Plame Game Update

The L.A. Times (Subscription, but it's free) has an extensive article along with a fine timeline. My favorite section:

Wilson's accusations were based on an investigation he undertook for the CIA. But he was seen inside the White House as a "showboater" whose stature didn't warrant a high-level administration response. "Let him spout off solo on a holiday weekend," one White House official recalled saying. "Few will listen."

In fact, millions were riveted that Sunday as Wilson — on NBC's "Meet the Press" and in the pages of the New York Times and the Washington Post — accused the administration of ignoring intelligence that didn't support its rationale for war.

Underestimating the impact of Wilson's allegations was one in a series of misjudgments by White House officials...

...In public, the White House was predicting that weapons of mass destruction would be found. But behind the scenes, officials were worried about the failure to find those weapons and the possibility that the CIA would blame the White House for prewar intelligence failures.

Wilson seemed a credible critic: His diplomatic leadership as charge d'affaires in the U.S. Embassy in Iraq just before the 1991 bombing of Baghdad had earned him letters of praise from President George H.W. Bush.

That made him dangerous to the administration.

The Bush White House:

UNDERESTIMATED (or Misunderestimated?)

Experienced African and Iraqi based Diplomat criticizes quality of data on a White House claim relating to WMD.

OVERESTIMATED

Well known liar named "Curveball" and every WMD claim.

Nice going.

Read the rest of it, it has lots of info.

UPDATE:

Our "Liberal" Media, from the article:

Cooper did not ask Rove for a waiver, in part because his lawyer advised against it. In addition, Time editors were concerned about becoming part of such an explosive story in an election year.

Thanks for being so "honest" and forthright with your readers in pursuit of the truth.