Trade Imbalance, by Spencer Ackerman (Bushco Tag Team appearance)

[pinto]

So much for what Condoleezza Rice termed the "important principle" of executive privilege. This morning, White House counsel Al Gonzalez informed the 9/11 Commission that Rice will testify in public and under oath before the Commission. This may appear, on the surface, to be a defeat for the White House. But Rice's testimony isn't unconditional. The administration has offered--and the Commission has apparently accepted--what is basically a trade: Rice will testify publicly, but only if no other White House official has to. And by no other White House official, Gonzalez means President Bush and Vice President Cheney. The White House is, in effect, trading a Rice appearance for a guarantee that the administration's two leading men won't be dragged down with her. Which makes this a reasonably good deal for the president and his team.


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http://www.tnr.com/docprint.mhtml?i=express&s=ackerman033004