If the emails were so benign, why the warning on Foley?

[cynatnite]

snip:
Read the supposedly benign and ambiguous emails that the House leadership has known about for nearly a year. If they were so benign why did they warn Foley to have no further contact with the boy in question? And if they did warn Foley, why didn’t they launch an investigation?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15116302/

It's from a not-so-flattering commentary by Howard Fineman.

[soothsayer]

1. I think the parents wanted Foley to leave their kid alone, and the

leadership had to convey those wishes.

[longship]

2. Reminds me of this...

* Jessup: We follow orders, son. We follow orders, or people die, it’s that simple. Are we clear?
* Kaffee: Yes, Sir.
* Jessup: Are we clear?
* Kaffee: Crystal. Colonel, I have just one more question before I call Airman O'Malley and Airman Rodriguez. If you gave an order that Santiago wasn't to be touched. And your orders are always followed, then why would Santiago be in danger? Why would it be necessary to transfer him off the base?
* Jessup: Santiago was a substandard Marine. He was being transferred because--
* Kaffee: That is not what you said, you said he was being transferred because he was in grave danger.
* Jessup: That’s correct.
* Kaffee: You said danger, I said "grave danger" you said "is there another kind?"--
* Jessup: I recall what I said--
* Kaffee: I can have the court reporter read back to you--
* Jessup: I know what I said! I don't have to have it read back to me--
* Kaffee: Then why the two orders? Colonel?
* Jessup: Sometimes men take matters into their own hands.
* Kaffee: No, Sir. You made it clear a moment ago that your men NEVER take matter in to their own hands. Your men follow orders, or people die. So Santiago shouldn't have been in any danger at all, should he have, Colonel?
* Jessup: You snotty little bastard.
* Ross: Your honor, I'd like to ask for a recess!
* Kaffee: I'd like an answer to the question, Judge.
* Judge: The court will wait for an answer.
* Kaffee: If Lt. Kendrick gave an order, that Santiago wasn't to be touched, then why did he have to be transferred? Colonel? Lt. Kendrick ordered the Code Red, didn't he, because that's what you told Lt. Kendrick to do!