The Cheney Connection

Here's what I'm trying to figure out.

Why would Cheney say to Libby that the President authorized the leak? We know that, by executive order, Cheney essentially has the same power as Bush to declassify information. Obviously Libby knows that as well.

Q Let me ask you another question. Is it your view that a Vice President has the authority to declassify information?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: There is an executive order to that effect.

Q There is.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yes.

Q Have you done it?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, I've certainly advocated declassification and participated in declassification decisions. The executive order --

Q You ever done it unilaterally?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: I don't want to get into that. There is an executive order that specifies who has classification authority, and obviously focuses first and foremost on the President, but also includes the Vice President.

Now, why would Cheney feel the need to offer up the "Bush authorized it' caveat if he has essentially the same authority? How would it mean any different to Libby? If the Vice President authorizes it, it's declassified, at least by virtue of that executive order.

Whether or not Cheney said that is unclear. But here's what I think. Libby's protecting his boss and his pal by fingering Bush. It takes the heat off of Cheney, who was the direct link for the authorization. It throws everyone off that trail.

Now, the case is solely about perjury, and Fitzgerald presented this quote to the grand jury from Libby to emphasize the enormity of the situation. Libby's defense is that he was so busy with all of his normal duties that he forgot that he told Tim Russert and Judy Miller about Plame's identity, so that his perjury to investigators is excusable. Obviously if the name of the President is invoked, then this is a big deal, says Fitzgerald, and so the idea that Libby was so consumed with work that he wouldn't remember the Plame leak that grew out of this conversation stretches credulity.

But the context of this is important. Libby gave this grand jury testimony before he was indicted. Self-preservation is obviously his main M.O., and using the "I was just following orders" defense is common. But I think bringing up Bush when he didn't have to is significant. To me, it signifies that Libby was protecting his boss.