Plame “leak” investigation cost $2.58 million

The next time I hear some Dem whining and complaining about not getting enough money from the public trough for this-or-that special project, I’m going to ask how much of that project would $2.58 million have bought. That’s the figure for the CIA “Plame” “leak” investigation accoring to the GAO. The whole episode was just one long “gotta get Bush” snipe hunt, extended on the basis of political pressure as opposed to a matter of law. The question of who “leaked” Plame’s identity was determined long ago by the Prosecutor Fitzgerald and announced to the public well over a year ago.

By any rational measure, the investigation should have ended the moment Fitzgerald knew that Richard Armitage was the so-called “leaker” and Fitzgerald’s office closed. That his investigation continued until he found someone’s hide to nail to the wall to justify his office’s existence is what ran up the price tag. Some commenters to the story, clearly blinded by their hatred of George Bush, are claiming this should be laid at Bush’s feet. They’re clearly wrong. If it’s anyone, it should be Fitzgerald and those members of Congress who kept goading him onward.

Let’s call this a closed case now, shall we? Plame wasn’t outed, Rove didn’t do anything wrong, and the costs are to be blamed at the people who were only interested in a political cudgel rather than a matter of national security.