The Bushites' ultimate crime

I suppose Bush can't wait to nominate somebody new for the Supreme Court to take some attention off the Libby indictment.
Why did that very smart lawyer Libby tell stupid lies? What is he protecting Cheney from?

Here is what Joe Wilson wrote In today's Los Angeles Times"

"The attacks on Valerie and me were upsetting, disruptive and vicious. They amounted to character assassination. Senior administration officials used the power of the White House to make our lives hell for the last 27 months.
"But more important, they did it as part of a clear effort to cover up the lies and disinformation used to justify the invasion of Iraq. That is the ultimate crime.
" The war in Iraq has claimed more than 17,000 dead and wounded American soldiers, many times more Iraqi casualties and close to $200 billion.
"It has left our international reputation in tatters and our military broken. It has weakened the United States, increased hatred of us and made terrorist attacks against our interests more likely in the future.
"It has been, as Gen. William Odom suggested, the greatest strategic blunder in the history of our country.
"We anticipate no mea culpa from the president for what his senior aides have done to us. But he owes the nation both an explanation and an apology."