In a reply brief filed late Wednesday, Libby's defense team said this disclosure set "off an avalanche of media interest." Acting in response to questions, one of Libby's lawyers had made a brief statement to the media that Libby's White House-authorized release of information about Iraq was disconnected from any release of the name of the CIA officer, Valerie Plame, contrary to what Fitzgerald said in court papers.http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/3793196.html
So, is one of Libby's lawyers saying that the prosecution (Fitzgerald) has said, in court papers, that the authorization of release of Iraq information, that is, selected contents of the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), is "connected" to the release of Plame's name?
The casual reader will leap to the conclusion that Fitzgerald's court papers say that Libby was authorized to leak Plame's name - that is, the casual reader will apply the most natural meaning of the word "connected." But what is the connection between the NIE and Plame, according to Fitzgerald?
In short, says Fitz, the NIE naturally will come up in the trial, because Libby met with Miller to disclose parts of the NIE. That was his reason for meeting. Also during that meeting, alleges Fitz, Libby mentioned that Wilson's wife works at the CIA. That is the sum total "connection." If Fitz had his preference, the NIE wouldn't even be involved. Fitz's court papers go to some length to express separation of the NIE from the disclosure of Plame's employment, not connection.
March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 March 2009 April 2009