'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Cesco Martell, New York, New York — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 13:36:15 GMT

There is another part of this story that continues to be overlooked by the media and that how the media was manipulated by the White House. If manipulating and falsifying the news in a so-called "free country" is not a crime, it probably should be and the White House engaged in the worst kind of manipulation. I believe the media has not adequately stressed this side of the CIA leak because it does not want to freely admit that it can be swayed so easily. Judith Miller is a case in point.

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Walter Humm — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 14:56:42 GMT

Libby was convicted, rightfully so but the persons above him that were responsible are evidently above the law (or so they believe) and we (Citizens) have allowed this. Clinton was impeached for lying and our present administration has lied and not been held accountable or taken any responsibility. Executive privilege does not include the right to break the law or over-ride the constitution.

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Steve Mac, Cherry Hill, NJ — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 15:14:41 GMT

I don't understand these people that say "the conviction was over obstruction/perjury and isn't significant because it wasn't about the leak itself". That seems a common cop out by those seeking to minimize the event. The point is that it was all about a scheme to attack someone who spoke out against them and to support the ill conceived disasterous war. That's not the least bit irrelevant.

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Barbed, Randolph, MA — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:34:24 GMT

Round Four: Congress finds its spine and begins impeachment hearings. Please.

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

John Cunningham, San Mateo, CA — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 17:06:38 GMT

Nice story Chris, good to hear about both sides from someone who knows Washington better than most I do, because we are not going to hear an objective voice from all those involved in this mess. I kind of thought this to be the case, but now I have a better persepective. Thank you.

John from San Mateo, California

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Tom, Santa monica, ca — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 17:06:41 GMT

At what point does anyone take responsibility for the leak of the CIA agent. Bush stated that he would find the leak and prosecute to the full extent of the law. Why has this not happened? Why has no one ever been prosecuted? No now the greatest "Last Super Power" can not find one man on the face of the earth, Bin Laden! Now we can not even find one person who leaked a name! How great are we really as a country, what has this administration done to make us better than any previous administration. How has congress made us any better. Another argument should be that if someone comes across anyones name or classified information and distributes it; no matter how important the information. Why are these people, in the white house, not prosecuted for mis-handling classified information or knowledge and not reporting the leak to the CIA. Many peoples lives are at stake and if they are going to risk their lives to serve the United States of America then no politics, vendetta, or personal differences should ever be an issue when handling or securing Classified information.

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Brian MacCartney, Columbus, Ohio — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 17:06:58 GMT

All true if you believe in facts. Of course some people think they are intitled to their own facts, as the CIA leak case shows. With the commutation of Mr. Libby's sentence I fear we may never know what really happened. What ever happened to open government?

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Scott, San Diego — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 17:25:54 GMT

Well said Mr Matthews! Dont let this story fade from the public eye until we can get to the bottom of it! I serve in our military, largely due to the fact that I once believe the lies our government sold to the public. If this administration knowingly sold us false information they should be held to account and sent to jail for directly causing the deaths of my brothers and sisters in arms. Even if that means pursuing them after they have left office!

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Casey Corrigan, Los Angeles, Ca — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 17:30:48 GMT

I'm not sure why such illegal and deceptive activity can go on with our government. It seems that no matter how many laws Bush and Cheney break, or how many lies they tell, nothing happens. What happened to our America. This is no longer a democracy its a Monarchy and king Bush needs to be dethroned. Why is our Congress sitting around doing nothing to protect the citizen? This is shameful...... I hope Bush is remembering the 3500 + Americans who died for his lie while he celebrates his birthday. Those 3500 will never see age 61.

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

jorge — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 17:31:22 GMT

Bush and his administration have turned the American concept of justice, fair-play, accountability and security into a bad joke.

It takes a lot of gall to make false claims, exclude the CIA from your meetings because they won't back the false claims, then after the CIA starts to swing into line you blame them for the false claims when your little scheme falls apart.

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Harry S, Waukesha, Wisconsin — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 17:33:47 GMT

Snow at next Press Conference to explain the president's decision: "Lewis 'Scooter' Libby is a Patriot, and therefore our President has decided to commute his prison sentence." "Furthermore all you CIA careerists, and anti-war Americans are Nazi Sympathizers." "Therefore, the President has ordered all Nazi Sympathizers will have their phones tapped and their bank accounts monitored without a warrant."

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Toni Cirillo, Willoughby Ohio — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 18:53:43 GMT

Thank you Chris Matthews! But one more point in this matter, Bush did not pardon Libby so he can claim the 5th amendment during his appeal process. A clever way to keep Libby silent until the end of his presidency. Toni

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

jean roach — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 19:03:46 GMT

Thank you for condensing this fiasco into a concise, understandable sequence of events; I would be willing to bet that Libby's sentence will be commuted, right around the time Bush leaves office,to fade off into the sunset as this Country's worst leader.

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Ernesto Elias, Yuma, Arizona — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 19:16:02 GMT

Chris Matthews thank you for pushing this matter. It seems you are alone out there in the news industry covering this. I'm devastated and troubled that our leaders misrepresented the facts and attempted to conjure bad information to support the Iraq War. Bush, Cheney & Gonzalez must be impeached NOW!

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Bob Tumlinson, Lewisville,Tx — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:08:58 GMT

why has the person who wrote the story about the CIA agent not been tried for treason for exposing and risking the life and usefullness of an AMERICAN asset in a time of war. Does the glory of a scoop for the reporter out way the importance of American security?

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

John O'Connor — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:13:22 GMT

Congress needs to add amendments to the constitution that will stop any future president from acting like king-Bush. Washington was offered the title of king and he turned it down. We don't need any more people who think they were somehow deified when they were elected. It's just a 4 year appointment,the country still belongs to us.

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Miles Fredenburg, Lansing, MI — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 16:56:51 GMT

I think that the reason why its illegal to "out" a CIA officer is that this might result in the deaths of foriegn nationals who have provided our government with valuable information. It is my expectation that foriegn security services in countries to which Mrs. Plame was posted have been rounding up everyone she ever spoke to and grilling them to see if any of them have been spying for the U.S. government. Has anyone checked to see if any of our spies have been killed as a result of the White House outing of Valerie Plame for political pourposes?

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Chris Mamer, Vancouver, Washington — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 19:14:35 GMT

I am appalled at the actions of this administration, they have completely mislead the nation and the world. What is the purpose the bush administration has for this war and all of these lies? I hope that George Bush and everyone involved in this illegal activity is prosecuted to the full extent of the law. This administration has ruined the reputation of the United States. All of the soldiers who have died in previous wars have been in vein, thanks to these incompetent fools in charge of the biggest super power in the world...Who voted for this guy anyways???

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Mark Allen, Alexandria, Virginia — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 01:31:43 GMT

Getting the truth out of this administration is next to impossible when you consider that the puppet and his master (Bush and Cheney) have no problem with journalists going to jail instead of their own staff (Libby). All in all, both Bush and Cheney need to be impeached and removed from office. If stupidity were a crime, Bush would have been gone on his first day!

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Tom Zirpoli, Westminster, Maryland — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 12:38:09 GMT

What will happen when, upon the completing of this administration, all these new presidential and vice-presidential powers, discovered or invented by the Bush team, are transferred to a Democratic president and vice president. Will Republicans in Congress still be supportive of these new broad powers of the executive branch? I wonder.

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Kathy Skerl, Asheville, NC — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 15:07:25 GMT

It is treason to divulge the name of an undercover agent. What is so difficult to understand about that? Why has no one been charged?

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

George, Tucson, AZ — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 16:26:11 GMT

If:
The President stated that he would prosecute those who leaked classified information, including the identification of CIA covert operatives.

Then:
1. Why is Robert Novak not in jail for "outing" Valerie Plame in his column?
2. Why is Richard Armitabe not in jail for leaking this classified information to Novak?
3. Why is Karl Rove not in jail for "confirming" the status of Valerie Plame to Novak?
And:
4. If Scooter Libby was telling others about Valerie Plame, who told him and why isn't that person in jail?

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Kay Ziemba, Houston, Texas — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 17:58:27 GMT

Bush will go down as not only the least effective president we've ever had but the most corrupt as well. Thousands of people have been killed or maimed for what?

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Charlie in Mobile, AL — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 18:38:01 GMT

Chris, I think you're doing a wonderful job in calling public attention to the fact that the Bush administration is hiding something huge. The real issue is *what it is that's being hidden* and why it can't be revealed. Heaven help us when that part of the saga comes out. I think we're going to find out that it's not always a good idea to go digging around in the President's business, especially if his secrecy is for the purpose of protecting us from the consequences of someone else's error. We'll see that Clinton was the original sneak, as his behvavior in other areas more than amply demonstrated.

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Evelyn Woodson — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 18:51:12 GMT

The problem started wit the 2000 Elections, The Distractions of Iraq worded off , Invistigations into voter fraud, When they was able to take the White house by using the system of the Seating of the Occupants by the Court that was a majority seated by those who did the the same as those everyone is so out spoken about now, it's a litte late , the same outcry should have happned when the voting rights was tramppled on, If the very foundation of choice of who leads is allowed to be undermind , in the purpertrators receive standing ovations why should they have a care about invading any Nation or ignoring any laws, ?

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Olivia Duarte — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 18:53:15 GMT

If one uses President Clinton as an example of exercising his right to Presidential commutation pardons, did he in fact pardon anyone who had not served time? If not, then using the example of executive right in the Libby case is irrevelent. Please tell me how one is commuted from an imposed sentence and yet never has to serve 1 day? Has anyone looked into this?

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Lyle, Washington State — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 06:24:06 GMT

This is sick. I can't even use our present administration as an example of good government to my children. Republican or democrat, I don't think anyone can be proud of this. Yeah, I could rave on and on about Bush but what is the point- no sane US citizen could support him and his cohorts. It is depressing.

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Gary Lewis Sr. — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 07:06:38 GMT

What Bush & Chaney have done is a crime & a shameful site to the whole world for many years to come. Many have suffered & died & will continue to do for what? The personal politics of Bush & Chaney.

'CIA leak saga': An intramural struggle within the U.S. government over Iraq

Adelanto — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 08:47:08 GMT

Simple question, if the Democrats win the white house, and have a majority, in both houses after the up comeing elections, could they then go after Cheney?
for lying,and misleading the country, to go to war?