We've learned two new, though unsurprising, things about President Bush over the last few days. First, we learned that the president
had authorized Scooter Libby to leak the contents of previously classified information intended to rebut claims made by Ambassador Joseph Wilson.
Next, we learned that, in order to defend himself against claims he broke the law, the president
has decided to fight criticism of leaks by - you guessed it - leaking more information. In Monday's New York Times, a "senior administration official" confirmed the original story, apparently in an attempt to shield the president from blame.
I would say we learned a third new, though unsurprising, thing about the president, that he now seems willing to lie about whatever he does. But that's old news. We've known that for six years.
When you think about it, it's relatively easy to discern why the administration would prefer this controversy to revolve around the minutiae of declassification and leaking. Because every second spent debating what the definition of "is" is represents time spent avoiding the bottom line of this entire episode:
That the president is willing to leak classified information for the sole purpose of smearing his critics. Not only that, but also that the president is willing to leak
wrong information, information known not to be true.
It's also easy to discern when you consider the ramifications of disclosing the name of Valerie Plame, Wilson's wife, an undercover CIA operative. Also done in an effort to smear Wilson, outing Plame did far more than hurt Wilson. It damaged our national security. Specifically, it
affected a program Plame worked on charged with tracking the flow of weapons of mass destruction technology through Iran. Terrible news at a time when the administration is
planning to wage war with Iraq's neighbor.
The administration's initial excuse was that the president has the right to declassify information, making what Bush did legal. While I'm not convinced that that's true - the declassification process surely involves more oversight - Monday's news shifted the story. Now, the administration would have us believe that Bush did indeed order the declassification but stopped short of directing others to share the information with the media.
Let's assume that this complete flight of fancy is true. Still, one question remains:
Why? Why did the president declassify this information? Clearly not for benevolent reasons, given what happened. Why, too, did Bush and his surrogates lie about what happened? Clearly not because what they did was on the up-and-up.
Time and time again, we've been told "Trust us" by the administration. Trust that everything we told you about Iraq before the war was true. Trust that no one could have anticipated the disastrous aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Trust that we're not breaking the law to pursue a domestic surveillance program that won't - and we repeat won't - be used to spy on our opposition. And now, trust that the president wasn't behind a coordinated effort to use classified information to attack a vocal critic of his case for war in Iraq, nor was he behind the outing of an undercover CIA operative for the very same reasons.
I'm sorry, Mr. President, but "Trust us" just isn't going to cut it. You're out of excuses. No amount of spin changes what happened. No amount of staged town-hall meetings proves your lies about Iraq true. No amount of bickering over the details makes you anything but the vengeful liar you are. You've always been fond of tough talk. Well, here's some for you: You can run, Mr. President, but you can't hide.
America can smell a rat. And the stench coming from the Oval Office these days is unmistakable.
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(504 posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
