Stop beating a dead horse

A number of bloggers are making a big thing about the Associated Press report that Richard Armitage, then no. 2 in the State Dept., had a one hour meeting with Bob Woodward (the first reporter to learn of Valerie Plame) in June 2003, just at the time the Bush administration was making its concerted effort to swift-boat Joe Wilson.

Frankly, I don't see what the big deal is. Patrick Fitzgerald has clearly signalled that he's not going to indict anyone for leaking Plame's identity but will only indict those who lied and covered up about it (and, even then, the evidence has to be overwhelming). Note that Karl Rove has been given a free pass. I doubt that Armitage was in on the cover up, so I doubt he will be indicted for anything.

Without any more indictments, this story is dead. At most, the civil suit may bring out a few facts that will titilate the press, but I doubt it.