It's NOT WHO LEAKED - but WHY LEAK

[radfringe]

First draft of my letter to the editor --- input/corrections/flames/suggestions etc cheerfully accepted

Shortly after September 11, 2001, while the country was in the grips of fear, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld repeatedly warned the press, Congress and the public about the dangers of revealing classified information. Homeland Security would be compromised, the effectiveness of our troops would be in peril.

In March of 2003, we invaded Iraq. Our troops were accompanied by "embedded" members of the press. One such journalist was Peter Arnet from MSNBC. Mr. Arnet reported his location as our troops pressed onward to Baghdad. Subsequently, a great wailing arose, and cries of "Treason! Traitor!" could be heard across the country. Mr. Arnet was removed from Baghdad and fired by MSNBC.

In July of 2003, Robert Novak wrote an article which revealed the identity of a CIA agent. According to Mr. Novak, he was first contacted by a "SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL". Mr. Novak is currently employed and refers to the outrage as "Bush Bashing".

Much of the attention is now focused on Mr. Novak and this Unknown Senior Administration Official (USAO). Karl Rove's name figures in this prominently. Mr. Novak denies that the USAO is a member of the White House, and the White House denies that it is Karl Rove. The media is currently chasing it's tail on this story.

The real story lies not in the WHO is the USAO, but rather WHY was a CIA agent's identity revealed? What was the "gain" in outing this agent? Revenge? Spite? Diversion? Cover-up?

Revealing an agent's identity is a betrayal of trust. Being a CIA agent, or involved in any undercover / covert occupation is risky enough without having to worry that your safety and life would be compromised by the very government you are working so hard to protect. Mr. Novak placed a life in danger when he wrote the article. The USAO placed a life in danger when he/she made the phone call. And the White House is placing not only this agent's life, but all of our lives in danger by not vigorously investigating this betrayal of trust.

[vi5]

1. Wasn't it Geraldo who leaked his location not Arnett?

I thought Arnett's only "crime" was just expressing sympathy with the Iraqi people on a television interview.

It was Geraldo, reporting for Fox who revealed his location.

[htuttle]

5. Yes, I believe that is correct

It was Geraldo who drew a map in the sand on live TV showing where they were.

Arnett was in trouble for an interview he did with Iraqi TV.

[radfringe]

6. thanks for the correction

forgot about Geraldo... me---> :dunce:

[MoonAndSun]

2. The "why" is important, but so is the "who"

IMHO. :thumbsup:

[Iris]

3. yes.

Considering the "who" could bring a house of cards tumbling down.

[LuCifer]

11. I 3rd that. I say START WITH BOB NOVAK

EVERY LAST PERSON POSSIBLE NEEDS TO READ THIS!

FEEL FREE TO CUT N PASTE, THEN FWD THIS TO *ANYONE* YOU CAN! This is HUUUUUGE people. And, it's downright INSANE for two White House cretins to leak this info to SIX journalists, one of which being Bob Novak who was, as we all know, scumbag enough to print this. :wtf: Gee, it's only a FEDERAL OFFENSE to print the name of a CIA AGENT, you dick. What an asshole. Have you ever seen ANYTHING even remotely close to how brazen these people are? Even under the regimes of Nixon, Ray-gun and King Georgey I, nothing even comes CLOSE. And great way to wage the war on terror huh? Print the names of CIA agents who are WORKING ON TERRORISM. Not only should Novak be arrested IMMEDIATELY, there MUST be an INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION, NO IF's, AND's or BUTT's!!!!! :spank: :grr:

But I'm sure the professional republiKKKans will come up with some rediculous, outlandish excuse for this. "Clinton's pecker", probably.

I won't post the article in full (copyright, blah blah blah) so go to this link www.townhall.com/columnists/robertnovak/rn20030714.shtml to read it all. BUT, here's the most important part of it:

Wilson never worked for the CIA, but his wife, Valerie Plame, is an Agency operative on weapons of mass destruction. Two senior administration officials told me Wilson's wife suggested sending him to Niger to investigate the Italian report. The CIA says its counter-proliferation officials selected Wilson and asked his wife to contact him.

Again, FWD that link to other lists/boards/whatever! This info MUST get out there. Bob Novak is such a revolting lying troll, it's just frightening.

[radfringe]

4. figure out the why

and it will lead to the WHO

What's the gain in outing Plame?

[skip fox]

7. Good, Radfrindge!

But "it's" = it is.

My own (pretty solid) take on the REASON, however, is that it was initially simply to discredit Wison (not to punish or him or warn others. . . which would have been seen as secondary "benefits"). They tried to make it seem that his trip to Niger was self-initiated (via wife).

That is . . . IF the State Department had sent him and his wife worked for State, then they would have done the same . . . saying she had him sent (meaning he asked her to have him sent).

There is no truth to the story that his wife had him sent . . . in fact, according to sources (Oliphant), she simply gave the agency his contact info (cell phone #, probably).

So the WHY was a quick staunching of the flow of blood on the Niger/State of the Union story and undercutting Wilson as a credible and objective investigator. They only outed a CIA operative for expediency. They were playing it fast-and-loose and didn't probably even think that what they were doing was illegal.

So it has all the smell of political opperatives: Scooter Libby and Karl Rove. Though I fear underlings will take the fall.

I'm ony hoping the WH tries to cover it up!!!

[skip fox]

8. dupe . . . I hit Send Message twice when I thought stalled.

n/t

[Lady President]

9. Why? To keep people in line

I try not to wear a tinfoil hat, but on this issue I think the "why" is very important and very dangerous. I believe outing Plame was a warning to all political officials. If you dare to speak against the Bush* administration, you will be harmed~ your career, your family, and your good name will be harmed. It is an effect form of intimidation. It will be much less likely that anyone else will go against the administration because they know that putting someone's life in jeopardy is a consequence. Of all the things I've seen in the last couple years, this is one of the most frightening and to downplay it as "Bush bashing" is unbelievable.

[LunaC]

10. I agree - scare tactics!

It's how they've ruled the U.S. since 911.....fear, fear, and moreso...a frightened populace is a compliant populace. They just didn't plan on Wilson standing up to them and throwing it back in their faces.

And I don't think an underling is going to be willing to take the Fall when there's the potential for jail time on the table.

[skip fox]

12. No, not a warning or punishment (though

these were seen as secondary "benefits") but simply to discredit Wilson as a maverick out to undercut the WH's growing case against Iraq during that period. They say his wife at CIA had him sent, implying that he had his wife do so. This shows him as NOT a disinterested investigator, but one who went with an agenda.

[Vogon_Glory]

13. Time To Bring Up Some Names and Comparisons to Make Freepers Squirm

Perhaps it's time to compare and contrast the motives that caused the characters who outed Ms. Page by making less than complimentary comparisons to Aldrich Ames and that CIA defector who spilled the names of US agents to the Soviet Union.

Right-wingers act as if the rules don't apply to them. Maybe they should be reminded that if it's wrong (and illegal) for so-called "liberals" to out clandestine agents for money, it's not OK for White House operatives to out undercover agents for partisan political purposes.

--VG