Two Questions for Mr. Bush
It doesn't make sense.
Bush now claims that he declassified information from an October 2002 National Intelligence Estimate and gave permission for "Scooter" Libby to discuss this with Judith Millar and others.
When Scooter Libby did so - as in the case of Robert Novak - he insisted on being referred to as a, "senior administration official." Why would the administration need to be so clandestine if the information was, at that time, declassified?
And if it was declassified, on what date was that done? The press corps seem to be having an impossible time trying to get Scott McClellan to put a date on it.
From yesterday's press conference:
Q I understand the reason why you thought it needed to be declassified, because of the debate at the time. The question was, when was it declassified. And you were asked that day, when -- the question was,"When was it actually declassified?" And you said, "It was officially declassified today." If it had been officially declassified on July 18, 2003, then 10 days before, when the information was given out, it was still classified at the time.
MR. McCLELLAN: Again, you're going back to an assertion that is made in a filing related to an ongoing legal proceeding when you talk about the second part of your question. There is no way for me to separate that question and talk about this issue without discussing an ongoing legal proceeding. And I can't do that. We have a policy that's been established, and I'm obligated to adhere to that policy.First, he tries to slither away with "the ongoing investigation" routine.
Then he's pressed further.
Q Well, let's be really clear about this. It says right here on July 18th, "When was it actually declassified?" Mr. McClellan, answer, "It was officially declassified today." Is that correct?
MR. McCLELLAN: Again, you're asking me to get into the timing. I'm not backing away from anything that was said previously -- that's when the document was released, so that's when it officially --
Q They don't say "released." They say "declassify."
MR. McCLELLAN: I know, Jim. Let me tell you. That's when it was officially released. So I think that's what I was referring to at the time. I'd have to go back and look at the specific comments, but I'm not changing anything that was said previously, so let me make that clear.
You'll notice at the end of this exchange that none of us are any the wiser of the actual date that this document was declassified and Scotty is sure as Hell he's not going to give us one.
So there are two questions here.
Why, if a document is officially declassified, do people give interviews regarding it only on condition of anonymity?
Two, can we have an exact date of when the declassification took place?
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