not willing to ask questions because they did not want to be seen as unpatriotic, republicans would be asking for public firing squads. In outing Plame they not only destroy Iraqi intel, but also Iranian intel, since she worked in both.

Morel, Columbus, GA (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:35 PM)

I am pleased with the verdict, though I too believe treason should be one of the charges. This administration has continued to stonewall the truth, hoping that we don't realiize that we are "in a dance with the devil of our own design"....Bush.....and take steps to charge all involved and get the hell out of Iraq.

JFP (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:35 PM)

I am sure they will pardon Libby that was the play right to just keep quite so they don't have to get into WMD or talking about the war on the witness stand. I just think they told him to keep quite and to stay loyal and everything will be alright. I am sure they have a house waiting for him in the Cayman Islands and they will all be down there when is over getting sun tans or in Cheney’s case getting sunburned.

Rob Malone, Charleston, SC (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:35 PM)

I AM THROWING IN MY GOP CARD AND MAKE MY FOREFATHER'S ROLL IN THEIR GRAVE'S.I AM ASHAMED OF THIS PRESIDENT AND STAFF,ALSO FOR VOTING FOR THEM.GOD FORGIVE ME....

JEFFREY J ZOLNIK FT WAYNE INDIANA (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:36 PM)

I am sure they will pardon Libby that was the play right to just keep quite so they don't have to get into WMD or talking about the war on the witness stand. I just think they told him to keep quite and to stay loyal and everything will be alright. I am sure they have a house waiting for him in the Cayman Islands and they will all be down there when this is over getting sun tans or in Cheney’s case getting sunburned.

Rob Malone, Charleston, SC (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:36 PM)

It makes me hopeful to see people weighing-in so passionately regarding the facts of this case, which has very publicly implicated the highest levels of our federal government. Whether the opinions expressed are truly informed, or even if they are gut reactions based on common sense principles, they all speak to an increasing attitude of involvement with the day-to-day of government in this country. I am doubly proud to see comments from my own hometown of Janesville, WI! The apathy of the American people is just as much to blame as the administration, the media, liberals and conservatives.

Eric Stoegbauer - Valparaiso, Indiana (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:36 PM)

I am pleased with the verdict, though I too believe treason should be one of the charges. This administration has continued to stonewall the truth, hoping that we don't realiize that we are "in a dance with the devil of our own design"....Bush.....and take steps to charge all involved and get the hell out of Iraq.

JFP - Austin, Texas (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:36 PM)

Al-Quaeda, the Taliban and Iran's clerics have more honor and credibility than the fascists in the current administration. For 22 years I wore a uniform to 'support and defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic." Now I know who the domestic enemies are.

Ed, Pensacola, FL (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:37 PM)

I am sure they will pardon Libby that was the play right to just keep quite so they don't have to get into WMD or talking about the war on the witness stand. I just think they told him to keep quite and to stay loyal and everything will be alright. I am sure they have a house waiting for Libby in the Cayman Islands and they will all be down there when this is over getting sun tans or in Cheney’s case getting sunburned.

Rob Malone, Charleston, SC (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:37 PM)

Libby has no need to fear: just before the midnight hour in mid January 2009, Mr, Libby will receive his presedential pardon, and that will be that.

Greg M, Detroit, MI (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:38 PM)

Thank you, Patrick Fitzgerald... The more the truth becomes evident the more we as a people become acceptable. When you live in suspicion and deceit you trust no one, but a small step for decency has arrived.Thanks again,MR. Fitzgerald

larry parker ,north judson, in. (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:38 PM)

We have a "gang" in the White House, and they need to be held accountable.

Beth, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:39 PM)

This is a small victory. If lying about a sexuale incounter is impeachable What is lying to get us in a war? I am still amazed that only a very few people are calling for investigation of how we got into this mess. The Men & Women who put their lives on the line serving this country deserve far better from their leaders. This is not a red or blue issue it is a moral one.

Bruce - New Jersey (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:40 PM)

For American Who Cares, at least have the courage to identify yourself, don't worry, the NSA already knows your ID.

Keith Jones, Lewsiville, TX (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:40 PM)

Mr. Mathews, He may have said “ASK HIM!” to you, but he told everyone else that President and the VP were never briefed on the CIA’s independent investigation of the British Intelligence. “Tenet also said top administration officials -- including Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney -- were never briefed on the CIA's skepticism about the uranium purchase allegations. Nor did he tell members of Congress during briefings on Iraq last fall.” http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/07/11/sprj.irq.wmdspeech/index.html Did you "ASK HIM" why he didn't brief congress on this issue?

Phil Morrill (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:41 PM)

Libby was never going to get a fair trial in Washington. Fitzgerald needs to pack it in, he has made millions of dollars for nothing. Everyone lies in politics and most of all Chris. I hope Bush pardons him. This jury knew all along they were going to return a guilty verdict and just drug it out for the attention and so they wouldn't be accused of rushing to a verdict.

Dick James (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:41 PM)

Libby will eventually be pardoned by President Bush. Meanwhile, this horrific war that was unleashed under false assertions will grind on. Bush and Cheney will flick this verdict as an annoying little bug, scare us yet again with the 9-11 boogeyman and keep our men and women right there in Iraq. This war will only end when the news media stop self-censoring reports from Iraq and let the american people see and understand the true horrorsof this war.

Ibrahim sesay (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:41 PM)

Valerie Plame is not a Secret Agent! She is a analyst...and why should anyone be convicted of saying she works for the CIA and she convinced them to send her husband over to Niger to ask them politely if they have been selling uranium to the Iraqis? Didn't Vanity Fair do a piece on her and her husband a year before all of this happened? I believe that they reported then that she worked for the CIA...woops did Vanitie Fair out her??? This verdict is crazy and all of the "he said" is not enough to make the verdict stick.

Josh, Nashville TN (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:43 PM)

I personal still have faith that the American people will seek justice and prosecute the “real” criminals in this case. It might take a while for non-disputable facts to come to the surface, however they will eventually. After this administration leaves office I predict that many republicans, and right-winged media outlets will distance them selves from “the mess”, leaving Bush, Cheney and the rest of the gang behind and unprotected.

Mel S, Houston, Texas (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:44 PM)

Hope they go after Cheney now. Kudos to Fitzgerald. The administration lied to the American people in order to get us involved in Iraq. Someone should be tried for treason in outing a CIA operative.

Burt B. Tyngsboro,MA (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:44 PM)

I don't understand how anyone can fault Joe Wilson or Valerie Plame. Joe Wilson's editorial could have saved lives and protected American soldier's. Isn't that what his job was supposed to do? By discrediting him, and outing his wife, the machinations of the Bush administration disregarded what he had to say, which was the truth! Iraq did not try to buy enriched yellowcake from Niger, end of story. I am glad to see good, decent American citizens performing their civic duties as jurors. I hope that no one calls them un-American and politically motivated.

Steven Ysais, Azusa, CA (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:46 PM)

THIS IS JUST A SMALL VICTORY FOR VALERIE PLAME, JOE WILSON, THE JOURNALIST AND FOR THE LOSS OF LIFE IN IRAQ. IT IS TIME TO GO AFTER THE REAL CRIMINALS WHO GOT US INTO THIS WAR FOR NO REASON. IM DAM MAD BECAUSE THEY LIED!

R HINCH (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:48 PM)

Congrats, Chris! Scooter Libby guilty of the Iraq War? Since this has been your crusade every night how about now trying to answer the following: How much money was wasted by Patrick Fitzgerald? He knew who leaked the name early in the investigation. (Richard Armitage) Nobody cares about him. And what is Richard Armitage doing now? Any legal problems or book deals? Don't forget the Wilson's, how have they profited? And Scooter Libby, was he found guilty of what he was actually charged with or just guilty because of Bush hatred?

Ann Jackson (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:48 PM)

GOP outs CIA agents and treats out veterans like dirt. What happend to the GOP that put its loyalty to country before corporations? Makes me sick that VP was involved in a treason.

Navin, Madison, WI (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:50 PM)

“The results are actually sad,” he added. “It’s sad that we had a situation where a high level official person who worked in the office of the vice president obstructed justice and lied under oath. We wish that it had not happened, but it did.” It is even more sad that we had a President in the Oval Office that also "obstructed justice and lied under oath" but never even went to trial.

J Nazzaro, Memphis, TN (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:50 PM)

Chris, never underestimate the American predilection to conveniently miss the point. I empathize with how painful it is to watch.

Matt Jarvis, Alexandria, Virginia (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:51 PM)

There is a sense of outrage all over American when truth is finally revealed. But the Bush SS keeps the dampers on the full press coverage. Why doesn't anyone talk about mysterious plane crashes, disappearances, and voter shock troops? We will get tired enough and we will take back America. Cheney must stand trial. And I want a full investigation of the plane crashes of Brown, Carnahan, and Wellstone, and Congressional hearings on them.

Grayce Gadson, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:51 PM)

The Dixie Chicks had it right way back when! They at least had the guts to tell it like it is....shame on this administration for being the cause of the thousands of lies being lost in an unjust war; both Iraqui's and U.S. In the next election, don't look to the guy who is someone you would like to BBQ with, vote for the guy who has a brain!!!

Mudhole Mom, CA (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:52 PM)

Tears sprang into my eyes when I heard Fitzgerald speak the words "lying" and "falsehood" this morning. He really believes there is something called "Truth," and that it is different from "Spin."

Hershel Parker, Morro Bay, California (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:52 PM)

Josh, from Nashville, displays the typical conservative misunderstanding of the situation. Read the indictment, Josh. The charges are not that Valerie Plame was "outed," and no one was convicted of "outing" her. Scooter Libby was tried for lying to federal investigators and a grand jury. Those are crimes in and of themselves. Lastly, my new motto: "Sing, Scooter! Sing!"

Dade Cariaga, Portland, OR (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:52 PM)

I'm all about Karma - but something about this whole war and administration that makes me want to see these men dragged through the city streets of America and hung in a public square. America has been hi-jacked and hoodwinked by these neo-conservatives and it's time to pay the piper. There's nothing un-patriotic about wanting justice to be served.

Philip H., Fort Collins, CO (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:54 PM)

This is a direct conviction of Chaney and his underling--George W.

W. Gore (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:54 PM)

We must support our President no matter what. He is a great leader that knows a lot more than we do about what is going on in the world and how to save us from 9/11 and the muslims. I wish I could vote for Dick Cheney in 08

College Station, TX (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:55 PM)

Bush and Cheney have blood on their fingers. They are responsible for slauthering, torturing people, for ruining the US's image abroad and for making the world and the american people much less safe than they were before. For those who are for those two guys, think again when your kid gets asthma because of the higherlimits on air polution, or if you get cancer because of the higher aspestus levels, or when you have to work until you're 80 because of the national dept or maybe your kid ships off to Iraq. Dear Republican I invite you to salute your president while you work more but earn less, while rich people like me get a tax cut while you have to work you butt off... dear republican I really suggest to keep saluting and admiring your president while 200 Trillion of your money, your kids money is shipped out to a country far far away, with no money ever coming back and I salute you who supports this president because you think that is the greatest thing that has ever happened to you, your family and your kids.. go ahead and keep doing it, because rich people like will make even more money thanks to YOU.

james (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:55 PM)

Reading the responses here is like watching the mob scene in Springfield after the aliens takeover in the 1996 election parody on The Simpsons. All this nonsense over who said what about somebody who not even in active field duty. You people are comical, on to the next bungling hogwash administration. I am sure the Democrats will claim moral and intellectual superiority in the Whitehouse and the Republicans with whine about the media. You are all tools in a useless shed.

Patrick Boegel, Albany NY (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:56 PM)

Vote Barack Obama in 2008 with Wes Clark as the VP, we need someone that can unite, not divide!

David Carstensen, Honeoye, NY (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:56 PM)

If lying about sex is an impeachable offense, then lying about outing a covert agent is one as well, only far more damaging to America. But both pale in comparison to lying about reasons to invade a sovereign nation (false pretense), unprovoked, and therefore wasting precious lives & resources. No matter how patriotic these clowns in this admistration think they are, they are doing incredible damage to our nation, and our nation's reputation. There are far more reasons to impeach in 2007, than there were in 1999!

Tom, Germany (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:57 PM)

This is a direct conviction of Chaney and his underling--George W.

W. Gore (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:57 PM)

Sadly enough… what’s the point. Does any sane person actually believe “Scooter” will set one foot in prison? The moment Scooter exhausts all appeal attempts, those two criminals in the White House will pardon him.

TkFenton, Central Texas (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:58 PM)

You're the idiots who needed lies told to you. I completely understood why we went to Iraq, because we needed a place to fight Al Qaeda that WASN'T the US but was a place we understood. Those extremist islamic egos couldn't sit by while the US was in Iraq, they would have to come over the border to fight the great "satan" and that is exactly what they did. Getting Sadam was just icing on the cake. I'm so sick of people who don't get this war on terror. You'll only get it when the terrorists are heading down your street. You idiots are going to get us all killed.

Liz Haren, New York City (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:58 PM)

Maybe the next step should be to check for "misdemeanors and high crimes" which are impeachable offenses when it comes to the vice president and the president. I recall how the republicans were so rabid on impeaching President Clinton and what he did didn't cost thousands of lives not to mention the thousands of injuries and hundreds of billions of dollars in "war" costs.

James T Short (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:59 PM)

Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but the wasps and hornets break through. (SWIFT) (1667-1745)

Bud Young Corinth, Mississippi (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 2:00 PM)

Kevin R: "Sandy Berger is the one who should be going to jail." The Berger case has NOTHING to do with the Libby case. The Bush administration opted to let Berger plead and walk. Put the blame where it belongs. As for why Wilson was sent, in response to Cheney's office once again leaning on the CIA to find him some evidence he could use to sell the war, well Wilson is a former ambassador with extensive contacts in Africa, including Niger, and a knowledge of the uranium mining and trading processes. He was sent because he was frikkin' qualified...unlike so many political hacks this administration has appointed and protected. And the larger question still remains: if Cheney did lean on the CIA to look into the matter of whether Hussein was trying to get uranium from Niger, why didn't he or one of his minions follow up and find out what the answer was? Well, maybe because he already knew it was a bogus allegation based on clearly forged documents that were delibered to Stephen Hadley, another of his minions, instead of being delivered to the intelligence community for evaluation. Wilson NEVER alleged that Cheney or his office sent him to Niger. That's a red herring created by Cheney and Libby to justify outing Plame. It's amazing how many continue to worship Bush and Cheney, no matter how much harm they keep doing to this country and others, no matter how many times they lie about life and death matters. So I guess it's not surprising that Libby will still have his defenders making excuses for him. I do feel sorry for him; he's just another flunky who was sacrificed to protect the White House, without a moment's hesitation or twinge of conscience. He's not the first and he won't be the last 'cause they still got two more years to lie us into a war with Iran, continue screwing up in Iraq and Afghanistan, let the Gulf State cities rot (as long as they're not governed by Republications, that is) and throw more minions under the train to take the blame. Then pardons all around.

windrider, Columbus OH (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 2:00 PM)

Just another confirmation of the supreme embarrassment running this country. Won't anyone do something to bring them to justice? They just do whatever they like, with impunity. In our lifetimes, we've never seen the likes of such an administration.

Wayne S, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Tuesday, March 06, 2007 2:03 PM)



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