More on Plame

Ray McGovern (the retired CIA analyst who doesn't mind taking BushCo to task) has an article at CounterPunch that warns us not to get excited over the fact that Ashcroft recused himself from the Plame affair - that is if the excitement comes from thinking that this might be good news.

This Isn't an Independent Investigation

Let not yesterday's maneuver obscure the fact that in naming Fitzgerald, who remains under the authority of Ashcroft's deputy, the Bush administration has rejected the only appropriate course--naming a complete outsider to be special counsel.

Why has that path been rejected? One need not be paranoid to see this latest move as evidence the White House has something very sensitive to hide.

...But a fellow named Patrick Fitzgerald, like you from Irish immigrant stock in New York City? And out of Harvard Law School? Surely, you should be encouraged, I caught myself thinking. I truly wish I could be. But I have seen far too many FBI lawyers of New York Irish stock with misplaced loyalty to the organization over the law; over the truth; over personal conscience. Respect for and fealty to hierarchy was drummed into us; individual conscience generally played second fiddle.

Past experience strongly suggests that if Fitzgerald is told to string the investigation out until after the November election, he may well oblige. If he is told to pin the blame on White House small fry willing to take the fall, he may do it.

Well, at least we do know that he was instructed to "do the right thing".

Recall that when it was announced that the Justice department would investigate it was made clear that the formal order requiring administration officials to save all relevant documents would come a day or two later. Imagine the heat rising from the shredder machines that weekend. And recall how the White House counsel then insisted on reviewing all documents before they could be given to the Justice department.

...[P]olitics has become more and more important, even in the decision making of so-called career prosecutors. Besides that, the "us vs. them" mentality has gotten still stronger, and many of the Bureau's "good soldiers" remain blissfully unaware of how much they are affected by it.

So, even if Fitzgerald himself is determined to launch an "unfettered" investigation, he has this company ethic to contend with. Whether or not he keeps on John Dion, the career lawyer who has been leading the investigation, will be an indication of Fitzgerald's seriousness of purpose. It is no secret in law enforcement circles that Dion has a poor record with leaks, and is reluctant even to go to the men's room without asking permission from his superiors.

...As Shakespeare put it, the truth will out--eventually. But probably not via a Fitzgerald from within the system. And the outcome of this investigation (like that of the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq) may not see light until after the November election.

From an article at Fox News, where you could expect the headlines to be entertainment: Prosecutor described as "Elliott Ness"...

In a statement Tuesday, Fitzgerald said he would begin his work immediately but declined to comment further.

"He has been given a very difficult assignment," said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. "Very few of these investigations lead to anything, but I have no doubt that he will handle it professionally."

Thomas J. Kneir, special agent in charge of the Chicago office of the FBI, who has worked beside Fitzgerald on politically explosive investigations for the last two years, praised Fitzgerald's ability.

"If given free rein to do what needs to be done, I'll put my money on Pat to accomplish the mission he's been tasked with," Kneir said.

Senator Durbin seems to already be excusing a report that turns up nothing.

And Fox News certainly sets Fitzgerald up as Elliott Ness - so you can bet that if he finds nothing, it was because there was nothing to find.

Kneir has hit on a key turning point - "if given free rein". Of course, as Mr. McGovern says, even then it will turn on what Mr. Fitzgerald understands to be "the right thing".

Stay tuned. But maybe not till after the '04 (s)election.