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Plame and the 'Bush Lied' Meme
Real Clear Politics ^ | August 29, 2006 | Jack Kelly

Posted on 08/29/2006 7:13:53 AM PDT by bobsunshine

A new book by Michael Isikoff, an investigative reporter for Newsweek, and David Corn, who writes for the far left wing magazine The Nation, casts many powerful people in Washington in an unflattering light -- but not the people who Mr. Isikoff and Mr. Corn wish to besmirch.

A brief review for those of you who have lives, and who consequently haven't been following closely the details of the Plame Name Game: In his 2003 State of the Union address, President Bush said: "The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa."

First in leaks to reporters, and then in his own op-ed in the New York Times, a retired diplomat, Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, said the president was lying. His claim to speak with authority was that in the spring of 2002, the CIA had sent him to Niger to see if Saddam had tried to buy uranium there.

Mr. Wilson's charge was important because it marked the beginning of the "Bush lied" meme about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. But investigations by the Senate Intelligence Committee; the Robb-Silberman Commission on prewar intelligence, and the British Butler Commission all concluded it was Mr. Wilson who was not telling the truth. Saddam had indeed tried to buy uranium in Africa, as even Mr. Wilson himself had acknowledged to the CIA officers who debriefed him after his Niger trip.

One of the false claims Mr. Wilson made was that he had been sent to Niger at the request of Vice President Dick Cheney. In his July 14, 2003 column, Robert Novak disclosed that he had been sent instead at the insistence of his wife, Valerie Plame, who worked at the CIA.

Ms. Plame had once been an undercover operative. Concern was expressed that the leaker had violated the Intelligence Identities Protection Act.

Mr. Wilson blamed the leak on White House political guru Karl Rove, claiming it was payback for his "whistle-blowing." A special prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald, was appointed to investigate the charge. Mr. Fitzgerald eventually indicted I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, then the chief of staff to the vice president, on a charge of having lied to a grand jury about from whom he had learned of Ms. Plame's occupation. He is awaiting trial.

No indictments have been brought on the charge Mr. Fitzgerald was appointed to investigate, because it is clear there was no violation of the Intelligence Identities Protection Act. The act applies only to those who are operating under cover overseas, or who have done so within five years of the disclosure of their identities. Ms. Plame had been manning a desk at CIA headquarters in Langley, Va. for longer than that.

Mr. Isikoff and Mr. Corn disclose that it was then Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage who disclosed Ms. Plame's identity to Bob Novak, which is not exactly news to those who have been following the case. But Mr. Isikoff and Mr. Corn provide details which reflect poorly on Mr. Armitage, Mr. Fitzgerald, and the journalists who knew the truth at the time.

Mr. Armitage disclosed to his boss, Secretary of State Colin Powell, and to Justice Department officials his role in the case in October, 2003, after a second Novak column, Mr. Isikoff and Mr. Corn say.

For more than three years, Mr. Rove and Mr. Libby have been accused, falsely, of being the source of the leak. Mr. Armitage, Mr. Powell, and Justice department officials knew the truth, but said nothing. Clarice Feldman, a Washington, D.C. lawyer, described Mr. Armitage's silence as "inexplicable and perfidious."

"Had he spoken out publicly immediately, could there have been a reason for the press to have demanded the appointment of the feckless special prosecutor?" she asked.

Mr. Fitzgerald knew in his first few days on the job that Mr. Armitage was the leaker; that the leak was inadvertent, and that the Intelligence Identities Act hadn't been violated. Yet he has persisted in a sham prosecution.

Mr. Isikoff and Mr. Corn write that: "the Plame leak in Novak's column has long been cited by Bush administration critics as a deliberate act of payback, orchestrated to punish and/or discredit Joe Wilson after he charged that the Bush administration had misled the American public about prewar intelligence."

They add, lamely, that: "The Armitage news does not fit neatly into that framework."

They don't mention that Mr. Isikoff and (especially) Mr. Corn have been among the journalists flogging this meme, and the time that it takes to research and write a book indicates they've known for quite some time that it isn't true. They're only willing to tell the truth, now, for money.


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: africa; armitage; cialeak; iraq; libby; novak; plame; wilson; wot
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1 posted on 08/29/2006 7:13:54 AM PDT by bobsunshine
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To: bobsunshine

Has anyone been lurking at the DU or Koz Kids sites to see what they are saying about this?


2 posted on 08/29/2006 7:18:29 AM PDT by sportutegrl (A person is a person, no matter how small. (Dr. Seuss))
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To: bobsunshine
FIANLLY!!! A Concise, Clearly Understandable writing about this!! Thank you Mr. Kelly!!!

Byron York was NOT understandable in parts of his story, but this writer has been...KUDOS!!! MORE!!! ENCORE!!

3 posted on 08/29/2006 7:19:41 AM PDT by Suzy Quzy ("When Cabals Go Kabooms"....upcoming book on Mary McCarthy's Coup-Plotters.)
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To: Suzy Quzy

The story like this one has to be written out chronologically so the events follow one another. This is typically not the way news writers cover a story that has a long tail.


4 posted on 08/29/2006 7:23:23 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (BTUs are my Beat.)
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To: sportutegrl

They are saying that Armitage is falling on his sword.


5 posted on 08/29/2006 7:26:17 AM PDT by massgopguy (massgopguy)
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To: bobsunshine

Novak knew this all along, and stood by silently while others twisted in the wind.


6 posted on 08/29/2006 7:26:36 AM PDT by laotzu
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To: bobsunshine
another twisted demoncrat plot to obtain power through the false discrediting of the administration...excellent read!
7 posted on 08/29/2006 7:30:12 AM PDT by Edgerunner (The greatest impediment to world peace is the UN and the Peaceniks)
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To: piasa

fyi


8 posted on 08/29/2006 7:31:41 AM PDT by Just mythoughts
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To: bobsunshine
“They don't mention that Mr. Isikoff and (especially) Mr. Corn have been among the journalists flogging this meme, and the time that it takes to research and write a book indicates they've known for quite some time that it isn't true. They're only willing to tell the truth, now, for money.”

The 'truth' they're ladling out is bent, twisted, mutilated and full of holes. I saw 'Isi' on Hardbowel last night and wanted to throw up. I've never heard so many words used... to convey absolutely nothing. Just a lot of unfinished sentences, raised eyebrows and fanciful conjecture... all meant to further obfuscate a simple truth...

Bush never ordered a vendetta against Wilson or is conniving wife!

9 posted on 08/29/2006 7:32:25 AM PDT by johnny7 (“And what's Fonzie like? Come on Yolanda... what's Fonzie like?!”)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

It SHOULD be!!


10 posted on 08/29/2006 7:32:55 AM PDT by Suzy Quzy ("When Cabals Go Kabooms"....upcoming book on Mary McCarthy's Coup-Plotters.)
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To: massgopguy

I still think Armitage is falling on POWELL's sword!!!Flame away!!


11 posted on 08/29/2006 7:33:32 AM PDT by Suzy Quzy ("When Cabals Go Kabooms"....upcoming book on Mary McCarthy's Coup-Plotters.)
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To: johnny7

The writer is correct...even though they KNEW it Was Armitage/Powell, they went on TV and said it was Libby, Cheney, Rove and even Bush!!! LIARS!!!! CORN and Isikoff are LIARS!!!!!


12 posted on 08/29/2006 7:35:14 AM PDT by Suzy Quzy ("When Cabals Go Kabooms"....upcoming book on Mary McCarthy's Coup-Plotters.)
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To: laotzu

As did Powell, Fitzgerald and Armitage himself.


13 posted on 08/29/2006 7:37:54 AM PDT by Roccus
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To: Suzy Quzy
“Powell... the black McCain.”
14 posted on 08/29/2006 7:38:39 AM PDT by johnny7 (“And what's Fonzie like? Come on Yolanda... what's Fonzie like?!”)
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To: Suzy Quzy

Now that all this is out in the open, is Rove gonna still have to go before the grand jury again?


15 posted on 08/29/2006 7:40:29 AM PDT by Roccus
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To: bobsunshine; Congressman Billybob
Billy Bob

Since Fitzgerald knew the identity of the leaker apparently from the beginning, is he legally guilty of prosecutorial misconduct? He sure as hell is morally guilty of prosecutorial misconduct.
16 posted on 08/29/2006 7:41:20 AM PDT by cpdiii (Socialism is popular with the ruling class. It gives legitimacy to tyranny and despotism.)
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To: Suzy Quzy
Haven't read the York story yet, but I have a feeling there is more to this then what we have heard. I wonder why this story from Bush haters would come out now versus after the election? Is there something else in the works like an investigation into Fitzgerald and others (Armitage and Powell) so they had to get it out now? Interesting to note that most of the MSM is not reporting on this, except Fox with Brit Hume.
17 posted on 08/29/2006 7:42:28 AM PDT by bobsunshine
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To: bobsunshine

Wilson and Plame should be in jail.


18 posted on 08/29/2006 7:43:54 AM PDT by manic4organic
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To: johnny7

LOL!!


19 posted on 08/29/2006 7:46:19 AM PDT by Suzy Quzy ("When Cabals Go Kabooms"....upcoming book on Mary McCarthy's Coup-Plotters.)
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To: bobsunshine

I know...something is a little fishy here....don't have a clue what tho.


20 posted on 08/29/2006 7:47:01 AM PDT by Suzy Quzy ("When Cabals Go Kabooms"....upcoming book on Mary McCarthy's Coup-Plotters.)
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