Help me with my LTTE re: Libby pardon

[AlecBGreen]

Orginial article (registration required) - I think you can get the gist of it just by reading my response.

I read the Winchester Star's editorials often, sometimes agreeing but often disagreeing. When I come across a view which I dont share, I usually shrug and chalk it up to differences of opinion. Your thoughts on Scooter Libby ("To pardon, or not?" -June 7th) were so shocking, not to mention factually incorrect, that I feel the need to respond. You argue Libby should be pardoned and put forth three reasons why. Allow me to give two good reasons why he souldn't.

Number one: You (and Mr. Giuliani) feel the punishment does not fit the crime but I couldn't disagree more. He wasn't shoplifting or writing bad checks - he was convicted of obstructing justice, lying to FBI officials, and perjury. Do you hold so little value in truth and justice? Wasn't the GOP howling for Clinton's blood ("He LIED to us!!"). President Clinton lied, under oath, and was impeached. He lied about fellatio - Libby lied about revealing the name of a covert CIA agent engaged in the counterproliferation of nuclear arms. Which is worse? This brings us to my second point.

Number two: By way of quoting Mr Giuliani, you claim there was " 'no underlying crime committed.' " You further state "Ms. Plame was no longer a covert operative." Really? How then do you explain this: "An unclassified summary of outed CIA officer Valerie Plame's employment history at the spy agency ... indicates that Plame was 'covert' when her name became public in July 2003." (NBC News - May 29, 2007). She WAS covert, Armitage and Libby knew that, and they leaked it anyway. That is a crime, and considering the motivation behind the leak, a particularly cold-blooded one at that.

The editorial pages are where we go for the views of others, but giving opinions and making factually correct statements are not mutually exclusive. The bottom line is this: Ms. Plame was working for the defense of this country by seeking out those who would harm us. This administration, including Scooter Libby, Richard Amitage and we-all-know-who-else, leaked her name to the press in retribution for statements her husband made. This is politics at its worst, this is morally outrageous, and this is a crime. Throw the book at 'em.

-AlecBGreen
Winchester, VA

p.s. Should this be cross-posted in the Editorials section of DU?

[NewJeffCT]

1. Your letter is a long one

make sure you read your newspaper's guidelines on letters - many only allow a certain length.

In your point #2 paragraph, you might want to also mention that Fitzgerald also laid out that Plame was covert when she was outed. And, Fitz was appointed to his post by the Bush Justice Department.

[BlackHawk706867]

2. I couldn't agree more with the entire article.... Let's see if Bush will attempt

a pardon anytime soon! The problem for the Administration is that Scooter could begin to squeal like a pig if he does go to jail soon.

ww

[stellanoir]

3. typo alert on paragraph one

would you like to buy a consonant?

I'll give you a really good deal.

It's "shouldn't." Ahhh heck here's an "h" for free.