Sources: Classified Memo IDs Plame

cbsnews.com ^ | 7/21/05 | Gloria Borger

[beyond the sea]

(CBS) There were new developments Thursday in the federal investigation of who leaked the identify of a CIA operative and blew her cover.

As CBS News Correspondent Gloria Borger reports, it turns out a key portion of a two-year-old State Department memo that is now at the center of the controversy was classified — and that could mean leaking it was a crime.

At the time the State Department wrote its memo, the administration's key rationale for war in Iraq was crumbling. No weapons of mass destruction had been found and some key intelligence used to make the administration's case had proven false. An internal war raged inside the administration over who was to blame.

The state department's 2003 memo was written to make one thing clear: don't blame us. But what now interests a federal grand jury is a single paragraph in that memo identifying "Valerie Wilson" as a CIA employee — and the wife of former ambassador Joe Wilson, who had gone to Africa to investigate Iraq's nuclear capability.

[montag813]

This piece proves to me that we have a leaker in the CIA. Time to clean house, Mr President. No wonder Porter Goss has been having such problems with the "culture" at CIA. Sunds like we've still got several Richard Clarke-wanna bes at Langley.

[bjc]

How about "S" for spelling, given how neurotic FSOs are about the written word?

[GraceCoolidge]

I just looked on a Chinese Menu and "s" meant steamed rice.

Well, I did read that Secretary Condi Rice is pretty steamed these days at Sudanese officials!

[PGalt]

I know BS when I CBS.....

Very well stated. Very insightful. Very funny!

[wildbill]

Sounds like Borger is involved with a leak of classified memo since I doubt it's been declassified.

[nuffsenuff]

They should investigate the 11 cia agents who wrote that letter today.

This thing smacks of rogue CIA (read "Clintonistas") trying to ensure a Hillary victory in '08.

[Eva]

Except that Wilson stated in his own book that Novak contacted him to verify what he had heard from a source within the CIA, that his wife worked for the agency.

[clintonh8r]

I wish I could claim authorship...but I can't!

[wildbill]

For $19.95 plus shipping and handling you can become an expert too. I'm watching the infomercial right now... If you call within the next hour you can become an expert in two Fields plus get a free megaphone to let your neighbors know."

Wait, there's more....

with every purchase you a Ronco "Expert Certificate" suitable for framing.

[tobyhill]

This has got to be the most ridiculous thing I ever heard. The CIA put a "s" by the paragraph with "Wilson's Wife" meaning "Wilson's Wife" is "Secret". Now how is this even enforceable since she was listed on his bio in Who's Who in America and she introduced him at a State Dept/CIA meeting that had non covert analyst in attendance.

[tang-soo]

As CBS News Correspondent Gloria Borger reports, it turns out a key portion of a two-year-old State Department memo that is now at the center of the controversy was classified — and that could mean leaking it was a crime.

This is carefully worded to imply something it doesn't say. The document may have been classified, but is the section containing the info about Plame itself classified? A document is classified at the same level of the highest page, and in turn, each page is classified at the same level of the highest paragraph. ie there may be many pieces of information in a top secret document that are individually unclassified.

[tobyhill]

LOL. Now that's funny.

[Doctor Raoul]

The liberals are trying their best to meet all the elements of the law (i.e., the IIP) so they can claim a crime. But unless they invent a Time Machine, they can't do anything about her being back from OVERSEAS longer than five years.

But it's cute how the Democrats are pimping out Borger. Must do her ego a world of good.

[danamco]

Now what? Whats Colin Powell's deal in this? Does anyone know. Im confused again.


It's just like Rush Limbaugh's spoof commercial about Karl Rove, spelling with a "K" like in Klan!!!

[Cougar66]

I'm still waiting for someone with knowldege and an actual job title to say she was covert, undercover, a secret agent and all that stuff. I havent heard it yet. Which means the left wing media frenzy is all for show. Pretty tiresome.

[Doctor Raoul]

In other stories, the "media" imply there was "(S)" at the beginning of that paragraph, but they don't make that explicit statement. Maybe "(FOUO)"?

[danamco]

His point was that not every bureaucrat, even at the CIA, is a Super Duper Top Secret Agent.


But rather a travel agent for a husband out of work!?!

[LS]

Yes, but do they realize where this is going? COLIN POWELL. Bwa-hahahahahaha.

[LS]

That's exactly where this is going.

[mystery-ak]

Raw Story...what is that..a web site?