August is usually quiet in the national capital. But the violence in Iraq—it’s called war—continues, as do indirect and direct attempts by the administration to justify what is going on there. Meanwhile, sectors of the news media that have acted as a fourth branch of the worst administration in U.S. history continue their own efforts to shore up their credibility.
August, 2004:

Aug. 6, 2004 – A hearing is held at the U.S. District Court for D.C. on a motion by Matthew Cooper and Time magazine to quash the grand jury subpoena in the CIA leak investigation. The motion to quash is denied.

Aug. 9, 2004 – The U.S. District Court for D.C. issues an order holding Time magazine and Matthew Cooper in contempt for failing to answer the grand jury subpoena in the CIA leak investigation. The court stays the order pending appeal.

Aug. 9, 2004 – Jeff Gannon/James Guckert weighs in at the day’s White House press briefing, still trying to establish a connection between Saddam and al-Qaeda:

“Go ahead, Jeff.

Q Thank you. The imam that was arrested in New York last week was discovered because his name appeared in a Rolodex in a terrorist training camp in Iraq before the war. The book was found after, by U.S. troops, but he was in Iraq before the war. Is this another piece of evidence showing the direct terror ties between Iraq and al Qaeda?

MR. McCLELLAN: One, that's an ongoing investigation. I think the questions related to those particular individuals are best directed to the Department of Justice. And so that's -- I would refer any questions about that investigation to the Department of Justice.

We are continuing to wage the war on terrorism on many fronts, both abroad and at home. And I think you're seeing that through the actions that we are taking.

Q Let me follow up with a second question. How damaging was the revelation of the deepest mole that we've ever had in al Qaeda? The publication of that man's name by The New York Times -- how damaging is that to our war on terror?

MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry -- which specific instance are you referring to?

Q The New York Times published the name of Muhammad Naeem Noor Khan, who was described by intelligence officials as the only deep mole we've ever had within al Qaeda.

MR. McCLELLAN: I'm not sure where it was published, first. Obviously, it was published recently -- the capture of this individual. It is important that we recognize that sometimes there are ongoing operations underway. And as we move forward on capturing or bringing to justice al Qaeda members, we need to keep that in mind. And sometimes we aren't able to go into as much detail we would like to because of those ongoing operations. And I think everybody has a responsibility to keep that in mind.”

 
Ironically, despite the apparent eagerness to help the White House, this second question maps onto territory the White House is not eager to get into: leaking the identity of a ‘mole’ to the New York Times is asserted by some intelligence officers in the U.S. and elsewhere to have compromised and short-circuited an investigation. During the intense pursuit of administration leakers in the Plame matter, this leak seems to fall out of the basket. Gannon/Guckert gets cut off here by press secretary McClellan, who moves on to other matters.

 
Unlike his predecessor Ari Fleischer, Scotty McClellan is one White House press secretary who willingly recognizes Gannon/Guckert often. McClellan is the only one who calls on him by name.

Aug. 12, 2004 – The grand jury in the CIA leak case issues a subpoena to New York Times reporter Judith Miller.

August 2004. Abdallah Tabarak, longtime close employee of Osama bin Laden, is quietly moved by U.S. authorities from Guantanamo to Morocco.

Aug. 19, 2004 – Judith Miller files a motion to quash the grand jury subpoena in U.S. District Court in D.C.

Aug. 20, 2004 – The grand jury issues a subpoena to the New York Times concerning the Plame matter. The Times responds, unlike Judith Miller individually, that it has no documents responsive to the subpoena.