Yes, Judy Miller is out of jail, and proud we are all of her. But I want to draw your attention to a small bit of text that proves to be the most interesting thing about her release.
From Judy Miller's statement:
"I am leaving jail today because my source has now voluntarily and personally released me from my promise of confidentiality regarding our conversations relating to the Wilson-Plame matter. My attorneys have also reached agreement with the Office of Special Counsel regarding the nature and scope of my testimony, which satisfied my obligation as a reporter to keep faith with my sources."(emphasis mine)
From the WaPo:But Joseph Tate, an attorney for Libby, said yesterday that he told Miller attorney Floyd Abrams a year ago that Libby's waiver was voluntary and that Miller was free to testify. He said last night that he was contacted by [Miller's attorney Robert S.] Bennett several weeks ago, and was surprised to learn that Miller had not accepted that representation as authorization to speak with prosecutors.
"We told her lawyers it was not coerced," Tate said. "We are surprised to learn we had anything to do with her incarceration."
Judy was never in jail to protect her sources. She was in jail to protect herself. Although I tend not believe anything the Bush Administration says, Scooter Libby says he released Miller from her vow of secrecy a year ago. If that's the case, why didn't Judy believe him? What did he say now (during a private phone call) that caused her to backtrack?
My take: Judy was in the bed with these guys from Day One. She bears a lot of responsibility for hyping the Iraq War on the front pages of the NYT, including slam dunk from Chalabai and definite locations of WMD.
She became too close to the story, and in the end wasn't able to remain a skeptical independent journalist. When Joe Wilson came out calling the WMD claim bollocks, she knew her reputation as well as that of her friends in the administration was on the line. She helped by spreading around the crap about Joe and Valerie Wilson.
By limiting her testimony, she's able to squeal like a pig, but avoids being turned into bacon.