Is MSNBC Lying About Damage Done By Plame’s Outing?

Sweetness & Light ^ | May 2, 2006 | N/A

[Sam Hill]

From Editor & Publisher:

Former CIA agent Valerie Plame and her husband Joe Wilson (L) arrive at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington April 29, 2006.

Reports: Plame Was Monitoring Iran Nukes When Outed

By E&P Staff

May 02, 2006 10:55 AM ET

NEW YORK What was Valerie Plame working on at the CIA when she was outed by administraton officials and columnist Robert Novak? MSNBC's David Schuster on Monday said he had confirmed an earlier report that she was helping to keep track of Iran's nuclear activity--not a front and center issue for the White House.

Earlier this year, Larisa Alexandrovna of the Web site RawStory.com, reported that Plame, whose covert status was compromised in the leak, was monitoring weapons proliferation in Iran. At the time, officials told her that Plame's outing resulted in "severe" damage to her team and "significantly hampered the CIA's ability to monitor nuclear proliferation."

On last night's Hardball, MSNBC correspondent Shuster reported that intelligence sources told him that Wilson was part of an operation three years ago "tracking the proliferation of nuclear weapons material into Iran." And the sources asserted, he said, "that when here Wilson's cover was blown, the administration's ability to track Iran's nuclear ambitions was damaged as well."

From the UK's Telegraph:

While Miller languishes in jail, Mrs Wilson has quietly returned to work at the CIA's headquarters in Langley, Virginia, after a year's unpaid leave. Her work remains classified, although she is no longer a covert operative.

She spent much of her enforced leave of absence helping to counsel women suffering from postnatal depression, a condition that strikes an estimated one in 10 new mothers and which Mrs Wilson herself experienced.

From the New York Times:

On June 1 [2005], after a year's unpaid leave, Ms. Wilson, now known to the country by her maiden name, Valerie Plame, returned to a new job at the Central Intelligence Agency, determined to get her career back on track, her husband said.

Let's see. Novak's column "outing" Plame came out in July 14, 2003. But Plame didn't take a leave of absence until June 1, 2004.

She continued to work at her previous job for almost a year after Novak's column was published. So why should we believe she took a leave of absence because of being "outed"?

If Plame could not continue her work at the CIA because of having her status there blown, why would the CIA put her on "unpaid leave"?

Is it not more likely that Plame took leave from the agency so she could trot along with her husband Joe Wilson, who was doing book tours and speaking engagements and campaigning for John Kerry during 2004?

To hell with monitoring Iran's nuclear ambitions.

The Plames had ambitions of their own.

[Sam Hill]

Something doesn't quite add up here.

[Sam Hill]

A "corrected copy" ping.

[umgud]

The Pentagon has confirmed today that Osama bin Laden, Mullah Omar and al Zawahri have been captured and are being held at an undisclosed location.

NOAA scientist have issued a press release today claiming they have found a simple low cost solution to global warming (rumored to have been assisted by algore).

Greek officials report that Natalie Holloway has been found living on a local oil magnate’s yacht.

A UFO has crashed near Ft Wayne Utah, the alien occupants are alive and being cared for by Air Force personnel.

We’ll have these and other stories, but first, out top story;

New evidence has come to light that strongly suggests that Bush did in fact lie about WMD’s!

I’m Chris Matthews, let’s play Hardball.

[oolatec]

Better... :D

I think you are going at it the wrong way however...

If Plame really was such an important figure regarding Iran's nuclear capabilities, she sure seems to have failed... just like her Hubby.

http://washingtontimes.com/national/20060423-104145-6304r.htm

[SE Mom]

Correct my memory, ping.

I CLEARLY remember hearing Bob Woodward SAY out loud on TV that the CIA had done an investigation and discovered that1) No one's (else-other than Plame) cover had been blown and 2) No covert ops had been compromised- the net loss to the agency = 0.

[Sam Hill]

Your memory is perfect:

CNN.com - Transcripts

[Bob] WOODWARD: They did a damage assessment within the CIA, looking at what this did that Joe Wilson's wife was outed. And turned out it was quite minimal damage. They did not have to pull anyone out undercover abroad. They didn't have to resettle anyone. There was no physical danger to anyone and there was just some embarrassment.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0510/27/lkl.01.html

[jd777]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brewster_Jennings_&_Associates

[Sam Hill]

A) Novak's column couldn't have been all that damaging to her work if she continued it for a year after it was published.

B) Her leave of absence could not have been because of having her cover blown, or it would not have been unpaid.

C) Her work could not have been that vital or the CIA would not have granted her an unpaid leave of absence and put her in a new job when she returned.

[cardinal4]

You guys Rock! A posted article, a quick discussion, a sound refutation (is that a word?)and the story is legally dead. But the left will literally beat a dead horse, so welcome to DNC Talking Points Memo #679..

[mtbopfuyn]

Valerie who?

[Edgerunner]

The MSM and the DNC have failed in 6 years of attacks on the administration, so why not do what so wildly succeeded before, again.../inverted logic

[SE Mom]

Bless you SH- I will sleep better tonight knowing I've not lost leave of my senses.

Though I'm not always thrilled with Woodward..I would take his experience and sources to be a good deal more credible than whiny David Schuster.

Other than that- the timing is just hilarious..as Iran ramps up it's nukes- this can all be blamed on...errr, ahem..you-know-who.

[SE Mom]

And THAT..is exactly why FR is THE finest site for tracking down and researching issues.

HOOAH:)

[Loyal Buckeye]

This story is B.S. To think that our whole surveillance of Iran's nuclear program was solely her responsibility is preposterous.

[isthisnickcool]

Mohammad in Iran: "Hi. OK. This is the blonde American lady? Sure, I'll tell you about all of our nuclear plans! Why not?"

Valerie Plame: "Oh, thank you. I'm just an "energy analyst" for Brewster Jennings. yea, that's the ticket!"

Mohammad in Iran: "That's good. I'll tell you all about our nuclear plans!"

Valerie Plame: "Thank you and just in case you are wondering I'm not a covert CIA agent, really!"

Mohammad in Iran: "Oh, I believe you! Could you send me some more pictures of you please. I liked them very much!"

Varlie Plame: "Sure, I can do that! Goodbye!"

Mohammad in Iran: "Goodbye! Yippie! Abdul! That blonde American lady is sending me more naked pictures!"

Abdul In Iran: "You better be careful little brother! You are only 15 and father better not find out about this! Did you tell her you knew about the nuclear plans again? Ha ha ha!

Mohammad in Iran: "Yep!"

[Lovebloggers]

So the CIA is in the habit of maintaining covert status on those that are treated for depression?

[Sam Hill]

Here's my theory for the timing of her unpaid year-long leave:

At the time Novak’s column came out, Plame was the only source of income for her and her husband and their three year old twins.

A year later, Wilson had a book out and was getting speaking gigs (thanks to Dana Priest’s husband) and had hopes of getting a high level job (even Secretary Of State) in the Kerry administration.

So in 2004, Plame felt confident enough to take a year’s unpaid leave and traipse around the country helping Wilson hawk his book and raise his Q.

It was just good business sense. They could make a lot more money that way, then from her mid-level government salary.

[Enchante]

Priceless!!

Actually, that tactic might be more effective than anything our CIA has been doing...... if only we can get past the 15 year old boys to reach the guys who actually know something - trade sexy photos of women (or men) for their info. Heck, it's time we got creative!

[OldFriend]

And how would MSNBC know what ms. flame was up to if she was sooo covert?

[tumblindice]

(Damage by `Outing' to Plame's Reputation, Career)

Like the Duke stripper, perhaps, we know what Ms. Plame is.
We're at the stage now where we're just haggling over price.