In his latest
Plame filing, Patrick Fitzgerald states why it may be necessary to call Vice President Dick Cheney to the witness stand in Scooter Libby's trial:
Libby "shared the interests of his superior and was subject to his direction," the prosecutor wrote. "Therefore, the state of mind of the vice president as communicated to (the) defendant is directly relevant to the issue of whether (the) defendant knowingly made false statements to federal agents and the grand jury regarding when and how he learned about (Plame's) employment and what he said to reporters regarding this issue."
Am I wrong, or is Fitzgerald stating that Cheney's testimony will demonstrate that the VP wanted Plame outed, and Libby lied to the grand jury about outing Plame in order to take the heat off his boss?
If that's the case, can you imagine Cheney on the stand? I bet it would go something like this:
Cheney: You want answers?
Fitzgerald: I think I'm entitled to them.
Cheney: You want answers?
Fitzgerald: I want the truth!
Cheney: You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls. And those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Joseph Wilson? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Valerie Plame and you curse the Unitary Executive. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Plame's outing, while tragic, probably saved the Unitary Executive's political bacon. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves political bacon...You don't want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall.
We use words like honor, code, loyalty...we use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use 'em as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it! I'd rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you're entitled to!
Fitzgerald: Did you order the Plame outing?
Cheney: (quietly) I did the job you sent me to do.
Fitzgerald: Did you order the Plame outing?
Cheney: You're goddamn right I did!!