Can a CIA-type help me here, re: Covert vs. Classified

[Coexist]

Everything I read seems to point to "Covert" is a person, "Classified" is information, as in "She was a covert operative" and "her status was classified".

It is really bugging me. Help!!! Here is a sample

http://www.crooksandliars.com/stories/2005/07/19/ciaLaw...
<snip>
§ 426. Definitions

For the purposes of this subchapter:

(1) The term "classified information" means information or material designated and clearly marked or clearly represented, pursuant to the provisions of a statute or Executive order (or a regulation or order issued pursuant to a statute or Executive order), as requiring a specific degree of protection against unauthorized disclosure for reasons of national security.

<snip>

(4) The term "covert agent" means-

(A) a present or retired officer or employee of an intelligence agency or a present or retired member of the Armed Forces assigned to duty with an intelligence agency-

(i) whose identity as such an officer, employee, or member is classified information, and

[Coexist]

1. kicking for help, please!

[Fleshdancer]

2. I'm not a CIA type, but I think your definitions are correct

There are so many republicans lying about what Valerie was or making CIA NOC's out to no big deal or even secretive so I had to dig for some info myself.

Here's how Slate explained NOC's:
http://slate.msn.com/id/2089062/

Nonofficial cover. NOCs (the word rhymes with "rocks") are the most covert CIA operatives. They typically work abroad without diplomatic protection (often they pretend to work for some commercial enterprise). If these spies are caught, there's no guarantee that the United States would admit their true identities. When using official cover could put a spy's life and work at risk, NOC is the only alternative.

Why is it such a big deal that someone outed Valerie Plame? For starters, it's a felony. And Plame was also reportedly a NOC with years of experience investigating weapons of mass destruction. If this is true, her discovery could compromise intelligence operations she was involved with around the world, which would explain why she maintained her nonofficial cover even when she was back in the United States. "Hard target" countries like China and North Korea often keep records of every known meeting between Americans and their scientists and officials. Almost certainly, those lists would have been frantically reviewed when Plame's identity was revealed, and any sources she recruited could have been exposed.

[puebloknot]

3. Classified vs. Covert

Hi.

I don't post often here, but saw this and thought I could help.

Years ago, I worked for the Office of Naval Intelligence (and I'm dating myself by using that title, because it was later renamed to Naval Investigative Service), as a mere secretary, but I had to have a top secret clearance to work there. All the world, or at least my friends, knew I worked there, and if they were sophisticated enough to think about it, knew I had a top security clearance. I was not in a covert status.

Even the agents who worked in the office (the Navy's equivalent of the FBI agent) had top secret clearances, but were not covert.

Valerie Plame and others like her have top-level security clearances, but in addition they have a cover "persona" under which they work.

The seriousness of this affair is that not only Valerie Plame, but a lot of other covert agents, were exposed, and years of intelligence gathering for the purpose of protecting the country is now compromised. Fitz had it right: We the People were harmed by this act, and the covert agents, now exposed, could face personal harm.

Revealing classified information to anyone who does not hold the appropriate level of security clearance to receive it is a crime. I, personally, think that anyone who holds an office in the White House would (should) be *very* well versed in that protocol.

Hope this sheds a little light. I'm not an expert, but the above is not exactly rocket science.

From the perspective of being much older now, I could launch into a discussion about the activities of the CIA through time, and how their collective behavior has fit into our national ethic, the principles on which the country was founded, but that's another conversation for another day.

[Igel]

4. Off topic ... but curious.

Why is it when I click on your link I get the following message:

"Objekt nenalezen!
Požadované URL nebylo na tomto serveru nalezeno. Zdá se, že odkaz na odkazující stránce je chybný nebo zastaralý. Informujte, prosím, autora této stránky o chybì.

Pokud si myslíte, že toto je chyba serveru, kontaktujte, prosím, webmastera."

I mean, it's all well and good, the classic "Object not found! The requested URL was not found on this server..." business. But is there a reason I get it in Czech?

[GayCanuck]

5. I hate to say it

but Libby wasn't charged on outing a covert agent. I asked an American friend of mine who is an attorney and knows a lot about your federal system and he says Plame was a classified agent, not covert and went on to say that all CIA employees are classified. I am so disappointed in how weak this thing looks.