Investigate the CIA

Wall Street Journal ^ | November 2 | Toensing

[KFAT2]

In a surprise, closed-door debate, Senate Democrats demanded an investigation of pre-Iraq War intelligence. Here's an issue for them: Assess the validity of the claim that Valerie Plame's status was "covert," or even properly classified, given the wretched tradecraft by the Central Intelligence Agency throughout the entire episode. It was, after all, the CIA that requested the "leak" investigation, alleging that one of its agents had been outed in Bob Novak's July 14, 2003, column. Yet it was the CIA's bizarre conduct that led inexorably to Ms. Plame's unveiling.

[KFAT2]

When a government agency charged with our security:

-- leaks like sieve to suite its own bureaucratic purposes (NOW, the SECRET PRISONS!)

-- has been compromised again and again by double agents (REMEMBER AMES)

-- directly takes on an elected administration with leaks that make a bad matter, worse (PLAMEGATE)

-- is basically replaceable by Google and an internet browser (hello information age)

-- is prohibited by law from engaging in many of the activities upon which it was founded

Shouldn’t we at least consider downsizing it? Or otherwise make it justify itself.

We have the DIA and its foreign correspondents for direct security threats against the US and running spies in hostile environments

We have State/USAID for telling the good side of our story, supporting our friends, providing linguistic expertise and providing field intelligence in non-hostile situations

We have the NSA for cracking codes and protecting our IT/Communications infrastructure

We have the FBI for domestic counter-terrorism

We have Seals, Delta, etc. for clandestine operations

We have Treasury for monitoring financial shenanigans

We have Commerce for commercial espionage

And, of course, we have homeland security and some new master spymaster.

What was the CIA’s mandate again? With the end of the cold war and the rise of the internet, what use is it? Perhaps, a Hollywood backlot ?

If the CIA is just there to be compromised -- a huge house of mirrors to our adversaries -- then perhaps someone ought to tell them that and budget it accordingly.

This was the epiphany I had from Plamegate.

[Andy from Beaverton]

When are we going to focus on how the CIA has been against us for years? In '94 and '95, the CIA transferred almost a billion in small arms from Iran to the mujahedeen in Bosnia. In '99, we used faulty intelligence on why we went to war in Kosovo. The intelligence on the massacre at Racak was wrong and the intelligence on 'operation horseshoe' was wrong. The CIA needs a whitewash!

[DustyMoment]

This was the epiphany I had from Plamegate.

Great points, all!!

And I concur with your assessment and solution.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Excellent point, it is time to point out the domestic political shenanigans the CIA has engaged in. IE: As in attempting to bring down a sitting president.

[p23185]

When are we going to focus on how the CIA has been against us for years?

Yes, how can we get the Senate to investigate the CIA. AND why is the MSM not bemoaning the "leaking" of the black prisons around the world as leaked yesterday by the Washington Post? Another Fitztgerald GJ is needed for this leak. Isn't the disclosure of SECRET prisons every bit as damaging as the "so called outing" of a CIA agent, which is a bogus claim to start with? Clear evidence of the MSM AGENDA - they are all in the pockets of the Demonrat party. What additional proof does anyone need? Only a complete moron cannot see this on-going hypocrisy.

[KC_Conspirator]

The thing I learned from Plamegate is that 1) 5th Columnists need to be purged out of the CIA and other government agencies; 2) Government agencies need to revisit their mission statements, and purge anyone who does not adhere to it.

[SueRae]

Well said. And, as Curt Weldon says, anyone in the CIA above GS15 ought to be fired. Time for some major housekeeping. They tried to pull off a coup last year at the election, I still haven't forgettent the "missing" explosives from the deport in Iraq....

[swmobuffalo]

Can the salient points from the article be posted? I don't subscribe to the online WSJ. Thanks!

[kaktuskid]

Disband the CIA...bring back the OSS!

[Txsleuth]

I keep checking in on Fox News and every story seems to be about whether Rove should quit or be fired.....

NOTHING about this...and so far, I haven't heard a big thing about the stupid ruling by the 9th Circus yesterday.

I wish that President Bush had come out yesterday and taken on the Wash Post for "outing" these prisons...

NOW...the EU is on our backs...next the UN...and the DEMS will call for yet another investigation...with McCain heading the group!

I am so mad I could spit...

[p23185]

with McCain heading the group!

Exactly - there goes my Senator again (RINO)! I believe the "torture" statute of McCain has to go back to House before it gets passed (although Bush said he would veto). Try to write the House and get this stopped. Putting panties on someone's head is NOT TORTUE, I don't care what country you are from! Folks in San Fransisco pay for this kind of treatment in the sex clubs.

[demkicker]

Here's an idea: Let's have a REAL Congressional investigation! It should be VERY simple to do since Victoria Toensing has handed to Congress what needs to be investigated on a silver platter:

Toensing outlines the facts hiding in plain sight that point to the real scandal the lamestream media have declined to cover or pursue:

• First: The CIA sent her husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, to Niger on a sensitive mission regarding WMD. He was to determine whether Iraq had attempted to purchase yellowcake, an essential ingredient for nonconventional weapons. However, it was Ms. Plame, not Mr. Wilson, who was the WMD expert. Moreover, Mr. Wilson had no intelligence background, was never a senior person in Niger when he was in the State Department, and was opposed to the administration's Iraq policy. The assignment was given, according to the Senate Intelligence Committee, at Ms. Plame's suggestion.
R • Second: Mr. Wilson was not required to sign a confidentiality agreement, a mandatory act for the rest of us who either carry out any similar CIA assignment or who represent CIA clients.

• Third: When he returned from Niger, Mr. Wilson was not required to write a report, but rather merely to provide an oral briefing. That information was not sent to the White House. If this mission to Niger were so important, wouldn't a competent intelligence agency want a thoughtful written assessment from the "missionary," if for no other reason than to establish a record to refute any subsequent misrepresentation of that assessment? Because it was the vice president who initially inquired about Niger and the yellowcake (although he had nothing to do with Mr. Wilson being sent), it is curious that neither his office nor the president's were privy to the fruits of Mr. Wilson's oral report.

• Fourth: Although Mr. Wilson did not have to write even one word for the agency that sent him on the mission at taxpayer's expense, over a year later he was permitted to tell all about this sensitive assignment in the New York Times. For the rest of us, writing about such an assignment would mean we'd have to bring our proposed op-ed before the CIA's Prepublication Review Board and spend countless hours arguing over every word to be published. Congressional oversight committees should want to know who at the CIA permitted the publication of the article, which, it has been reported, did not jibe with the thrust of Mr. Wilson's oral briefing. For starters, if the piece had been properly vetted at the CIA, someone should have known that the agency never briefed the vice president on the trip, as claimed by Mr. Wilson in his op-ed.

• Fifth: More important than the inaccuracies is the fact that, if the CIA truly, truly, truly had wanted Ms. Plame's identity to be secret, it never would have permitted her spouse to write the op-ed. Did no one at Langley think that her identity could be compromised if her spouse wrote a piece discussing a foreign mission about a volatile political issue that focused on her expertise? The obvious question a sophisticated journalist such as Mr. Novak asked after "Why did the CIA send Wilson?" was "Who is Wilson?" After being told by a still-unnamed administration source that Mr. Wilson's "wife" suggested him for the assignment, Mr. Novak went to Who's Who, which reveals "Valerie Plame" as Mr. Wilson's spouse.

• Sixth: CIA incompetence did not end there. When Mr. Novak called the agency to verify Ms. Plame's employment, it not only did so, but failed to go beyond the perfunctory request not to publish. Every experienced Washington journalist knows that when the CIA really does not want something public, there are serious requests from the top, usually the director. Only the press office talked to Mr. Novak.

• Seventh: Although high-ranking Justice Department officials are prohibited from political activity, the CIA had no problem permitting its deep cover or classified employee from making political contributions under the name "Wilson, Valerie E.," information publicly available at the FEC.

Toensing concludes;

The CIA conduct in this matter is either a brilliant covert action against the White House or inept intelligence tradecraft. It is up to Congress to decide which."

[b4its2late]

Who can you send it to so there can be some action? None of my reps are worth a damn.

[demkicker]

You can send it to anyone you want and I suggest you do so. My senators are great, Cronyn & Hutchison, but my Rep in the House is (aaaack) Sheila Jackson Lee!

[Txsleuth]

"It is up to Congress to decide which"....

NO, the statement should be...it is up to Congress to let the CIA know that NEITHER scenarios is acceptable.

[b4its2late]

You're lucky. I have Schumer and Clinton and my Rep is a socialist, so I'm out.

[Libloather]

The article Rush was talking about today...

[Dajjal]

Black ops bump

[Grampa Dave]

I'm willing to let Director Goss clean up the CIA leftovers from Carter and Clinton.

However, this WSJ article like so many articles of people hired by AL Hunt are not urging an investigation of Joe Wilson, Plame and her ex boss Dan Foley.

Rush is calling for the right shot on this, investigate Wilson before his trip to Niger, his trip there and what he has done since then.

The link below will take readers to what Rush wants to be done.

Lets take care of these DNC operatives and let Goss take care of the Carter and Clinton leftovers at the farm.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1515283/posts

Rush Prediction - CIA Leak Will Blow Up in Democrat Faces (time to investigate Wilson)
Rush Limbaugh .com ^ | 11/03/05 | The Maha


Posted on 11/03/2005 4:51:21 PM PST by Libloather


CIA Leak Will Blow Up in Democrat Faces
November 3, 2005

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1515283/posts

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