Posted on 07/01/2005 1:09:11 PM PDT by Shermy
The investigation into leaks beginning with Robert Novak’s “Mission to Niger” appear to be coming to a close. The investigation is larger than merely who spoke to Novak. Here is a discussion thread for guesses who the guilty parties are in four of the investigation’s subjects: A. Robert Novak, B. Matthew Cooper/Time Magazine, C. Wall Street Journal, D. Judith Miller.
Feel free to add more subjects or comment on the whole matter as you please. And Happy Fourth of July!
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A. Novak: On July 14, 2003 Robert Novak published Mission to Niger. These are his famous 38 words:
“Wilson never worked for the CIA, but his wife, Valerie Plame, is an Agency operative on weapons of mass destruction. Two senior administration officials told me Wilson's wife suggested sending him to Niger to investigate the Italian report.”
On October 1, 2003 Novak published The CIA Leak. which contains some hints - or deceptions. Here is Novak’s hint for “leak” no. 1:
During a long conversation with a senior administration official, I asked why Wilson was assigned the mission to Niger. He said Wilson had been sent by the CIA's counterproliferation section at the suggestion of one of its employees, his wife. It was an offhand revelation from this official, who is no partisan gunslinger.
Here is Novak’s hint “leak” no. 2:
”When I called another official for confirmation, he said: "Oh, you know about it."
Who are the officials behind “leaks” nos. 1 and 2?
B. Matthew Cooper/Time Magazine: on July 17, 2003 Time Magazine web-published A War on Wilson?, Cooper having the lead credit. The article says:
And some government officials have noted to TIME in interviews, (as well as to syndicated columnist Robert Novak) that Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame, is a CIA official who monitors the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Who are “some government officials?"
C. Wall Street Journal: On October 17, 2003 the article Memo May Aid Leak Probe appeared in the Wall Street Journal. The description of one of the two memos documenting how Plame recommended her husband for the Niger trip fits, IMO, the definition of “leak.”
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.
Who are the “two people?” Side note: the information in this article Jeff Gannon/Guckert used for his interview of Wilson, though some speculated he had independent access to the memo.
D. Judith Miller: Unknown what she is wanted for by investigators. Some un-attributed articles say she was collecting information for a story on Valerie Plame or Wilson’s involvement in the WMD investigations.
Why do investigators want Judith Miller to testify?
For those unfamiliar with the background, Foley was Plame's superior in the Counter-Proliferation Section. And he hastily "resigned", in order to "spend more time with his family", in early August -- about a month after Novak's column.
Well, now that you mention it, I've also toyed with Colin Powell being the leaker, a thought that occurred to me after he "retired." If it's Wilkinson, I'd lay odds that he did so with the blessing of Powell.
I think whomever told Novak and Cooper had no negative purpose. They were told the name to flesh out the story, "on background", and trusted the name would not be used.
Alan Foley is a very good one.
Damn that Columbo, he's never around when you need him. Hey Barney!
Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson - - two airheads joined in matrimony. What a gaseous combination.
From her point of view,it would finally make people pay attention to her, instead of her pompous self-absorbed husband.
Who cares?
I don't know who leaked, but the fact is we are going to find out very soon. Imagine: Deep Throat could keep his anonymity for over 30 years. Novak's 'source' will be known in less than 2.
IMHO this is not only the wrong question, it is the democrat/traitors attempt to divert attention from the real issue:
Who appointed a known partisan hack (Wilson) to do a non-investigation into WMD in Niger in the first place and why hasn't Wilson been prosecuted for obvious lies (even treason)?
The Wilson/Niger trip was a set up from the beginning. The Clintonoid hold overs in CIA and State picked one of their own to go whitewash the clear evidence that Saddam was trying to buy nuclear material from Niger. The clown "sipped tea and talked to a few government flunkies" and then wrote a hit piece which was illegally leaked to dim friendly news organizations. When they got caught they immediately turned to their allies in the MSM to stir up this so called controversy about Novak's source on Plame's identity.
Well, I think it's relevant that a partisan hack with zero expertize in the field is put on this kind of critical national security investigation by his "significant other." I also think it's a perfect irony that it is two MSM hacks from the NYT and Time Magazine who will end up taking the fall for the lefts vendetta against Novack.
I think the phrase "hoist by your own petard" is appropriate here. The historic reference for the origina of that phrase (http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/183500.html) is:
A petard is an explosive device used to break down doors or walls. Hence - hoist on ones... Used by Shakespeare in Hamlet 'For tis the sport to have the enginer / Hoist with his owne petar'. From the French 'péter' - to fart.
Was it old "Bulldog" Jeff Gannon?
My theory is that the reporters are covering up for an administration source who has been helpful to them on other issues, or for someone who is outside the administration, read Dem, and planted the story to bring Bush down prior to the election.
Then to cover his bottom he gave it to the other two reporters.
Hey, I forgot about the Newsday article. Along with Novak's article it was mentioned in the first government investigation documents/orders.
But I think it might have been dropped because the article came out more than a week after Novak's, and Plame was well known by then. I've come to believe the motives of all these "leaks" are less national security travesties, more comedy and irresponsibility.
The subpoena list is big, puts into bad light the claim this is just about Novak.
I think Gannon was a side show to this scandal.
But I find something interesting, and perhaps I am taking this into that "mad neo-con conspiracy theory" realm, but can't seem to get it out of my head.
Do you find this interesting in any way:
"Former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson raised the Administration's ire with an op-ed piece in The New York Times on July 6 (2003) saying that the Administration had "twisted" intelligence to "exaggerate" the Iraqi threat."
The last 7 words of the sentence are almost IDENTICAL in their implication to:
"The intelligence and facts are being "fixed" to fit the policy." (paraphrasing)as stated in the alleged DSM, a full year later?
In addition, of course you know the Wilson/Plame story currently being drudged about. How coincidental is it that she worked in a WMD context in the CIA, and the DSM "allegedly" is about bogus WMD intelligence being "fixed" around the policy?
And the Niger trip was made due to allegedly "Faked Documents"?
I see a big circle starting with Mr. Joe Wilsons trip to Niger in 2002 by way of forged documents, WMD, Fixed intelligence in 2003, faked DSM document in 2004 and now the impending leaker being outed.
Wonder if Valerie Plame faked (fixed) any intelligence (WMD)?
There's five Uranium producing countries in Africa. How come Joe-baby cherry picked Niger?
http://www.nathanslunch.com/PhotoPage.htm
The leaker, probably Joe Wilson, drunk at a party.
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