THE Question.

Overlooked, as usual, by the chatterboxers is this--the deepest and the darkest question, verbatim from Fitzgerald's televised comments:

"And as you sit back, you want to learn: Why was this information going out? Why were people taking this information about Valerie Wilson and giving it to reporters? Why did Mr. Libby say what he did? Why did he tell Judith Miller three times? Why did he tell the press secretary on Monday? Why did he tell Mr. Cooper? And was this something where he intended to cause whatever damage was caused?" (emphasis mine)

Fitzgerald didn't have to add that last one: it's an intensification that is totally unnecessary; his explanation was compelling without it. That he did add motive for the damage caused to his question list indicates his effort to answer it will necessarily venture far into the Darker Side (October 9).

No one knows the answer. No one knows how dark that side is. But the mere asking of the question is the darkest event of the darkest presidency in our history. Horribile dictu! The attorney representing the United States is forced to ask whether the assistant to the President of the United States for national security, who is also chief of staff for the Vice President, and who himself personally receives a daily intelligence briefing--whether he, and possibly others, intended damage to the United States. He said it. God help him, and protect him, in finding the answer.