Throughout his career, Libby almost never gave media interviews.
But his vanity got the best of him when The Apprentice was released in paperback in 2002, and he agreed to discuss it on the Diane Rehm show:
Rehm: Tell us a little about your role with the office of Vice President Cheney, and within the White House:
Libby: Well, I have, uh, three hats. Assistant to the President, Chief of Staff for the Vice President, and National Security Advisor to the Vice President.
And within the daily schedule, I divide my time up among aspects of those three, but primarily for the Vice President. I have the responsibility of putting together his staff, managing it, of helping him focus on the issues that he needs to handle, and always when he has – take a look at his schedule, help him manage that.
(You can listen yourself to this fascinating interview, archived online: Libby says this around the 7:15 mark. Interestingly, this February 26, 2002 interview was recorded at the same time Joe Wilson was in Niger, investigating the bogus uranium claims.)
I'll make this diary simple:
What we won't read in tomorrow's papers—indeed, what we will never hear our talking heads nattering on about—is the fact that Bush just sprung a man from jail who worked directly for him on a daily or near-basis.
"Assistant to the President." It's in Libby's own words.
George W. Bush just sprung jail a man who, far more likely than not, was convicted of lying and obstruction to cover up for his boss's crime.
I have studied the case carefully, as have many Kossacks. Cheney played an instrumental role, of course, but I have no doubt George W. Bush approved the outing of Valerie Plame as well. After all, Rove's signature is on the outing, not least through the use of Robert Novak. Who doesn't think Rove kept Bush in the loop?
Bush outed Plame in retaliation for what Wilson published in The New York Times about the uranium lies. Bush outed Plame to warn other potential whistleblowers that their families would suffer, too.
For indeed, there were many in Washington who knew this country was being lied into war.
I agree with Barack Obama's words. Bush's act "cements the legacy of an administration...that has consistently placed itself and its ideology above the law."
In this country, no one is safe from punishment for speaking out. No one's family is safe.
George W. Bush: America's traitor President.