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In national interest

In a major blow to Cheney and his camp, his former controversial chief of staff Lewis ‘Scooter’ Libby has reportedly told a grand jury that it was his boss himself who had okayed the revelation of covert CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity to the Press. By selectively planting the story in top US newspapers, Cheney, and possibly Karl Rove, had clearly sought to settle scores with Valerie Plame’s diplomat husband, Joseph Wilson, who had questioned the dodgy intelligence on Iraq WMD and the move to link the Iraqi regime to Niger uranium in the count down to the 2003 war.

Wilson had already won himself a place in history before his wife was exposed as a CIA operative. As US envoy to Iraq in the run-up to the first Gulf war, Wilson had upset the Iraqi regime by giving asylum to dozens of dissidents in the US embassy. So ambassador Wilson apparently knew what he was talking about when he shot down the Iraq ‘intelligence’ after his visit to Niger.

Returning back to Cheney, it needs to be pointed out that ‘Scooter’ Libby, who had to quit rather unceremoniously last year in a major embarrassment to the administration, used to be a close confidant of the vice president. Libby’s implication in the case and his subsequent appearance before the grand jury had been seen as a snub to the powerful vice president.

Doubtless, Libby’s damning testimony against his boss could compound Cheney’s troubles. But it may be too early to write off the man completely who is often seen as the real power behind the throne. Not for nothing he has survived so long in he spotlight of American-Republican politics. Of course, special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald looks menacingly single-minded and resolute just as one of his predecessors, who had taken on President Bill Clinton in the Monika Lewinsky affair, did. But Cheney could prove too big and elusive for Fitzgerald.

Besides, the trial date has been rather conveniently set for January 8, 2007. By the time the trial opens against Libby, who faces five charges of perjury, making false statements and obstruction of justice, next year in January, things may be a little different. Public memory is famously short. In January 2007, the world may have moved on to care about how Cheney and his men pulled a little string or two to protect the ‘US interests’.