The Novak Exception Journalists abandon their principles in the Plame kerfuffle.

WSJ.com ^ | 2/20/04 | N/A

[swilhelm73]

Here's one scoop we never thought we'd live to hear: "Journalists Call on Newsman to Disclose Confidential Sources." To understand this sudden pang of press conscience, it helps to know that the journalist in question is columnist Robert Novak.

At issue is his July 14 column explaining why the Bush Administration would entrust an investigation into the alleged Iraqi attempt to buy uranium yellowcake from Niger to Joe Wilson--a high-ranking National Security Council member from the Clinton years. The answer Mr. Novak reported receiving from Administration sources was that Mr. Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame, worked at the CIA and had put her husband forward for the job.

[HAL9000]

A CIA operative married to an Ambassador is a bad match, and it will unnecessarily raise suspicions about our other diplomats. One of them should have changed careers.

But it's too late now. The damage is done.

[BartMan1]

Breathtaking hypocrisy, really.

[cyncooper]

An excellent dissertation on but one example of the breathtaking media hypocrisy.

And just as they knew damn well that it wasn't "Ken Starr" leaking grand jury testimony, yet they pushed and prodded that as a "scandal", they all know it was not somebody in the WH or someone associated with the president or VP who "leaked" Plame's name. But they enjoy creating a mock scandal in order to taint an honorable administration.

[Diogenesis]

The complete damage may not be done.
Agents and assets with whom she worked, and their plans, WERE ENDANGERED by Traitor Novak.

Two government officials told Robert Novak
specifically not to publish the name of undercover CIA operative Valerie Plame
in his July 14 newspaper column.

[cyncooper]

I do not believe Waas for one minute.

I am no huge Novak fan, but he would not lie about that aspect. Plus knowing the intracies of this story it does not ring true at all.

Also note: As the WSJ points out above, it is STILL not clear Plame was "undercover".

[cyncooper]

I remember posting on that thread pointing out just a few, uh, "flaws", in that story.

[HAL9000]

"Q.E.D. Robert Novak is a traitor to the USA and its people"

Rubbish. Novak is a patriot and a damn good reporter.

Plame is the one who endangered agents and assets when she tasked her husband with an intelligence mission that he had no business performing. She should be dismissed from the agency for her appalling lack of judgement.

[Diogenesis]

There is a lot of Plame blame to go around.
But a choice was made by Novak AFTER an explicit warning or two.
Bad choice; like Benedict Arnold, late in his career.

[cyncooper]

But a choice was made by Novak AFTER an explicit warning or two.

Wrong. He was NOT given warnings, explicit or implicit.

[Diogenesis]

And you know ... how?
And those who warned him are "liars", why?

[cyncooper]

I know every bit of this story and I have sensibly assessed the credibility of the parties.

Your Waas article is trash, with all due respect. I am mystified why you have glommed onto it. It is an error-ridden piece that strips it of any merit.

[cyncooper]

And those who warned him are "liars", why?

And let me be clear: Tenet has stated a sub-group in the CIA sent Wilson on their own initiative. It was not at his own behest and it was not done on behalf of the president or VP, who were not even briefed on this tea-sipping sojourn. As I pointed out on the other thread, the former CIA official is clearly Alan Foley, Plame's former boss. They had an agenda for sending her husband to Niger and yes, I say they are liars.

[Tacis]

One of Bush's major blunders continues to be his refusals to purge all the people in his administration who were appointed by Willie and the filth of his sewer dwellers. This ambassador was a Willie appointee and is surrouned by the stench of Willie's corruption. Why he was used for any government purpose by the Bush administration is a security breach of the worst kind.

[Just mythoughts]

THIS IS NEWS!


"At issue is his July 14 column explaining why the Bush Administration would entrust an investigation into the alleged Iraqi attempt to buy uranium yellowcake from Niger to Joe Wilson--a "high-ranking National Security Council member from the Clinton years."

This is the first time I have read that JOE WILSON was a "high ranking National Security Council member from the Clinton years.

Joe Wilson has always been referred to as former ambassador.

Maybe clintons sent him to gather "INTEL" or JFKerry, since he join his campaign.

[Just mythoughts]

I am not so sure that this was soley an inside CIA assignment. Considering who JOE WILSON sent his report to -- NYTimes.

[cyncooper]

Indeed...

And don't forget, before the NY Times piece there were articles both here and over in the liberal UK media citing an anonymous "CIA official" putting out the Wilson version of things.

Oh, yes indeedy.

[cyncooper]

This ambassador was a Willie appointee and is surrouned by the stench of Willie's corruption. Why he was used for any government purpose by the Bush administration is a security breach of the worst kind.

Ack, as I've outlined, he wasn't.

It was done by an anti-Bush sub-group for their own purposes.

[cyncooper]

Joe Wilson was the planner of that infamous African journey Bongo Bill made. Remember that? Couple thousand people went on that jaunt if memory serves.