Final Proof That Plame's Identity Wasn't Secret

Right on the Right ^ | 4-19-06 | RealTeen

[RealTeen]

A critic of mine tried to say that the recently released memos which showed no indication of Plame's identity being secret were actually marked secret. You can read our entire exchange HERE, and I figured I'd break down the evidence. First off, let's look at THE PICTURE of the memo:

What you'll notice, and what the Left is trying to point out, is that the memo has the word Secret on it. It says UNCLASSIFIED at the top, but that designation was given to it recently. With all this shown, you would assume the entire memo was classified when this information was released. That's simply not so. Right under the word secret, you'll see the abbreviation DECL, which was on this original document in 2003. If you look this up in the military dictionary, you'll see the following definition:

declassify- To cancel the security classification of an item of classified matter. Also called DECL.

What does this say? This memo, which talks of Valerie Plame's identity, was declassified BEFORE any leak in 2003, thus there was NO illegal activity. If that isn't enough, I researched the type of declassification this was, and found the following:

1.6 X 1: Reveal an intelligence source, method or activity, or a cryptologic system or activity

You will notice from the picture, that this is a 1.6 X 1 type of declassification. This actually means that the information was purposely declassified so that this intelligence source, method, or activity information would be available. Valerie Plame wasn't covert, or else this would have STAYED secret.

[RealTeen]

Final proof

[gondramB]

When was this declassified version released? Her identity was apparently declassified at some point. If the document was declassified after her identity was declassified then that's not the same.

Also this copy appears to be redacted - is there a non-redacted copy so we can see what's missing?

I don't think there is any doubt that she was not a covert agent but that's different than her identity being classified.

[Ann Archy]

You better send this to Peter Fitzgerald the prosecutor.

[RealTeen]

This version was recently released, and the things added were the writing on the top right and the UNCLASSIFIED designation. On the original however (which was released in July of 2003, prior to the "leak") there was the DECL wording, which means it was declassified before her identity was revealed.

[satchmodog9]

Did Dan Rather see this one?

[RealTeen]

You mean Patrick Fitzgerald.

[rwfromkansas]

Interesting find.

[Wristpin]

They redacted sensitive information about the Niger Uranium matter in the paragraph that mentions Val Plame. That stuff is probably still classified and leads me to believe Joe's OPED pieces touched the classified world.

One other thing to point out and the spook types may be able to explain better. The status of a truly covert operative has to be at the highest levels of classification this country has. Her name being mentioned in a paragraph classified as SECRET NOFORN leads me to beleive she wasn't in a Covert program.

[Wristpin]

They redacted sensitive information about the Niger Uranium matter in the paragraph that mentions Val Plame. That stuff is probably still classified and leads me to believe Joe's OPED pieces touched the classified world.

One other thing to point out and the spook types may be able to explain better. The status of a truly covert operative has to be at the highest levels of classification this country has. Her name being mentioned in a paragraph classified as SECRET NOFORN leads me to beleive she wasn't in a Covert program.

[Michael.SF.]

was declassified BEFORE any leak in 2003, thus there was NO illegal activity

Good job.

This is why no one has been charged with the 'crime' of revealing her name.

[gondramB]

>>On the original however (which was released in July of 2003, prior to the "leak") there was the DECL wording, which means it was declassified before her identity was revealed.<<

Thanks for that explanation.

[RealTeen]

Sure thing. No one can argue semantics with this one. If the info was declassified (which this proves it was) then nothing illegal happened. Stop the indictments and shut up!

[cjmae]

Who authorized the declassification
Just curious

[gondramB]

>>Sure thing. No one can argue semantics with this one. If the info was declassified (which this proves it was) then nothing illegal happened. Stop the indictments and shut up!<<

I remember Clinton - you can get in trouble for lying about something that wasn't illegal.

But I don't want to diminish your find - it is quite significant.

[Wristpin]

Why don't they just release the fact that she wasn't covert? Why the self-mutilation?

[RealTeen]

That's going to be the next question in the works. I'm only 16 (you might remember me as the Conservative teen with liberal parents from Rush. I was on before Christmas) so there is only so much I can find.

[darkwing104]

Hate to burst your bubble but the Document was sanitized and released as Unclassified on Mar 31, 2006.

The only reason why this document was classified was to protect the identity of the INR staff Member. The rest is just an summary and really no need for that portion to be classified above FOUO.

[RealTeen]

Darkwing, the declassification tag on the document was ON THE 2003 RELEASE of the document. That's the DECL tag on it which I explained. It was RELEASED and the unclassified tag was added in 2006.

[gondramB]

"Why don't they just release the fact that she wasn't covert? Why the self-mutilation?"

That would seem to be the sort of minimum decency required....

[Wristpin]

Well...My memory is a little fuzzy but I believe the only people who can declassify are the originators of the material or the POTUS. If the information was developed within the CIA either they or the POTUS declassified it.