John Kerry Outed Undercover CIA Agent - It's Ok folks, he's allowed to !

News Max ^ | 7/20/2005 | Max

[StudentsForBush]

 

Thursday, July 14, 2005 10:48 p.m. EDT

John Kerry Outed Undercover CIA Agent

Sen. John Kerry, who called for Karl Rove to be fired over allegations that he revealed the identity of CIA employee Valerie Plame, outed a genuine undercover CIA agent just this past April - even after the agency asked that his identity be kept secret.

Kerry blew the cover of CIA secret operative Fulton Armstrong during confirmation hearings for U.N. ambassador nominee John Bolton.

Questioning Bolton, Kerry asked: "Did Otto Reich share his belief that Fulton Armstrong should be removed for his position?" - according to a transcript excerpted by the New York Times.

"The answer is yes," the top Democrat continued.

In his response to Kerry, Mr. Bolton did his best to maintain the agent's confidentiality, reverting to Armstrong's pseudonym.

"As I said," he told Kerry, "I had lost confidence in Mr. Smith, and I conveyed that."

Two years earlier, Armstrong had been identified in news reports on his dispute with other officials over intelligence involving Cuba. But he was operating in a different capacity and his identity wasn't secret at the time.

"When the Bolton nomination resurrected the old accounts, however, the C.I.A. asked news organizations to withhold his name," the Times said.

Apparently the CIA directive wasn't good enough for Sen. Kerry - who outed Armstrong anyway and later defended the move by saying his Republican colleague, Senator Richard Lugar, had also mentioned the name.

And besides, said Kerry, the secret agent's name "had already been in the press."

[oolatec]

Did't one of the Repubs mention his name as well? I thought I remembered that...

[b4its2late]

Apparently the CIA directive wasn't good enough for Sen. Kerry - who outed Armstrong anyway and later defended the move by saying his Republican colleague, Senator Richard Lugar, had also mentioned the name.

[nuffsenuff]

Lugar.

[SwinneySwitch]

And besides, said Kerry, the secret agent's name "had already been in the press."

The Fourth Estate is a Fifth Column!

[cubreporter]

Well if there are people out there that want to bring this out in the open they know how and can get it done. If not, no sense in bringing it up all the time if it's not going anywhere.

[txkev]

Didn't John Kerry serve in Vietnam?

[South40]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1443280/posts

[True Republican Patriot]

Yep! and three Purple Hearts for self inflicted nicks to get sent home too!

[Mr_Moonlight]

Didn't John Kerry serve in Vietnam?

Yes, but he's too modest to ever mention it. Kerry should be more forthcoming with his Vietnam service, shout it from the rooftops, as it were ......... /sarcasm

[sportutegrl]

Yes, but only Kerry stands as a world-class hypocrite.

[b4its2late]

Yes, but only Kerry stands as a world-class hypocrite.

That's for sure.

[Don_Ret_USAF]

Did any one watch the MSNBCS Connected Coast to Coast today. I caught just the tail end of one of the guest saying that three members of congress were under investigation for leaking under cover agents names on the senate floor. Sounded real serious to me.
Thanks for any info on this

[timestax]

bttt

[Don_Ret_USAF]

My Post #13 should have been MSNCBS not MSNBCS _sorry.

[Bush gal in LA]

I think that creep Harry Reid outed someone as well recently but the facts escape me. Another hypocRAT!

[fortunecookie]

It's because of his purple hearts, yeah, that's it, he's special.

[silverleaf]

http://www.pardonmyenglish.com/archives/2005/04/kerry_outs_cia.html

[silverleaf]

Pelosi Statement on Need for Special Counsel on Unauthorized Disclosure of CIA Officer

September 30, 2003 Washington, D.C. --

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today at a news conference in the Capitol:

“As a member of the Intelligence Committee for 10 years, including two years as ranking Democrat, I know full well the risks taken by courageous clandestine intelligence officers and the need to have their identities protected.

“There have been reports that senior members of the Administration have broken the law by disclosing to journalists the identity of a member of the CIA’s clandestine service. These actions can not be tolerated.

“Few secrets are more closely guarded by the United States than the sources and methods of intelligence collection. Those who revealed the name of the CIA officer have neither an appreciation of, nor a respect for, the dangerous circumstances in which clandestine officers often live and work. Protecting the identity of these clandestine officers is an essential part of ensuring their ability to do their jobs safely and effectively.

“An independent investigation of this despicable matter must be undertaken immediately. It must be thorough, and it must be beyond question in terms of the vigor with which it is pursued.

“Given allegations about the involvement of senior White House officials and the past close association between the Attorney General and one of those officials, the investigation should be headed by a person independent of the Administration.

“If there ever was a case for the appointment of a special counsel, this is it.”
http://www.house.gov/pelosi/press/releases/Sept03/prCIAOfficer093003.html

[highlander_UW]

So they should revoke Kerry's security clearance and remove him from any committees that require it.