Hubris
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_indictment_28102005.pdf.
The account of the drafting of the INR memo is based on interviews with Ford and the memo itself (the cover letter of the memo notes that Neil Silver drafted it). For Grossman’s subsequent briefing of Libby, see “Libby Indictment,” p. 4.
Libby’s remark to a friend—“Do you expect me to commit a felony…?”—is based on a confidential interview with that friend. The referenced Post profile of Libby is Mark Leibovich, “In the Spotlight and on the Spot,” The Washington Post, October 23, 2005. For Libby’s remarks about the first Bush administration’s decision to accept a cease-fire in Iraq, Rise of the Vulcans, p. 191. For Libby’s quip that he intended to stay in his job until “I get indicted,” see Leibovich, “In the Spotlight and on the Spot.” For Libby’s interview with Mann, Rise of the Vulcans, p. 294. For The New Yorker’s article on Libby’s novel, Lauren Collins, “Scooter’s Sex Shocker,” The New Yorker, November 7, 2005. For Joseph Wilson’s statement that he had misspoken to Pincus and his explanation, SSCI Report, p. 45.
The account of Cheney telling Libby that Wilson’s wife worked at the CIA and Tenet’s role in this incident is based on “Libby Indictment,” p. 5, and David Johnston, Richard W. Stevenson, and Douglas Jehl, “Cheney Told Aide of CIA Officer, Lawyers Report,” The New York Times, October 25, 2005. (In the course of his investigation, special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald obtained copies of Libby’s notes that mentioned this conversation with Cheney about Valerie Wilson.) Libby’s “curiosity sort of fashion” remark is found in Judge David Tatel’s concurring decision in “In Re: Grand Jury Subpoena, Judith Miller,” February 15, 2005, p. 31 (hereinafter “Tatel Decision”). For Libby’s June 14 meeting with a CIA briefer, “Libby Indictment,” p. 5. For Wilson’s reaction to Condoleezza Rice’s appearance on Meet the Press and his subsequent actions, Politics of Truth, p. 332. The account of the fortieth anniversary party for Robert Novak is based on interviews with attendees, including Al Hunt and Margaret Carlson, and John Barron, “D.C. Bigwigs Toast Novak’s 40th Year,” Chicago Sun-Times, June 20, 2003. For Rove leaking information to Novak in 1992, Elisabeth Bumiller, “Rove and Novak, a 20-Year Friendship Born in Texas,” The New York Times, August 6, 2005. Libby’s discussion with Eric Edelman is described in “Libby Indictment,” p. 6.
The account of Armitage’s interview with Woodward is based on confidential interviews with colleagues of Armitage and a government official familiar with the conversation. Woodward later issued a statement about this conversation, without identifying Armitage as his source; see Bob Woodward, “Testifying in the CIA Leak Case,” The Washington Post, November 16, 2005. See also Jim VandeHei and Carol Leonnig, “Woodward Was Told of Plame More Than Two Years Ago,” The Washington Post, November 16, 2005. See also Marie Brenner, “Lies and Consequences; Sixteen Words That Changed the World,” Vanity Fair, April 2006.
For the Iran-contra special counsel’s findings regarding Armitage, Lawrence Walsh, “Final Report of the Independent Counsel for Iran/Contra Matters,” United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, 1993, pp. 379–380, 431–438 (hereinafter “Iran/Contra Final Report”). For Armitage’s complaining to Wilkerson about the lack of military service by administration officials, interviews with Wilkerson. The reference to Armitage’s grand jury admission that he was a “terrible gossip” can be found in “Iran/Contra Final Report,” p. 431; see note 211. The “pretty nosy” quote can be found in “Report of the Congressional Committees Investigating the Iran-Contra Affair,” vol. 2 (Depositions), Appendix B, 1988, p. 147. For Woodward’s characterization of Armitage’s remarks as “casual” and “gossip,” see Brenner, “Lies and Consequences; Sixteen Words That Changed the World.”
For Roger Cohen’s quote regarding “unease” over Miller’s WMD coverage, Don Van Natta, Jr., Adam Liptak, and Clifford Levy, “The Miller Case: A Notebook, a Cause, a Jail Cell and a Deal,” The New York Times, October 16, 2005. The account of Miller’s clash with Jim Wilkinson is based on interviews with Wilkinson and Defense Department e-mails obtained by the authors. The account of Miller’s involvement in the paper’s postinvasion WMD project is based on interviews with a Times reporter who worked on the project.
For the mid-June CIA memo on the alleged Iraq–Niger deal, SSCI Report, p. 71. The account of the internal White House discussions about the Niger charge is based on confidential interviews with White House officials. For Miller’s meeting with Scooter Libby on June 23, “Libby Indictment,” p. 6, and Judith Miller, “My Four Hours Testifying in the Federal Grand Jury Room,” The New York Times, October 16,2005. For Cheney and Bush’s discussion about selectively releasing portions of the NIE, interviews with a confidential source. Woodward described his June 27 meeting with Libby in “Testifying in the CIA Leak Case,” The Washington Post, November 16, 2005. Libby’s use of the word “vigorous” was reported in Barton Gellman and Dafna Linzer, “A ‘Concerted Effort’ to Discredit Bush Critic,” The Washington Post, April 9, 2006. For the Novak-Duberstein conversation, interviews with confidential sources. Novak said he did not recall the conversation.
CHAPTER 14: SEVEN DAYS IN JULY
The account of Ford’s involvement in preparing the updated INR memo is based on interviews with him. The memo itself was declassified and released by the State Department under the Freedom of Information Act. The report of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee can be found at www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmfaff/813/81303.htm. The Butler Report can be found at www.butlerreview.org.uk. The account of the deliberations within the White House regarding what to say about the sixteen words is based on confidential interviews with White House sources. Portions of Libby’s grand jury testimony were attached to a legal filing submitted by Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald; see “Reply to the Response of I. Lewis Libby to Government’s Response to Court’s Inquiry Regarding News Articles the Government Intends to Offer at Trial,” United States of America v.I. Lewis Libby, United States District Court for the District of Columbia, CR. NO 05-394 (RBW), May 24, 2006, Exhibits A–C (hereinafter “Libby Grand Jury Testimony Excerpts”). The copy of the Wilson op-ed annotated by Dick Cheney was filed by Fitzgerald with the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.; see “Government’s Response to Court’s Inquiry Regarding News Articles the Government Intends to Offer as Evidence at Trial,” United States of America v. I. Lewis Libby, United States District Court for the District of Columbia, CR. NO 05-394 (RBW), May 12, 2006, Exhibit A. (As of mid-2006, most of Fitzgerald’s filings could be found at www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/osc/index.htm.)
For Cheney’s office sending talking points to Ari Fleischer and for Libby’s lunch with Fleischer, see transcript of the May 5, 2006, hearing in the Libby case, p. 13; “Libby Indictment,” p. 7; and “Tatel Decision,” p. 32. For Libby’s July 8 breakfast meeting with Miller, see “Libby Indictment,” p. 7, and Miller, “My Four Hours Testifying in the Federal Grand Jury Room.” For Libby consulting with David Addington regarding the disclosure of classified information, see “Libby Grand Jury Testimony Excerpts.” For Cheney authorizing Libby to talk to Miller about the NIE, see “Government’s Response to Defendant’s Third Motion to Compel Discovery,” United States of America v. I. Lewis Libby, United States District Court for the District of Columbia, CR. NO 05-394 (RBW), April 5, 2006, pp. 19–23 (hereinafter “Government’s Response to Defendant’s Third Motion”). For Libby’s meeting with Addington in an anteroom, “Libby Indictment,” p. 7.
The account of Novak trying to talk to Rove about Fran Townsend is based on interviews with Levine. Novak’s meeting with Armitage is based on confidential interviews with three government officials. Powell’s involvement in this meeting is based on an interview with two government officials with direct knowledge of the meeting. Novak described this meeting in an interview with Fox News, July 12,2006. For Armitage’s confession to Ford, interviews with Ford. For Novak’s encounter with a friend of Joseph Wilson, The Politics of Truth, p. 343.
For Libby’s anger with Chris Matthews and Levine’s phone call with Matthews, interviews with Levine. For Libby’s phone call to Russert, interviews with Russert. See also “Libby Indictment,” p. 7. For Russert’s call to Neal Shapiro, an interview with Shapiro. A description of Rice’s phone call to Tenet can be found in Ron Suskind, The One-Percent Doctrine: Deep Inside America’s Pursuit of Its Enemy Since 9/11 (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2006), pp. 243–244. The authors obtained a copy of Michael Duffy’s e-mail noting, “they’ve dimed out Tenet.”
For Rove’s brief hallway chat with Libby, “Libby Indictment,” p. 8. The account of Bill Harlow’s efforts to draft a statement for Tenet is based on a confidential interview with a CIA official. For the interactions between Harlow and Novak, see “Tatel Decision,” p. 38; Novak’s October 1, 2003, column; and Walter Pincus and Jim VandeHei, “Prosecutor in CIA Leak Case Casting a Wide Net,” The Washington Post, July 27, 2005. Wilson’s description of his phone conversation with Novak can be found in Politics of Truth, pp. 343–344. Harlow’s “I hope I convinced you” remark comes from an interview with Harlow. John Dickerson described his interactions with White House officials in two articles he wrote for Slate; see John Dickerson, “Where’s My Subpoena?” Slate, February 7, 2006. Dickerson was also interviewed by the authors.
For Cooper’s phone conversation with Rove, Matthew Cooper, “What I Told the Grand Jury,” Time, July 25, 2005. Cooper’s e-mail to Duffy about his conversation with Rove was obtained by one of the authors and first disclosed by Newsweek in July 2005. A portion of Cooper’s file for the cover story was obtained by the authors. A copy of Rove’s e-mail to Hadley was obtained from a confidential source.
For the conversation between Libby and Cheney on the vice presidential plane, “Libby Indictment,” p. 8; Barton Gellman, “A Leak, Then a Deluge,” The Washington Post, October 30, 2006; and “Libby Grand Jury Testimony Excerpts.” Cooper’s e-mails to Duffy about the “dis of Wilson” and the “WH v. Wilson fight” were obtained by the authors. For Cooper’s phone call with Libby, Matthew Cooper, “What Scooter Libby and I Talked About,” Time, November 7, 2005. See also “Libby Indictment,” p. 8. Miller described her July 12 conversation with Libby in “My Four Hours Testifying in the Federal Grand Jury Room.” See also “Libby Indictment,” p. 8. Pincus described his conversation with an unidentified administration official in Walter Pincus, “Anonymous Sources: Their Use in a Time of Prosecutorial Interest,” Nieman Reports, Summer 2005.
CHAPTER 15: A COVER BLOWN
The account of Valerie Wilson’s reaction to the Novak column is based on confidential interviews. See also The Politics of Truth, pp. 345–346. The account of Valerie Plame’s early life and CIA training is based on interviews with sources close to her and several CIA classmates, including Larry Johnson, Brent Cavan, and James Marcinkowski. See also, Vicky Ward, “Double Exposure,” Vanity Fair, January 2004; Richard Leiby and Dana Priest, “Spy Next Door,” The Washington Post, October 8, 2003; and Douglas Jehl and David Stout, “Cover Story Kept Work for CIA a Secret,” The New York Times, October 2, 2003. The account of her early CIA assignments is based on interviews with Fred Rustmann, a former CIA official who supervised Valerie Plame, and confidential CIA sources. Joe Wilson’s quote—“Is your real name Valerie?”—can be found in The Politics of Truth, p. 243. For her decision to join the Iraq branch of the CPD, a confidential interview with a CIA source. For her shift to a personnel management position, a confidential interview with a CIA source.
For an account of Philip Agee’s CIA-naming campaign and the passage of the Intelligence Identities Protection Act, see Philip Agee, On the Run (Secaucus, NJ: Lyle Stuart, 1987). See also Congressional Research Service, “Intelligence Identities Protection Act,” October 2003, and Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate, Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982, 1982.
The account of Libby complaining to Cooper is based on “What Scooter and I Talked About,” Time, November 7, 2005. Copies of Cooper’s e-mail to Duffy and Dickerson and Duffy’s reply were obtained by the authors. Bartlett’s response to the Wilson bashing is based on interviews with Levine. (Bartlett did not respond to requests for comment regarding this and other scenes in the book.) A copy of Cooper’s e-mail to Duffy about the Novak column was obtained by the authors. A copy of Cooper’s e-mail to political journalists about his Wilson story on the Time Web site was obtained by the authors.
Libby’s transmission of NIE excerpts to The Wall Street Journal is referenced in “Government’s Response to Court’s Inquiry Regarding News Articles the Government Intends to Offer as Evidence at Trial,” United States of America v. I. Lewis Libby, CR. NO 05-394, May 12, 2006, p. 8.
For the “It would fuck Gilligan” quote, see Liane Katz and Matthew Tempest, “Kelly Naming Would ‘Fuck Gilligan’—Campbell,” The Guardian, September 22,2003. For David Kelly’s e-mail to Miller, see Warren Hoge with Judith Miller, “British Arms Expert at Center of Dispute on Iraq Data Is Found Dead, His Wife Says,” The New York Times, July 19, 2003.
For Andrea Mitchell’s remark to Joseph Wilson regarding the “real story,” see The Politics of Truth, p. 5. The account of Rove seeking to speak to Matthews is based on interviews with Levine. For Rove’s phone call with Matthews, interviews with confidential sources. For “fair game” comment, Evan Thomas and Michael Isikoff, “Secrets and Leaks,” Newsweek, October 13, 2003.
Excerpts of the memos the CIA sent the White House on October 5 and 6, 2002, can be found in SSCI Report, pp. 56–57. Stephen Hadley’s offer to resign, his “make peace” quote, and the account of the White House deliberations on these memos are based on interviews with confidential White House sources. For the CIA’s response to the leak, confidential interviews and a January 30, 2004, letter sent by Stanley Moskowitz, director of congressional affairs for the CIA, to Representative John Conyers. The letter is found in The Politics of Truth, p. 359. A copy of the DOJ Media Leak Questionnaire was obtained by the authors.
CHAPTER 16: THE INCURIOUS PRESIDENT
The account of David Kay being asked by Cheney’s office to investigate the NSA intercept is based on interviews with a confidential government source. The watering-hole episode and Wolfowitz’s requests regarding Mohamed Atta are based on interviews with Kay. For Kay’s activities in Iraq and his interactions with Tenet and McLaughlin, interviews with Kay. The account of Hamish Killip’s inspection of the purported biological weapons labs is based on interviews with him. For Killip’s “dustbins” quote, see Drogin and Goetz, “How U.S. Fell Under the Spell of ‘Curveball’,” Los Angeles Times, November 20, 2005. This Los Angles Times article details many other aspects of the Curveball saga. The Robb-Silberman Report also covers the work of Kay and the Iraq Survey Group related to Curveball. For the references to Curveball as a “liar,” “con artist,” and “rat,” see Robb-Silberman Report, p. 223. The quote from Curveball’s mother can be found in the Los Angeles Times story.
For Robert Joseph’s attitude toward the unsuccessful WMD hunt, an interview with a confidential White House source. The account of Kay’s meetings with Bush and Cheney is based on interviews with Kay. For the drafting of the NIE on the Iraqi insurgency, interviews with Wayne White.
CHAPTER 17: THE INVESTIGATION BEGINS
The opening anecdote about Levine and Mike Allen is based on interviews with Levine, who also described the White House deliberations involving Rice and Scott McClellan on the leak matter and his subsequent involvement in the leak story. The account of The Washington Post’s handling of the Mike Allen story and the reaction inside the paper to the article is based on confiden
tial interviews with Post employees. For the White House staff meeting regarding the leak investigation, an interview with a confidential White House source who attended the meeting.
The account of Armitage acknowledging his role as the leaker—and the subsequent phone calls—is based on interviews with confidential sources. For the quote from William Taft IV, interview with the authors. For the FBI’s interview with Armitage, interviews with confidential sources.
A copy of Kay’s interim report can be found at www.cia.gov/cia/public_affairs/speeches/2003/david_kay_10022003.htm. For Kay’s investigator’s conclusions about Curveball—and WINPAC’s reluctance to accept them—see Robb-Silberman Report, pp. 107, 123. For Kay’s acceptance of this finding and Tenet’s and McLaughlin’s reaction to his findings, interviews with Kay. For Rolf Ekeus’s quote regarding the Kay report, Bob Drogin and Greg Miller, “Inspectors Find Aims, Not Arms,” Los Angeles Times, October 3, 2003. For Hans Blix’s response to the Kay report, Bob Drogin, “Botched Iraqi Arms Deal Is Detailed,” Los Angeles Times, October 4, 2003.
A reference to Libby passing talking points to Fleischer can be found in “Government’s Response to Defendant’s Third Motion,” p. 28. The account of Jack Eckenrode’s investigation of the NSA leak is based on interviews with Graham and confidential congressional and law enforcement sources. For Robert Mueller telling Eckenrode to take the leak case “wherever it goes,” an interview with a confidential law enforcement official. For Eckenrode’s interview with Novak, Robert Novak, “My Leak Case Testimony,” syndicated column, July 12, 2006, and interviews with confidential law enforcement official. For Eckenrode’s interviews with Rove and Libby, interviews with confidential sources.