Selective Prosecution

Most of the time I agree with John Kass, but a few points on his Tribune column, posted on RCP today.

Joe Wilson went to Niger to investigate whether Saddam was seeking to buy yellowcake, not whether he actually bought it. That was up to the Niger government, who refused to sell to his representative, despite that being their only marketable commodity. Why else was Iraq's top nuclear expert there? Wilson confirmed Iraq's expert was there in his report to the CIA, but inexplicably (ha!) maintained otherwise his NY Times op-ed piece. He and his wife Valerie Plame were not victims---he himself had the most to do with outing her by in his NY Times op-ed piece, a fact with which even the liberal Washington Post agrees, and she herself, strangely, proposed her husband for the trip. Then they came out openly for Kerry. CIA operatives in a personal vendetta against Bush, apparently facilitated by at least some at the agency. Kind of disturbing for our national security.

Patrick Fitzgerald as special prosecutor engaged in selective prosecution. Why not go after Richard Armitage, or Ari Fleischer? As a special prosecutor not operating under normal supervision he was free to pursue his own agenda. Fitzgerald also impugned the integrity of the Vice President with no cause. Personally, I think he was in over his head in the political snakepit of Washington. Even his earlier experience in New York against organized crime and terrorists, and Illinois' famous corruption was not enough preparation. As US attorney in Illinois, not a special prosecutor, by all means let Fitzgerald pursue The Combine, and let the chips fall where they may. He is doing the people's work here.

As far as Libby, as a lawyer he should have known better so his conviction should stand, tho I think his sentence is harsh and should be reduced in time or he should just be fined. Who harmed national security more? Scooter Libby or Sandy "Pants" Berger? Good summary and points at Powerline.

I would also say don't judge the GOP nationally by the GOP in Illinois. The "moderate" leadership of the GOP here, (practically indistinguishable from Democrats) has been involved with the Combine for years. Even if the Illinois GOP leadership and Illinoisans don't always agree with Illinois' elected conservatives on all the issues, their conservative stance of not feeding at the public trough usually goes hand-in-hand with integrity.