Thu, 08 Mar 2007 04:18

By Brent Budowsky
Contributing Editor

[Editor’s Note: The author worked in the core group writing the original CIA Identities Law with Senator Lloyd Bentsen, its original sponsor.]

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is 100% right: the President should immediately and publicly state that there will be no pardon in the Scooter Libby case.

The jury has spoken: powerfully, decisively, and authoritatively.

This is now about the integrity of the judicial process.

This is now about the integrity of intelligence information and the integrity of intelligence in the decision about whether to go to war, and in the conduct of war.

This is another example of the disgraceful treatment of men and women who serve our country so bravely.

We witness an unfolding scandal about how America’s wounded heroes have been so shamefully neglected in so many ways.

Wounded and killed in action in preventable tragedies because Washington did not send the armor and protections our troops deserved.

Mistreatment at Walter Reed Building 18 and other scandals that are now being revealed.

Grossly inadequate support for those who suffer from post traumatic stress syndrome and serious brain injury.

Rising homelessness among veterans that is a harvest of shame.

Grossly inadequate funding for veterans centers around the nation and inexusable presidential proposals to cut veterans spending in years when increased spending must be demanded, to meet rising needs.

Shameful delays of more than a year for vets to receive disability certification.

Immoral ripoffs when vets who are 90% disabled are only certified for 30% or less.

Husbands, wives, families of troops in combat harrassed by debt collectors and threatened with foreclosure and repossessions.

Threats, intimidation and punishment for the courageous vets who speak out with integrity and passion for fair treatment for their band of brothers and sisters.

This must end; all of it; once and for all.

A prominent Democrat such as former Senator and Veterans Administrator Max Cleland should be named Secretary of Veterans Affairs to send a cannon of support to troops and vets and to make ownership of solving this shame truly bipartisan. An 800 Number should be created for vets to confidentially report wrongdoing. Anyone who threatens vets should face firing, court martial and severe punishment.

Above all Congress enact full, comprehensive and total support for veterans by this 4th of July and deal with all of these problems, in full.

The shameful treatment of covert men and women is part and parcel of the shameful treatment of wounded vets and homeless heroes. We must end these derelictions of duty against those serve so bravely and stand with them, in deed as well as word, now, today, tomorrow and forever.

As Patrick Fitzgerald observed, the defense has the option of approaching the prosecution to seek a lower sentence, in return for new testimony.

As the prosecution stated at trial, there is a cloud over the Vice President and a cloud over the White House.

The President should say, as Majority Reid stated: no pardon.

Any other action would be perceived as a Nixon-like maneuver and would further erode the crediblity of the President and our country, throughout the world.

America’s word in the global community should be sacrosanct. The integrity of our intelligence should be sacrosanct whether it involves Iraq, Iran, Korea of any other matter.

Finally, having been so involved in the writing of the CIA Identities Law:

First, there is not one iota of doubt that Valerie Plame’s identity was classified as the CIA said, as Patrick Fitzgerald said, as her colleagues including my friend Larry Johnson said.

Second, these disclosures were unpatriotic, reckless, damaging to our country and to brave men and women who serve covertly.

Third, the conduct of the President and the Vice-President throughout this episode was shameful and disgraceful.

As I have predicted earlier, in my view this case is far from concluded and the period between the verdict and sentencing will be very interesting. Lets watch for possible plea bargaining and prepare for a battle royal over the pardon.

The jury has spoken powerfully and the jury was correct. This sordid episode must never happen again and every law abiding and patriotic American should stand 100% against any pardon for those found guilty.

Lets stand with our troops in combat. Lets stand with our wounded heroes. Lets stand with our covert men and women around the world. Lets stand with duty, honor and country and lets do it, now and forever.
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Brent Budowsky was Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen, and worked for the House Democratic Leadership as Legislative Director to Rep. Bill Alexander, then Chief Deputy Majority Whip. He serves on the International Advisory Committee of the Intelligence Summit, and was a principal writer of the CIA Intelligence Identities Act originally sponsored by Senator Bentsen. He may be reached at brentbbi@webtv.net.