Then there's the issue of the "topic summaries"--the nine things Libby says he was "consumed" by, which caused him to forget he had outed a CIA spy. The topics are (with Walton's exclusions, as much as I can discern):
Threatened attacks on America and American interests by Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, and other terroist groups: Walton repeats his ruling restricting Libby to known scary terrorist threats.
Enhancing the US defenses for homeland security: Walton seems to limit Libby from talking about a shortage of (again a guess) smallpox vaccines--in any case, it's some sort of shortage.
Nuclear proliferation by Pakistan scientist A. Q. Khan and efforts by the US to stop his activities: Walton seems to restrict Libby's mention of scary sounding groups again; there's one other restriction. Who knows? Maybe Walton is preventing Libby from talking about Plame's involvement in non-proliferation activities? (Just joking, perhaps.)
The development of nuclear weapons by North Korea: Walton makes one modication.
Iran's development of nuclear weapons, its arrest and potential harboring of Al Qaeda members, and its involvement in Iraq: Walton agains largely permits this.
The proper size and role of the Iraqi military and security forces in the months following the fall of Saddam Hussein and the proper composition of the governing entity in Iraq: It seems that Libby is trying to introduce evidence outside the time frame Walton has already established, which is not surprising. Seems like he wanted to talk about installing Chalabi and de-Baathification and his fight with CIA and State. Clever, Scooter, but Walton's not buying it.
The Israeli-Palestinian relationship, including the emergence of Mahumoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) as an alternative to Yasser Arafat and the threat Hamas posed to peace and security: Everything goes on this topic.
A tense diplomatic crisis arising during the first half of July 2003 from the arrest of Turkish soldiers by US forces: Walton allows everyhting with this topic.
The unrest in Liberia in June and July 2003, culminating in the fall of Charles Taylor in early 2003; the danger to the US Embassy and its occupants in Monrovia; and the United States' role in protecting civilians caught in the strife: everything goes (though I'm curious about the timing...)
Here is Judge Walton's November 15th CIPA ruling and what Fitz may file an appeal.
1 comment:
I hope Fitz doesn't read this but I'm going to say it anyway. I wish I could do the opening remarks in the Libby trial.
Here's Irv Libby a good lawyer with famous cases, even a international lawyer. Yes Libby was in line for Connie Rice's job as Assistant to the President. ( Connie got the job by sleeping with the President). Libby was assistant to the Vice President with two job titles. Even an author of a book. With all this as a background he couldn't remember to say I don't recall. Instead this brilliant attorney chose to lie. Now as for all the work he was doing strangely it involved Iran where covert CIA agent Plame was working but Libby never heard of her. Mr. Wilson wrote an article that could wipe out the lie of invading Iraq but Libby never knew anything about destroying the story yet those notes Cheney wrote one wonders. Let's pay good attention to the dates as this occurred. As for national security classified information well the White House releases it on a add needed bases so no need to worry about that anymore. As today something is classified tomorrow it's in the paper without being declassified. You'll hear a story of important national security work done by Libby so much that he couldn't remember things as he was under oath. Now that most of the secrets are out he no longer has that memory loss problem but it was over worked that cause this bright man to lie. Ladies and gentleman you are hear to decide beyond a reasonable doubt if Libby lied or while under oath just wanted to cover up that fact that the White House needed to make sure the public didn't believe Mr. Wilson so they could continue their plan to invade Iraq.
Ok that's it Fitz I'm out of the dream world.
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