WHO IS MR. X?

Tuesday evening, the White House spun faster than ever, trying to induce mass nausea and make everyone forget that special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald is about to announce the fruits of his two-year, $1 million investigation into the leaking of a CIA agent's identity.

CBS reported Tuesday that:

Lawyers familiar with the case think Wednesday is when special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald will make known his decision, and that there will be indictments. Supporters say Rove and the vice president’s chief of staff, Scooter Libby, are in legal jeopardy. But they insisted today the two are secondary players, that it was an unidentified Mr. X who actually gave the name of CIA agent Valerie Plame to reporters. Fitzgerald knows who Mr. X is, they say, and if he isn’t indicted, there’s no way Rove or Libby should be. But charges may not focus on the leak at all. Obstruction of justice or perjury are real possibilities. Did Rove or Libby change statements made under oath? Did they deliberately leave critical facts out of their testimony or did they honestly forget? Some Republicans urged Rove to step down if indicted.

Still time to place your bets before the ponies start to run. Is Larry Franklin the dreaded Mr. X? Or is it Stephen Hadley? Or -- God and Judith Miller forbid -- could it be Ahmed Chalabi? We wouldn't be surprised if any of the three are implicated in this treasonous mess.