Memo May Aid Leak Probe

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ^ | October 17, 2003 | DAVID S. CLOUD

[OESY]

WASHINGTON -- An internal government memo addresses some of the mysteries at the center of the White House leak investigation and could help investigators in the search for who disclosed the identity of a Central Intelligence Agency operative, according to two people familiar with the memo.

[OESY]

Advances the story without clarifying the "mystery."

[Yo-Yo]

Mr. Wilson has told reporters repeatedly that his wife wasn't involved in his selection, and accused the White House of leaking his wife's name to punish him by ending her career as a clandestine operative.

I've been asking for some time now how the White House revealing her identity punished Wilson, as he alleges.

What, loss of a second paycheck?

[Mr. Bird]

Mr. Wilson has told reporters repeatedly that his wife wasn't involved in his selection, and accused the White House of leaking his wife's name to punish him by ending her career as a clandestine operative. He said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal Thursday that he is unaware of any role played by his wife.

Wilson is a lying sack, and a nutcase as well. What's really funny is the allegation that the White House (and Karl Rove specifically was his first charge) leaked her name to end her career. Ahem, Mr. Wilson? They could have just fired her.

And since when do agents undercover lack cover? I mean, if you're covert, you need to have a cover id. Where was hers? Do we have spies running around as spies?

[HenryLeeII]

Also, why should she be allowed to be part of a panel that was going to verify findings by her husband? Sounds like a conflict of interest, or at least like a good situation for some clouded judgement on her part...

[HenryLeeII]

And since when do agents undercover lack cover? I mean, if you're covert, you need to have a cover id. Where was hers? Do we have spies running around as spies?

Exactly! Even Hitllary maintains the charade of being an American citizen and a senator to boot...

[jimtorr]

Advances the story while repeating wrong information.

The woman never was an operations officer, or officer of any kind. She was and remains an analyst.

Analysts are sometimes on covert status so that they can talk to people or companies or governments without revealing publicly the agencies interest in wherever the analyst has gone.

[bert]

"Unfortunately", said Wilson, "If she told me, she would have to kill me."

[NotQuiteCricket]

bump

[Lancey Howard]

He said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal Thursday that he is unaware of any role played by his wife. "My wife knows of my particular experience with Niger. If there was such a meeting, I have no knowledge of it. It would be perfectly appropriate, though." He said that he hasn't asked his wife if she did suggest him for the mission because of the restrictions imposed by her job at the CIA.

LOL, some sucker is paying this know-nothing to write a book!

[twigs]

Interesting. In a nutshell, Ms. Plume did mention her husband as one possible person to investigate claims about Iraq's purchase of yellow cake. The administration was following up on these rumors and wanted a complete report. We had three people who went to Niger to investigate the claim; all were dubious about the claims. Yet British and Italian intelligence indicated otherwise; later an Italian journalist provided forged evidence that the transfer had taken place.

My personal opinion here is that there must be a pretty good reason for President Bush and VP Cheney to believe that Britain and Italy had better intelligence on this issue than the CIA. This article doesn't mention the French, but they figure into the equation here. I believe the British intelligence was based on the French who has had long ties to Niger. I have to wonder if Bush and Cheney do not fully trust the CIA because of Clintom hold-overs and who knows what else that we don't know?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

We don't usually station covert spies in Virgina, anyway.

[cyncooper]

Ms. Plame, a member of the agency's clandestine service working on Iraqi weapons issues, suggested at the meeting that her husband, Africa expert and former U.S. diplomat Joseph Wilson, could be sent to Niger to investigate the reports, according to current and former government officials familiar with the meeting at the CIA's Virginia headquarters. Soon after, midlevel CIA officials decided to send him, say intelligence officials.

"Former" government officials leaking about the leak. Hmmmmmm

By then Mr. Bush had already given his January State of the Union speech describing reports that Iraq had sought uranium in Africa.

Citing British intelligence. I see in the timeline that follows this column that is noted, but it certainly should have also been included above.

[r9etb]

The gist of the story, which should have been the leadoff paragraph:

Ms. Plame, a member of the agency's clandestine service working on Iraqi weapons issues, suggested at the meeting that her husband, Africa expert and former U.S. diplomat Joseph Wilson, could be sent to Niger to investigate the reports

Intelligence officials haven't denied Ms. Plame was involved in the decision to send Mr. Wilson, but they have said she was not "responsible" for the decision.

Mr. Wilson has told reporters repeatedly that his wife wasn't involved in his selection, and accused the White House of leaking his wife's name to punish him by ending her career as a clandestine operative.

Joe Wilson is a liar. We knew that, of course, but this is merely confirmation of the fact.

And Valerie Plame seems to have set herself up for an investigation as well.

And, finally, I think the context of how Novak learned of her involvement becomes rather obvious. Novak asks "why in hell did they ask Joe Wilson to do this?" Source replies, cynically and sarcastically, "His wife suggested it! Can you believe that?"

[justshutupandtakeit]

There is also the subtle blurring of "seeking to purchase" and "purchased" uranium. Huge difference. And the answer to those questions are "yes" and "probably not."

[tioga]

Exactly! Even Hitllary maintains the charade of being an American citizen and a senator to boot...

-watch for her to pose as a Yankee fan in the next few days! LOL

;-)

[petitfour]

The woman never was an operations officer, or officer of any kind. She was and remains an analyst.

You must be one of those knowledgeable about this situation because you speak with authority on the subject. Why is it you're posting on this internet site?

[arasina]

Mr. Wilson said he believes the CIA decision to send him to Niger was prompted by Mr. Cheney's inquiries. CIA Director George Tenet said last summer that decision was taken at the agency's own initiative.

Sounds to me like Novak was right. The timeline actually incriminates Wilson himself as the leaker and the memo points to his wife as the instigator just as Novak said. However, they accomplished their goals of dragging down the Bush administration, making the President look bad, and getting a lot of attention that will help sell the pompous Wilson's book.

Now I just hope there's some kind of punishment for "Ms. Plame" (code name: "Joe Wilson's Wife") because of the conflict of interest issue. She used her position, covert or not, to send her husband on a tea-sipping mission at the government's expense. If she were indeed a CIA professional, she would have "recused" herself from this meeting.

Who knows? Maybe both of them are in on uranium sales to terrorist countries and their jobs have allowed them to keep their dealings from being discovered.

[Ben Hecks]

Ping!

[Miss Marple]

Now, WHO leaked this memo?

I notice the absence of Foley's name, who was Plame's boss and who has since resigned.

[DustyMoment]

It is also noteworthy that Joe Wilson is NOT a weapons expert and probably wouldn't have recognized yellowcake uranium if he fell over it. His credentials to conduct such an investigation have already been raised and, like this dust-up, lead back to his covert wife.

Methinks that this family, like the Clintons, are guilty of self-aggrandizement.