At least -
that's the NEW story.
The White House on Friday declined to challenge assertions that President Bush authorized the leaks of intelligence information to counter administration critics on Iraq.
...
"There is a difference between providing declassified information to the public when it's in the public interest and leaking classified information that involved sensitive national intelligence regarding our security," [Scott McClellan] said.
So, if blowing Plame's cover as well as the entire Brewster Williams operation was "in the public interest", why the Hell didn't GW just fess up to it all a year or so ago, explain why he did it, revel in the adulation that such a selfless public service would have garnered him, and saved the taxpayers a shitload of money investigating the leak not to mention Scooter's career that he trashed trying to cover it all up?
I mean - since it was all such a GOOD thing and all that.....
BTW: Can someone find where Valerie Plame's name popped up in the NIE since they are now trying to excuse the leak as just a premature release of that document? Shouldn't she be in there?