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Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet

Karl Rove One: I never disclosed Valerie Plame's identity.
Karl Rove Two: I never disclosed Valerie Plame's name
Karl Rove Three: I first heard it from a reporter, I can't remember which one.

Karl Rove's current version in today's New York Times:

People who have been briefed on the case said the White House officials, Karl Rove and I. Lewis Libby, were helping prepare what became the administration's primary response to criticism that a flawed phrase about the nuclear materials in Africa had been in Mr. Bush's State of the Union address six months earlier.

They had exchanged e-mail correspondence and drafts of a proposed statement by George J. Tenet, then the director of central intelligence, to explain how the disputed wording had gotten into the address. Mr. Rove, the president's political strategist, and Mr. Libby, the chief of staff for Vice President Dick Cheney, coordinated their efforts with Stephen J. Hadley, then the deputy national security adviser, who was in turn consulting with Mr. Tenet.

....The work done by Mr. Rove and Mr. Libby on the Tenet statement during this intense period has not been previously disclosed. People who have been briefed on the case discussed this critical time period and the events surrounding it to demonstrate that Mr. Rove and Mr. Libby were not involved in an orchestrated scheme to discredit Mr. Wilson or disclose the undercover status of his wife, Valerie Wilson, but were intent on clarifying the use of intelligence in the president's address. Those people who have been briefed requested anonymity because prosecutors have asked them not to discuss matters under investigation.

Update: Tom Maguire's take is here.

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    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:30 PM EST
    Karl Rove's latest story: We were all working together but it wasn't a conspiracy. All this makes me wonder what Fitzgerald has on him?

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#2)
    by scarshapedstar on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:30 PM EST
    Red alert! Increased chatter!

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#3)
    by Strick on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:30 PM EST
    I'm confused. The Times article suggests that Rove may have learned about Wilson while preparing Tenet's memo. It isn't "yet another version of Rove's story", neither he nor his attorney are quoted. It's the Times speculation and they don't exactly demonstrate that this is how he learned it. Interesting info but misleading headline.

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:30 PM EST
    The first three explanations are in other recent posts I wrote on the topic, with links to th articles. You can find them by clicking on the Valerie Plame topic.

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:30 PM EST
    Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.... "helping prepare what became the administration's primary response to criticism that a flawed phrase about the nuclear materials in Africa had been in Mr. Bush's State of the Union address six months earlier." That's ODD, because Amb. Wilson is on record with his belief that the SOTU reference, which was not attributed in that speech to Niger, but to the British Government, refered to a different African nation and to a different spurious claim of Hussein's supposed interests in buying MORE yellowcake he couldn't use. 128,000 dead family members in Iraq according to the recent survey. They pulled out the stops to protect the interests of the oil industry, and if people had to die and spies get outed to Omerta the State Dept (of which Amb. Wilson inherently represents) and the legitimate part of the CIA, well, you can't make an omelette unless you break some eggs.

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#6)
    by john horse on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:31 PM EST
    Some background on that "flawed phrase" about nuclear weapons that was in Bush's state of the union address. The first time that Bush was thinking of making the now discredited claim that Saddam was attempting to purchase uranium from Africa was going to be in his October 7, 2002 speech in Cincinatti. However, this was taken out of his speech after Deputy National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley received two CIA memos and a telephone call from CIA Director George Tenet. The second CIA memo was also sent to National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. According to Hadley, this memo detailed "some weakness in the evidence . . . the CIA had been telling Congree that the Africa story was one of two issues where we differed with the British intellegence." However, this claim reemerges in a Department of State fact sheet presented to the United Nations on December 19, 2002 despite the "weakness in evidence" that the CIA cited. Bush repeats this claim during his State of the Union speech in January. You might argue that the CIA had changed its mind about how weak the evidence was. However, one week later Secretary of State makes his presentation to the UN and the yellowcake allegation is once again left out. According to Powell "I did not use the yellowcake in my (February 5) presentation. The reason that I did not use the yellowcake . . . is that I didn't sense in going through it all that I saw enough substantiation of it that would meet the tests that we were applying." This wasn't a case of bad intelligence (the favorite excuse by Bush apologists as to why the allegations made by Bush turned out to be false). The CIA did its job. They informed the White House by phone and by memos that there were weaknesses in the yellowcake uranium allegation. Yet the White House continued to insist on making this false claim. This was about fixing the evidence to gain support for going to war.

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:31 PM EST
    Karl Rove Three: I first heard it from a reporter, I can't remember which one.
    How long before we hear: Karl Rove Four: I was only trying to protect Valerie Plame.

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#8)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:31 PM EST
    Rove 5..."I did it for the kids." Rove 6..." Just following Jesus' orders."

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#9)
    by ppjakajim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:31 PM EST
    PIL writes:
    That's ODD, because Amb. Wilson is on record with his belief that the SOTU reference, which was not attributed in that speech to Niger, but to the British Government, refered to a different African nation and to a different spurious claim of Hussein's supposed interests in buying MORE yellowcake he couldn't use.
    Perhaps you can provide at least one link to this claim? And we do know that over 200 tons of yellowcake were found. I guess the tooth fairy dropped it off. And, of course, the world's second largest oil reserve country needed if for "peaceful" power generation. hahahahaha BTW - Don't forget the link. It would be interesting to read. I mean I haven't seen it on any MSM source. PS - We had a post months ago discussing why people who are no longer what they were, keep their titles. And why people use them. Psycho babble it is, but you just showed your undies. ;-) Make that "ex-Amb."

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#10)
    by Jlvngstn on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:31 PM EST
    PPJ: Still waiting for one republican elected official to announce that Plame was not covert, not undercover and not entitled to anonymity. If you see a link or hear about one actually voicing their talking points could you post it here, I am really hoping that someone in the party will abandon their cowardice and go on record with their own leak.

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:31 PM EST
    Posted by Jim: "Perhaps you can provide at least one link to this claim?" He just reiterated the statement on the Al Franken show this last week. Check their website. "And we do know that over 200 tons of yellowcake were found." What an idiot you are. "Found"? That's hilarious, Jim. They were 'found' with IAEA seals on the barrels, fool. How come USPNAC didn't allow the IAEA to inventory the CESIUM AND STRONTIUM WHICH WAS THERE BEFORE THE INVASION? Unlike yellowcake, that cesium and strontium is (dirty) bomb-grade ready. Leaving the doors wide open for a month while the USPNAC raced to secure the oil ministry, may go to go down in history as one of the greatest crimes in US history -- after Tel Aviv gets hit with that bomb. Thanks, George!

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#13)
    by ppjakajim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:32 PM EST
    PIL - Be as snotty as possible, because it is obvious you can't provide proof, all you do is make vulgar attacks and statements. You know, intelligent people don't find it necessary to call people fools, etc., which is one of your usual and normal methods trying to avoid. I repeat. Give us a link or admit that you can't prove your point. BTW - My point remains. Saddam had previously obtained a large quantity of yellow cake. Do you think that "seals" would have kept him for using it? Naive, thy name is PIL. DA - You are quite correct, I "hijacked the thread" by responding to PIL's outrageous comments. But since it is normal Leftist policy to blame the person who is attacked, known as "victim" in the civilized world, I understand why you had to do it, and forgive you for it. BTW - You need to practice your cornpone. You sound like a third rate Hollywood actor trying out for a "Gone With The Wind" bit part.

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:32 PM EST
    Posted by Jim: "My point remains. Saddam had previously obtained a large quantity of yellow cake." Wow, didn't you know that? "Do you think that "seals" would have kept him for using it?" Yeah, I do. The inspection regime was the most extensive in history -- as the Bush/USPNAC invasion has now ADMITTED and PROVEN. Without a single loss of life, those materials could have been kept under seal FOREVER if necessary. But how can you install airbases in a disarmed country? ONLY BY FORCE. Aggressive war violates the UN Charter, US treaty law (including NATO), the Constitutional war powers of the Congress, and the oath of office. In order to use that yellowcake, Hussein would need centifuges. So that's why the aluminum tube LIES were told by the Bushies, and by you. It was a paired set of LIES TOLD TO CONGRESS. Add the DRONES OF DEATH and Cheney-Rice's MUSHROOM CLOUDS, and you have an act of treason so heinous, that most Republicans are still having a hard time imagining that their party would screw the pooch with such heedlessness to the political consequences. Your party is going to split its seams when the truth reaches enough FORMER Rs. Maybe another Ross Perot, maybe Libertarianism, but the GOP is toast, and it is Bush's fault.

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#15)
    by ppjakajim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:32 PM EST
    PIL writes ...
    Yeah, I do. The inspection regime was the most extensive in history -- as the Bush/USPNAC invasion has now ADMITTED and PROVEN.
    Really worked great.. until '98... BTW - I take it that your claim was a fabrication.

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#17)
    by ppjakajim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:34 PM EST
    DA - Oh, you were making a joke? And here I thought you were just being snitty. You write:
    Aw, I didn't write something funny. I was hoping to get you giggling, kinda like Tommy did, since I'm sure you have a nice giggle
    Nice death threat you make. From the link you provided to "Tommy." Quotes: Tommy Udo: I'm askin' ya, where's that squealin' son of yours? [weird laugh] Tommy Udo: You think a squealer can get away from me? Huh? [crazy laugh] Tommy Udo: You know what I do to squealers? I let 'em have it in the belly, so they can roll around for a long time thinkin' it over. You're worse than him, tellin' me he's comin' back? Ya lyin' old hag! [maniacal laugh]

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:34 PM EST
    I find myself spending less and less time here and I think Jim is part of the reason. Why come to a progressive site to hear Fox and RNC talking points and Jim's special brand of lunacy? I am not interested in Jim's response to this or most other posts, this is a request to TL to keep this website where progressives can chat.

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#20)
    by desertswine on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:34 PM EST
    I must agree with CA. But that is Jim's purpose; to drive down readership with his annoying inanity.

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#21)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:34 PM EST
    PPJ,
    You know, intelligent people don't find it necessary to call people fools, etc.,...
    Etc., as in "Dummy"? You just outed your own brainpower again.

    Death threat? That's kinda' funny coming from the guy who said he doesn't shoot hippies because there's no sport in it, but might make an exception for another poster on this site.

    I must agree with CA, as well. The only thing I really enjoy about this site anymore are the awesome PPJ shootdowns by Dark Avenger. Good work, DA!

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#23)
    by ppjakajim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:34 PM EST
    et al - Ah, so much BS and so little time. DA, must I remind you that in the thread you refer to, you folks brought up guns and shooting first. I just said I wouldn't, but yes, in jest, I did say I might make an exception in someone's case. And so you, I guess in jest, say that shooting people in the belly, provokes giggles? Okay. What do you do for moderate amusement? Tear the wings off flies? CA - After I respond to PIL's comments, DA accuses me of hijacking the thread? What should we do, just allow PIL carte blanc? And you speak of lunacy? (Come to think of it, he does himself enough damage with anyone even responding.} cheetah - I didn't know cheetah's were pack animals, but you always show when DA wants to quarrel. DA - I offer a challenge to debate the issues rather than your normal atack, attack, attack.

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#24)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:34 PM EST
    Now that you're here, PPJ, why don't you enlighten us with your spirited "defense" of BushCo. and its attempted to hijack "freedom of the press" and the release of the Abu Graib "Frat-party" pics? We're sure you've some interesting thoughts on the whole subject...

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#25)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:34 PM EST
    A tad incoherent, but Blagh had to ensure PPJ was reading on his own level...

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#26)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:34 PM EST
    Dark Avenger doesn't seem to need anyone's help performing the requisite smackdown, unlike a few of the right-wing fringe element who comment here.

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#27)
    by ppjakajim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:34 PM EST
    Uh cheetah. I wasn't referring to DA. It was you. Blagh - And why don't you say something worth debating? I mean really. Do you expect others to always do your heavy lifting? But just to tingle your, and other's, jaws, just think. W will appoint at least two, possibly three SC justices and there isn't a single thing you can do about it. My, my. Sometimes this is fun. Shall we switch to the open thread, girls and boys(?)?

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#28)
    by Strick on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:34 PM EST
    Thanks,TalkLeft, I understand about the other versions. It's this one I find fault with: "Karl Rove's current version in today's New York Times:" That's not Rove's version it the speculation of the NY Times. You tried to give the impression Rove was changing history, with is not the case.

    Re: Karl Rove's Newest Version: George Tenet (none / 0) (#30)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:34 PM EST
    "That's not Rove's version it the speculation of the NY Times. You tried to give the impression Rove was changing history, with is not the case." No, it certainly isn't. He seems to be nailed quite definitely to his actions, and won't be changing history (aka facts in evidence) any time soon. Rovener's story has changed many times. He is a famous serial liar for power, and now a (soon to be officially) proven traitor. Or at least a perjurer. NOT an honest man.