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Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, left, and Arkansas Republican gubernatorial candidate, Asa Hutchinson, right, arrive at Hendrix University for a lecture, Tuesday, July 11, 2006 in Conway, Ark. Giuliani touches down in three states Tuesday, attending events for Hutchinson, Illinois gubernatorial hopeful Judy Baer Topinka, and Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. Giuliani, who has topped several national 2008 presidential polls in recent months, was to headlined a cocktail reception in Cleveland Monday for two-term Sen. Mike DeWine.

AP: Giuliani campaigns for Hutchinson in Ark.

Rudolph Giuliani may be coy about his presidential ambitions, but his recent itinerary isn’t. The former New York City mayor campaigned for Arkansas Republican gubernatorial candidate Asa Hutchinson on Tuesday, then planned to travel to Illinois and Pennsylvania for appearances with GOP candidates Judy Baar Topinka and Sen. Rick Santorum.

The diehard New York Yankees fan also was attending the All-Star Game in Pittsburgh Tuesday night.

When asked about 2008, Giuliani insists that he’ll make a decision after the midterm elections in November.

Giuliani’s running……..

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President 2008 Watch: Rudy Giuliani IS Running

Rudy Giuliani Watch: America’s Mayor Leading in Gallup 2008 Presidential Poll

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Fox News Poll Rudy Beats Hillary

Karl Rove and Robert Novak

Human Events: My Leak Case Testimony

Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has informed my attorneys that, after two and one-half years, his investigation of the CIA leak case concerning matters directly relating to me has been concluded. That frees me to reveal my role in the federal inquiry that, at the request of Fitzgerald, I have kept secret.

I have cooperated in the investigation while trying to protect journalistic privileges under the First Amendment and shield sources who have not revealed themselves. I have been subpoenaed by and testified to a federal grand jury. Published reports that I took the Fifth Amendment, made a plea bargain with the prosecutors or was a prosecutorial target were all untrue.

For nearly the entire time of his investigation, Fitzgerald knew — independent of me — the identity of the sources I used in my column of July 14, 2003. A federal investigation was triggered when I reported that former Ambassador Joseph Wilson’s wife, Valerie Plame Wilson, was employed by the CIA and helped initiate his 2002 mission to Niger. That Fitzgerald did not indict any of these sources may indicate his conclusion that none of them violated the Intelligence Identities Protection Act.

Some journalists have badgered me to disclose my role in the case, even demanding I reveal my sources — identified in the column as two senior Bush administration officials and an unspecified CIA source. I have promised to discuss my role in the investigation when permitted by the prosecution, and I do so now.

The news broke Sept. 26, 2003, that the Justice Department was investigating the CIA leak case. I contacted my longtime attorney, Lester Hyman, who brought his partner at Swidler Berlin, James Hamilton, into the case. Hamilton urged me not to comment publicly on the case, and I have followed that advice for the most part.

The FBI soon asked to interview me, prompting my first major decision. My attorneys advised me that I had no certain constitutional basis to refuse cooperation if subpoenaed by a grand jury. To do so would make me subject to imprisonment and inevitably result in court decisions that would diminish press freedom, all at heavy personal legal costs.

I was interrogated at the Swidler Berlin offices Oct. 7, 2003, by an FBI inspector and two agents. I had not identified my sources to my attorneys, and I told them I would not reveal them to the FBI. I did disclose how Valerie Wilson’s role was reported to me, but the FBI did not press me to disclose my sources.

On Dec. 30, 2003, the Justice Department named Fitzgerald as special prosecutor. An appointment was made for Fitzgerald to interview me at Swidler Berlin on Jan. 14, 2004. The problem facing me was that the special prosecutor had obtained signed waivers from every official who might have given me information about Wilson’s wife.

That created a dilemma. I did not believe blanket waivers in any way relieved me of my journalistic responsibility to protect a source. Hamilton told me that I was sure to lose a case in the courts at great expense. Nevertheless, I still felt I could not reveal their names.

However, on Jan. 12, two days before my meeting with Fitzgerald, the special prosecutor informed Hamilton that he would be bringing to the Swidler Berlin offices only two waivers. One was by my principal source in the Valerie Wilson column, a source whose name has not yet been revealed. The other was by presidential adviser Karl Rove, whom I interpret as confirming my primary source’s information. In other words, the special prosecutor knew the names of my sources.

When Fitzgerald arrived, he had a third waiver in hand — from Bill Harlow, the CIA public information officer who was my CIA source for the column confirming Mrs. Wilson’s identity. I answered questions using the names of Rove, Harlow and my primary source.

I had a second session with Fitzgerald at Swidler Berlin on Feb. 5, 2004, after which I was subpoenaed to appear before the grand jury. I testified there at the U.S. courthouse in Washington on Feb. 25.

In these four appearances with federal authorities, I declined to answer when the questioning touched on matters beyond the CIA leak case. Neither the FBI nor the special prosecutor pressed me.

I have revealed Rove’s name because his attorney has divulged the substance of our conversation, though in a form different from my recollection. I have revealed Harlow’s name because he has publicly disclosed his version of our conversation, which also differs from my recollection. My primary source has not come forward to identify himself.

When I testified before the grand jury, I was permitted to read a statement that I had written expressing my discomfort at disclosing confidential conversations with news sources. It should be remembered that the special prosecutor knew their identities and did not learn them from me.

In my sworn testimony, I said what I have contended in my columns and on television: Joe Wilson’s wife’s role in instituting her husband’s mission was revealed to me in the middle of a long interview with an official who I have previously said was not a political gunslinger. After the federal investigation was announced, he told me through a third party that the disclosure was inadvertent on his part.

Following my interview with the primary source, I sought out the second administration official and the CIA spokesman for confirmation. I learned Valerie Plame’s name from Joe Wilson’s entry in “Who’s Who in America.”

I considered his wife’s role in initiating Wilson’s mission, later confirmed by the Senate Intelligence Committee, to be a previously undisclosed part of an important news story. I reported it on that basis. (Emphasis Flap’s)

No leak, No conspiracy and a tempest in a tea for NOTHING.

Like Flap said the first time.

Now, what about Scooter Libby?

H/T Wizbang: Joseph Wilson’s “Who’s Who In America” Entry

Captain Ed has Novak: I Got Plame’s Name From Who’s Who 

Oddly, Kurtz never mentions the Who’s Who research, although the excerpts reported by Drudge make it clear that Novak found her name on his own. Neither does CNN, for that matter. The excerpt apparently has been taken down by Drudge, and Novak’s full column has not yet hit the website. Did Drudge get the story wrong? I guess we’ll find out tomorrow. Either he did, or Kurtz and CNN didn’t bother to include that detail.

Even without it, Novak claims that the CIA provided confirmation of Plame’s name and employment before he published the story — and just to be clear, neither Kurtz nor CNN actually describes how Novak got Plame’s name, just how he confirmed it. If Plame’s status was a secret, then Bill Harlow shouldn’t have confirmed anything for Novak. Just getting that part of the story out pretty much deflates the entire notion of a vendetta at the White House. It also begs the question of how this constitutes an illegal leak when the CIA’s own spokesman gave out the information. The fact that Patrick Fitzgerald never indicted Bill Harlow seems a pretty clear indication that the original reason for conducting the probe was nothing more than a trumped-up political attack on George Bush and Dick Cheney.

Yawn.

Yes, a failed attempt to tar and feather the President and Vice President.  Where is the indignation in the MSM?

Nowhere.

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The CIA Leak Case Files

Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani is welcomed by European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana (R) before a meeting in Brussels July 11, 2006.

Reuters: Iran faces calls for UN action on nuclear standoff

The United States led pressure on Tuesday for Iran to face U.N. action after it defied calls for an early response to an offer of incentives aimed at ending a nuclear standoff.

Talks between chief Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana ended with both sides showing frustration and Tehran insisting it needed more time to consider sweeteners for it to halt uranium enrichment.

Washington said major powers, whose foreign ministers meet in Paris on Wednesday, had previously agreed to deal with Tehran at the United Nations if it failed to reply. Britain expected ministers would take a decision in Paris on the next steps.

Want to bet the P-5-Plus-1 ministers reach no consensus on how to deal with Iran’s failure to respond to their proposal prior to the G-8 summit?

In the meantime in Iran, President Ahmadinejad reiterated that Iran will not back down “one iota” over its nuclear program.

Negotiations with Iran are a JOKE. For what are the P-5 nations plus Germany waiting?

Oh yes, to put a finger in the eye of the United States over and over.

Stay tuned…….

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Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran is CORNERED

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Will NOT Respond Tuesday to P-5-Plus- 1 Proposal

The Natanz uranium enrichment complex in Natanz is pictured in this January 2, 2006 satellite image.

Flap doesn’t think there will be a House-Senate reconciled immigration bill before the Fall elections.

Why?

The Senate

President Bush

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Illegal Immigration Watch: House Hearings on Border Security Begin Today

AP: McKinney is a debate no-show, again

U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney let an empty podium speak for her again Saturday as the congresswoman skipped the second of two televised debates in the race for the 4th Congressional District.

Organizers of the debate, held at the WSB-TV studio in Midtown and aired live, said they received no response from McKinney’s campaign about whether she would attend, despite numerous attempts to contact her to confirm. Still, media panelists opened the hourlong debate with three McKinney-related questions before quizzing candidates John Coyne III and Hank Johnson, Jr., about issues including the Iraq war, education, health care and immigration.

Is McKinney too good to debate her opponents? Or is she taking her constituents for granted?

Probably both.

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Representative Cynthia McKinney Watch: Police Union Calls for McKinney Ethics Investigation 

Technorati Tags: CynthiaMcKinney

Senior U.S. diplomat Christopher Hill, Washington’s top man on North Korea, is welcomed by Chinese doormen upon his arrival at a hotel in Beijing July 11, 2006.

Reuters: North Korea sets conditions for return to talks

North Korea, vilified in the West for its missile tests, said on Tuesday it was willing to return to six-party talks on its nuclear program if the United States dropped financial sanctions.

The comment from Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Hyong Jun came as China condemned a Japan-sponsored U.N. resolution to slap sanctions on North Korea, calling it an over-reaction that would split the Security Council.

“As soon as the United States lifts financial sanctions, we will readily participate in the next round of the six party talks,” Kim told reporters in South African capital, Pretoria, where he is on an official visit.

How do you spell NUCLEAR BLACKMAIL?

Japan and the United States should press the UNSC for the tough Chapter 7 resolution imposing tough sanctions on North Korea. China MUST be forced to veto the resolution prior to the G-8 Summit.

In the meantime……..

Satellite photos detect activity at NKorea missile bases

AFP: Satellite photos detect activity at NKorea missile bases: report

North Korea could be preparing for new launches of mid-range missiles following last week’s tests, with activity detected at its bases, a report has said citing Japanese government sources.

US and Japanese satellite photos show that mid-range Rodong missiles had been set up on launch pads at a base in southeastern North Korea, but were later removed, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported.

Fuel tanks could be seen near the launch pads, the report said.

The report said the satellite photos were taken after last week’s tests of seven missiles, but did not give a specific date.

“We think North Korea can launch missiles whenever it wishes,” the top-selling daily quoted a government source as saying.

Ok, diplomacy is fine but it is time to practice some good old fashioned “Cold War” deterrence. Kim Jong_il and the Chinese should be told that there WILL be military costs to any further missile launches. The clock is ticking for the Chinese to work out a deal but the United States will not be extorted by Kim Jong-Il NOT NOW or EVER.

Stay tuned……

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North Korea Watch: United Nations Security Council Vote on North Korea Postponed

North Korea Watch: China Asks Japan to Postpone United Nations Resolution

North Korea Watch: Japan Considers Pre-emptive Strike Against North Korea