Speculation On The Plame Leak Investigation

Now that it's clear Patrick Fitzgerald is going to indict both Karl Rove and Scooter Libby, the real speculation can begin. There are hints that the investigation is widening and will likely ensnare members of the White House Iraq Group in addition to Rove and Libby. Now that the news has come out the Vice President Cheney may very well be the target of the investigation (and I would guess Bush is as well), it becomes more difficult to determine exactly what crimes Fitzgerald is looking to charge them with. Clearly Rove and Libby will get slapped with perjury charges and possible obstruction as well, but what about Cheney? What about Ari Fleisher, Condi Rice, Andrew Card and my personal favorite (and number one suspect for the original source of the leak to both the Prince of Darkness Novak and Judy Miller) John Bolton?

The Financial Times is now reporting that the case seems to be widening to include not only the conspiracy to discredit Wilson by outing his wife, but also the use of intelligence in the lead up to the war. This is interesting news indeed! Does this mean that other evidence will be, or has been, reviewed by Fitzgerald? Like, say, the Downing Street Memo's? Wouldn't that be something? Many of us on the left have been calling the war in Iraq an illegal war from the beginning, but wouldn't it be great if charges were actually filed against those in power who perpetrated this shameful crime? I know it's almost too much to hope for but when speculating, I figure, aim for the stars!

The other big mystery is the original source of the leak. Like I mentioned above, my money is on Bolton, although I had a thought last night that it might be George Bush Sr. I know this seems far fetched, but let me flesh it out for you. Bush 41 once said that Joe Wilson exhibited "courageous leadership" in dealing with Saddam Hussein in the lead up to the first Gulf War. It's possible that Bush 41 had a hand in sending Joe Wilson to Niger in search of evidence to bolster the case for war. It's not like Pops is just sitting around in idle retirement. He's still got his sticky fingers in plenty of the tills that swelled to overflowing since the start of the Iraq War. When Wilson came back empty handed, and even worse, started talking to reporters about there being no there there! Poppy would have been pissed and he may have known about Valerie Plame from his close ties to the CIA or from his time in the White House. Then he could have fed the information to Novak, knowing that the Evil Soulless One would have no qualms about outing an undercover agent.

I love the irony of Bush 41 breaking the law that he himself fought to get passed, but my money's still on Bolton. He had motive and opportunity. Plus, that kind of retribution is right up his alley.