Wilsongate: Did CIA run a covert op against an elected president?

www.worldtribune.com ^ | 10/22/05 | Clifff Kincaid

[Para-Ord.45]

The media version of the CIA leak case is that the White House illegally revealed a CIA employee’s identity because her husband, Joseph Wilson, was an administration critic. But former prosecutor Joseph E. diGenova says the real story is that the CIA “launched a covert operation” against the President when it sent Wilson on the mission to Africa to investigate the Iraq-uranium link. DiGenova, a former Independent Counsel who prosecuted several high-profile cases and has extensive experience on Capitol Hill, including as counsel to several Senate committees, is optimistic that Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald will figure it all out.

DiGenova tells this columnist, “It seems to me somewhat strange, in terms of CIA tradecraft, that if you were really attempting to protect the identity of a covert officer, why would you send her husband overseas on a mission, without a confidentiality agreement, and then allow him when he came back to the United States to write an op-ed piece in the New York Times about it.”

[xzins]

I do believe this was a CIA operation against the administration. I believe that Rove, et al, were countering it.

I don't know how they can prove it. Maybe Goss has found a way at the "new" CIA to get the info and give it to the special prosecutor.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Pray this is the real story!

[rosiebud]

Its past time for Goss to act. He's not doing anything regarding 9-11. I wonder if he's been coaxed into silence about that and other things.

Also, can you imagine yourself as a loyal CIA employee in this position?
Wouldn't you just tell your spouse to shut up and quit making trouble for you at your job? That's the key here: she's not loyal and neither is the slob husband. If they aren't in jail soon, someone should entertain them at a little attitude adjustment party.

[cicero's_son]

Can you imagine the media response if the CIA did this to a Democrat president?

[blinachka]

There may be rogue elements at the agency who are conducting their own foreign policy, in contravention of the official foreign policy of the U.S. Government elected by the American people. Like it or not, Bush is the President and he is supposed to run the CIA, not the other way around.

I believe it too...this part of the article says exactly what I've beleived for awhile now.

I just wrote to my Representative (John Sweeney - NY) asking that he and his fellow House members ask for an investigation into this exact thing. Enough's enough in my opinion.

[xzins]

Good idea

[Edit35]

But former prosecutor Joseph E. diGenova says the real story is that the CIA “launched a covert operation” against the President when it sent Wilson on the mission to Africa to investigate the Iraq-uranium link.

BINGO.

Right on!!

BullsEYE.

VaVaVoom!!

And IF this Fitzgerald bozo hands down indictments against Rove and/or Libby, Bush should immediately launch an investigation into Plame and Wilson for being duplicitious in creating a fraudulent CIA plan to attempt to discredit the President of the USA, and the US foreign policy.

If Bush fails to do so in the wake of indictments, he will positively earn the moniker of wimp.

[Hattie]

This is the real truth. Cooked up from the beginning.

[cynicom]

Goss needs a meat clever not a broom.

[The_Media_never_lie]

What are the chances the MSM will run with this angle?

[Southack]

"Can you imagine the media response if the CIA did this to a Democrat president?"

Dallas. 1963. November. Texas School Book Depository.

The CIA has played king-maker and king-breaker for decades, with assasinations in Vietnam, Iran, South America, North America, and other places.

[XEHRpa]

In other words, if it was (part of) Plame's job to hire or recommend, then she broke the law. But if she was just an employee/analyst whatever, then it doesn't matter whose name she threw at them.

Not quite. Even if she didn't have final say-so authority in hiring her husband, if a paper trail can be established that she provided input to the decision, then she has violated the statute.

FYI, the law is written very heavy-handedly against federal employees. Not only must they avoid actual conflicts of interest, but they are legally bound to avoid even the "appearance" of a conflict of interest.

Seems to me that merely providing input certainly gives the appearance of a conflict. Her proper role, had she really wanted her husband to get the job, would be to, in writing, recuse herself from any discussions of it.

[SeriousSassy]

I'm pretty radical on this subject. The CIA should be dismantled and it's former employees declared forever ineligible for federal employment. Those who know too much should be quietly terminated with extreme prejudice.

[blinachka]

I think so. I think everyone should do the same. Inundate them with e-mails, calls and letters. We want an investigation into the CIA and the possibility of some sort of operation to undermine the administratin and an elected president. I want to know just what the hell has been going on over there and who else was involved - besides Wilson and Plame...the fact that Wilson worked for the Kerry campaign says a lot yet he was sent on a mission by the CIA? There is something simply bizarre about the whole thing. And as far as I can tell, much more serious things were going on than someone saying that "Joe Wilson's wife works at the CIA" (which was apparently common knowledge inside the beltway!).

Write to your Representatives and demand they ask for answers!

[visualops]

I don't mean to harp on this but you should go read the code. It's quite specific.

[XEHRpa]

I'm no lawyer, and haven't read the code, so I'll have to take your word on that. I am speaking as a fed employee who, along with all my colleagues, are badgered at our annual ethics briefing by the local I.G. representative on why we are legally bound to avoid even such appearances of conflict-of-interest.

But then again, these are the same lawyers that tell us that a woman can feel intimidated and validly charge sexual harassment, without ever having to let you or your boss know that your behavior is offensive to her. So go figger'

[visualops]

That sort of stuff starts early- at my son's HS it's harassment if you "stare" at someone for "too long".