Investigate the CIA

WSJ ^ | November 6, 2005 | VICTORIA TOENSING

[AliVeritas]

In a surprise, closed-door debate, Senate Democrats last week demanded an investigation of pre-Iraq War intelligence. Here's an issue for them: Assess the validity of the claim that Valerie Plame's status was "covert," or even properly classified, given the wretched tradecraft by the Central Intelligence Agency throughout the entire episode. It was, after all, the CIA that requested the "leak" investigation, alleging that one of its agents had been outed in Bob Novak's July 14, 2003, column. Yet it was the CIA's bizarre conduct that led inexorably to Ms. Plame's unveiling.

When the Intelligence Identities Protection Act was being negotiated, Senate Select Committee Chairman Barry Goldwater was adamant: If the CIA desired a law making it illegal to expose one of its deep cover employees, then the agency must do a much better job of protecting their cover. That is why a criterion for any prosecution under the act is that the government was taking "affirmative measures" to conceal the protected person's relationship to the intelligence agency. Two decades later, the CIA, either purposely or with gross negligence, made a series of decisions that led to Ms. Plame becoming a household name:

• The CIA sent her husband, former ambassador Joseph Wilson, to Niger on a sensitive mission regarding WMD. He was to determine whether Iraq had attempted to purchase yellowcake, an essential ingredient for unconventional weapons. However, it was Ms. Plame, not Mr. Wilson, who was the WMD expert. Moreover, Mr. Wilson had no intelligence background, was never a senior person in Niger when he was in the State Department, and was opposed to the administration's Iraq policy. The assignment was given, according to the Senate Intelligence Committee, at Ms. Plame's suggestion.

[AliVeritas]

An "outing" was the result of either incompetence or an effort to undermine the White House.

[mewzilla]

An "outing" was the result of either incompetence or an effort to undermine the White House.

And the latter is illegal.

[Ed_in_NJ]

How does one prove a negative -- that she was 'never' outed by anyone before the Novak leak?

Sounds like trying to prove that Saddam didn't have WMD.

[andyandval]

an effort to undermine the White House.

That's all this was.

And it is going to blow up in their faces.

This will be worse than Rathergate. It's criminal, and the conspirators at the CIA, NYTimes and wherever will pay.

I hope.

[ThirstyMan]

Here's an issue for them: Assess the validity of the claim that Valerie Plame's status was "covert," or even properly classified, given the wretched tradecraft by the Central Intelligence Agency throughout the entire episode.

Let's stay there and drive this point home!!!

The CIA has become a politcal agency? What's up?

We need an investigation of the intelligence agency which was the source of all this "intelligence".

[SkyPilot]

Thw woman who wrote this article was the same woman who drafted the 1980's law making it a crime to diviulge undercover CIA agents.

She was on the Hannity show, and said this entire investigation is a complete farce, Fitzgerald is inventing crimes, and the law she helped draft was never violated.

[q_an_a]

The White House is holding a refresher course on "leaking" and ethics related to leaking. This is a long time no no by the President. I have a feeling that the CIA will be having a few leak programs as well and that some old players are going to get a lesson in biting the hand of the President. Too many people believe the CIA is a rogure group of people, so if some heads roll the public will say - "They missed 911 and Iraq's WMD maybe they need a good shake up."

[pieces of time]

Keep those phone calls, cards and letters flowing to your Senators, and local media. If the Rats want to do political intelligence investigations about pre-war intelligence, let them bite into something solid: Wilson the liar and the CIA setup.

[Zacs Mom]

This may deserve a thread of it's own because it is truly important that we all take note ~

Despite current articles and editorials to the contrary, in March of this year, 36 major news organizations and professional reporters' groups (including CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, Reuters, The Associated Press, The Tribune Company, The Washington Post, The New York Press Club and The White House Corespondents) insisted that "no crime" had been committed in the "Plame Leak" case because, among other things, Valerie Plame's identity had previously been disclosed to both the Russians and the Cubans!

On March 23, 2005 these 36 "esteemed" news organizations and professional reporters' groups filed this legal motion which includes the following arguments:

[SE Mom]

Curiouser and curiouser, ping

[Miss Marple]

Indeed. This is an excellent article, and covers a lot of the points that I have seen mentioned here on FR. The fact that it is in the WSJ is really important.

[pieces of time]

This is great thanks. Will have to leave it for a more detailed read until later.

[wardaddy]

Victoria Toensing

[Poincare]

One missing piece of this puzzle revolves around why the WH said that they shouldn't have included the 22 words, "...British Intelligence... ." The President got the intel directly from GB bypassing the CIA and the CIA gets pissed when that happens. But the Brits have had a direct line to the WH since FDR precisely because they decided that they can't trust US intel. Bush provoked them and backed off. The intel however, remains solid.

[andyandval]

I've been shouting about this to anyone who will listen.

Thanks for posting it, I've never actually seen it.

[andyandval]

By the way..

This may deserve a thread of it's own because it is truly important that we all take note ~

I agree.

[p23185]

How does one prove a negative -- that she was 'never' outed by anyone before the Novak leak?

Let the Libs and the Rats PROVE that she was outed! Fitz apparently can't, or won't.

[Americanexpat]

There needs to be an investigation of the CIA role in this whole affair. This whole thing makes them look like idiots. If I were the Director of the CIA and there were allegations of rogue operators plotting the over throw of the administration I would be on it like an ant a picnic.

I could never understand how Valarie kept her security clearance with such a blabber mouth as a spouse.

The CIA had to be aware of Dopey Joe running around bragging about his CIA wife. Why didn't the CIA step on him like a bug if they were concerned about the wife's "covert status"?

How did his wife maintain a clearance if the CIA knew Dopey Joe was once married to a French cultural affairs officer (Intelligence?). Don't know how the CIA classified clearances work but in the DOD they check the spouse's background for a top secret.

[hosepipe]

[ In a surprise, closed-door debate, Senate Democrats last week demanded an investigation of pre-Iraq War intelligence. ]

Nothing wrong with the CIA that ejecting ALL democrats in that organiztion would not solve.. oh and the RINOs too..

Both are proven serious national security risks..

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

EXCELLENT post #9, to be shared widely.


Thanks for the ping, Z/M.