Posted on 07/14/2005 5:41:16 AM PDT by OXENinFLA
WASHINGTON -- Former Ambassador Joseph Wilson called on President Bush Thursday to fire deputy chief of staff Karl Rove, saying Bush's top-level aide engaged in an "abuse of power" by discussing Wilson's wife's job with a reporter.
Wilson decried what he called a White House "stonewall" in the wake of revelations that Rove, a longtime Bush confidant, was involved in the leak to the news media that Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame, was a CIA officer.
Bush said Wednesday that he would not comment on discussions that blew her cover because it is the subject of an ongoing investigation by special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald. White House press secretary Scott McClellan said, however, the president still has confidence in Rove.
Wilson, in an interview broadcast Thursday on NBC's "Today" show, said he thinks the White House's posture in this controversy represents a continuing "cover-up of the web of lies that underpin the justification for going to war in Iraq."
Wilson was asked about statements by Rove's defenders noting that an e-mail describing Rove's conversation with Time reporter Matthew Cooper indicated that Rove did not specifically mention Valerie Plame by name.
"My wife's name is Mrs. Joseph Wilson," he replied. "It is Mrs. Valerie Wilson. He named her. He identified her," Wilson said. "So that argument doesn't stand the smell test ... What I do know is that Mr. Rove is talking to the press and he is saying things like my wife is fair game. That's an outrage. That's an abuse of power."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Let me see if I got this right, The CIA wants someone to go to Africa to check out this rumor about Iraq trying to buy yellow cake. Super duper secret agent Plame says "my ol man aint got anything to do, lets send him. all in favor say aye and give the secret hand signal"?
Judith Miller produced many reports on Saddam's WMD for the NYTimes. The insider sisterhood in D.C. is not that large and it seems not only likely but possible that Miller's path crossed with Plame as she went about her investigations in Iraq.
Maybe Judy and Valerie should be cellmates. It could easily be possible that Valerie and Judy had lots of "girl talk" aboud WMDs. I think the CIA needs to do an internal investigation with a polygraph to determine if little Valerie has done any "leaking."
It has been stated elsewhere, and I'm sorry that I can't recall where but I think it is National Review, that the CIA maintained only a four-person team on Iraq prior to 9/11. They were has-beens and never will be's and were symptomatic of the tepid interest the CIA had in Iraq.
I want to know if Wilson signed a confidentiality agreement with the CIA prior to being paid for his trip to Niger. If so, why hasn't the Agency screamed bloody murder. If not, why not?
The betting is that Kristoff received much of his information in this article from Judith Miller who very likely knew Plame. I am not sure that Kristoff has appeared before the Grand Jury (probably not), but I would grab the SOB and put him in a cell next to Miller.
I think the Republican Senators ought to pass a law that restricts spouses from being in the same branch or same type of work for the federal government. ANYTHING that smacks of conflict of interest or favoritism or nepotism (which I think definitely went on in the Niger business) should not be allowed. Look at Linda and Tom Daschle's cozy arrangement - she worked as a special interest lobbyist and you know she influenced Tom while he was majority leader. The whole thing is disgusting!
"I want to know if Wilson signed a confidentiality agreement with the CIA prior to being paid for his trip to Niger. If so, why hasn't the Agency screamed bloody murder. If not, why not?"
Apparently he did not. In some early stories about this affair the libs mentioned that he did not sign an agreement therefore his disclosures were perfectly legal. That's BS!!
think the Republican Senators ought to pass a law that restricts spouses from being in the same branch or same type of work for the federal government. ANYTHING that smacks of conflict of interest or favoritism or nepotism (which I think definitely went on in the Niger business) should not be allowed. Look at Linda and Tom Daschle's cozy arrangement - she worked as a special interest lobbyist and you know she influenced Tom while he was majority leader. The whole thing is disgusting!
The other conflict is that Joe baby has business relationships throughout the Middle East, possibly some with of Oil for Food deals.
Did he stand to be hurt financially if Saddam was removed?
Thats the $64 Million Dollar question and probably why he was sweating like a pig yesterday.
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