Trying to see what started it all

Over at the RCP Blog, they note the WSJ's editorial demanding the release of the CIA's criminal referral in the Plame case. You remember, the case that would stand as a shining beacon to any who would ever dare again use the power of the President for bullying bureaucrats. The same one that lost all it's hot-air (and boy did it have plenty) when we learned conclusively that the "leaker" was not an administration official, but none-other than the number two man at the State Department.

So in the meanwhile with this having fallen off the face of the earth since that revelation became public knowledge, it seems some still wonder how this ridiculous charade ever got started:

In the Libby case, the CIA sent the criminal referral to Justice and it was rejected at least once. Only after then-CIA Director Tenet called the Attorney General and insisted was the investigation launched.

The CIA criminal referral in the Libby case may be entirely truthful. Or it may be sprinkled with false assertions about Plame, her status, and what the damage to national security was when she was revealed as a CIA employee (there was no such damage.) If there is a crime in this case, it may be that the CIA's referral was false, which would be - at least - a false statement offense, a felony under Title 18 US Code Section 1001.

Now - before the Libby case comes to trial - the CIA referral should be declassified and released to the public in its entirety. We should know why this case began, and what crimes the CIA so fervently believed were committed that it went to the lengths it did to force the Justice Department into an investigation it apparently didn't believe needed to be done.

UPDATE: Finishing my morning bit of surfing and came across this:

A CIA panel has told former officer Valerie Plame she can't write about her undercover work for the agency, a position that may threaten a lucrative book project with her publisher.

Poor thing...I guess all the Vanity Fair pieces and other tragic tales of Joe & Val's suffering will have to suffice.