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End of an Affair [Plame]
Washington Post ^ | September 1, 2006

Posted on 08/31/2006 10:08:00 PM PDT by West Coast Conservative

Edited on 09/01/2006 5:56:51 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]

WE'RE RELUCTANT to return to the subject of former CIA employee Valerie Plame because of our oft-stated belief that far too much attention and debate in Washington has been devoted to her story and that of her husband, former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, over the past three years. But all those who have opined on this affair ought to take note of the not-so-surprising disclosure that the primary source of the newspaper column in which Ms. Plame's cover as an agent was purportedly blown in 2003 was former deputy secretary of state Richard L. Armitage.

Mr. Armitage was one of the Bush administration officials who supported the invasion of Iraq only reluctantly. He was a political rival of the White House and Pentagon officials who championed the war and whom Mr. Wilson accused of twisting intelligence about Iraq and then plotting to destroy him. Unaware that Ms. Plame's identity was classified information, Mr. Armitage reportedly passed it along to columnist Robert D. Novak "in an offhand manner, virtually as gossip," according to a story this week by the Post's R. Jeffrey

Smith, who quoted a former colleague of Mr. Armitage.

It follows that one of the most sensational charges leveled against the Bush White House -- that it orchestrated the leak of Ms. Plame's identity to ruin her career and thus punish Mr. Wilson -- is untrue......

Nevertheless, it now appears that the person most responsible for the end of Ms. Plame's CIA career is Mr. Wilson. Mr. Wilson chose to go public with an explosive charge, claiming -- falsely, as it turned out -- that he had debunked reports of Iraqi uranium-shopping in Niger and that his report had circulated to senior administration officials. He ought to have expected that both those officials and journalists such as Mr. Novak would ask why a retired ambassador would have been sent on such a mission and that the answer would point to his wife. He diverted responsibility from himself and his false charges by claiming that President Bush's closest aides had engaged in an illegal conspiracy. It's unfortunate that so many people took him seriously.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: armitage; bullzogby; bush; bushhassers; bushlied; cia; cialeak; getbush; getrove; gotcaught; iraq; knewitallalong; lyingliars; makingitup; mediabias; misterplame; movealong; muchadoaboutnothing; nigerflap; nothingtoseehere; plame; plamebroiled; plamegate; plamenamegame; pravdaus; propaganda; retraction; smearcampaign; tempestinateapot; waronerror; washingtonpost; wilson; wilsondone; yellowjournalism
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To: ChadGore

I understand that Powell was a particpant in keeping quiet Armitages involvement. Nothing like having sharks in your swmming pool.


21 posted on 08/31/2006 10:22:06 PM PDT by Adrastus (If you don't like my attitude, talk to some one else.)
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To: Billthedrill

"BTT. That last paragraph was pure dynamite. Mr. Wilson will now be relegated to the likes of The Village Voice and Vanity Fair and even less reputable rags such as the NY Times. As long as he resides in a comfortably liberal city where reality is very slow to sink in he'll do just fine."

Alger Hiss was Soviet spy and a traitor to this country. To people with a brain he was discredited by Whittaker Chambers in the Hiss-Chambers case in the lat 1940s.

To Liberals he remained a hero until his death, and only when KGB fiels confirmed he was a spy for Stalin, 50 years later, did the hard-core believers relent.

Dont underestimate the liberal capacity for self-delusion.


22 posted on 08/31/2006 10:22:58 PM PDT by WOSG (Broken-glass time, Republicans! Save the Congress!)
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To: West Coast Conservative
Can't believe the Washington Post wrote that. Guess this "story" is dead now.

However, there are still many falsehoods being written by WashPO in this editorial.

23 posted on 08/31/2006 10:24:39 PM PDT by demlosers
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To: Howlin
You know how much time and research I have spent on this FRAUD, Nothing boils my blood more than this OBVIOUS fraud Joe Wilson.

If the truth were to be told about this scam, John Kerry and his campaign staff have their fingerprints all over this deception of the American people by his people and the DNC enablers in the MSM

24 posted on 08/31/2006 10:24:47 PM PDT by MJY1288 (THE DEMOCRATS OFFER NOTHING FOR THE FUTURE AND THEY LIE ABOUT THE PAST)
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To: Billthedrill

Couldn't disagree more. Like all useful liberal idiots once they have outlived their usefulness, Joe Wilson is now officially "Joe Who?" This piece cements it.

Beltway cocktail party lists are now being adjusted accordingly.

I give the Wilson-Plame marriage less than six months. It's outlived its usefulness, too.


25 posted on 08/31/2006 10:25:49 PM PDT by JennysCool (Roll out the Canarble Wagon!)
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To: WOSG
Re:We need to make Democrats eat a big plate of crow here. They deserve it.

I agree! Have Tony Snow start each presser by announcing "Karl Rove will be indited in 48 hours."

26 posted on 08/31/2006 10:25:52 PM PDT by ChadGore (VISUALIZE 62,041,268 Bush fans. We Vote.)
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To: West Coast Conservative
WE'RE RELUCTANT to return to the subject of former CIA employee Valerie Plame ...

The only thing the Post is reluctant about is having to admit that it wasn't the President's staff who leaked Plame's name. But they still get in a few digs at Liddy and VP Cheney.

27 posted on 08/31/2006 10:25:58 PM PDT by CedarDave
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To: West Coast Conservative
Has the NY Times gotten around to their editorial yet?
28 posted on 08/31/2006 10:27:33 PM PDT by CaptainK (...please make it stop. Shake a can of pennies at it.)
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To: West Coast Conservative
because of our oft-stated belief that far too much attention and debate in Washington has been devoted to her story and that of her husband, former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, over the past three years.

How many trees lost their lives for Joe and Val? How many did the WAPO cut down?

29 posted on 08/31/2006 10:29:10 PM PDT by woofie
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To: WOSG
All of that might have been avoided had Mr. Armitage's identity been known three years ago.

They neglected to mention Mr. Armitage's scum pal, Colin Powell. He knew, too.

30 posted on 08/31/2006 10:29:30 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: Howlin
I had to read it twice to make sure I was reading what I thought I was reading!

Me, too. I guess the only real fact is Joe Wilson pimped his wife to sell books..

31 posted on 08/31/2006 10:29:53 PM PDT by cardinal4 (America, despite the usual suspects, stands firmly with Israel..)
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To: MJY1288

You are so right.


32 posted on 08/31/2006 10:30:34 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: Howlin
Game, set and match, as to team Bush attempting to deflect and marginalize, its critics, on this matter, but Scooter is still in trouble on perjury charges, which have nothing to do with who leaked what, when, and whether it was illegal. It appears the leak was not illegal, and Scooter leaked "late." Scooter it appears to me had poor legal advice, or no legal advice, before he testified, for a host of reasons. I could more into that, but I am going to bed, instead.

The bottom line, is one should not lie under oath, ever, and rarely otherwise, unless a "white" lie. That is hard core wiring with me. I don't give much slack to liars. That is something I have learned over time. Just tell the truth, and let it all hang out. It does a body good.

33 posted on 08/31/2006 10:30:37 PM PDT by Torie
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To: Howlin
According to Byron York (National Review), Joe and Valerie are STILL going forward w/their court case against Rove, Cheney, and Libby....Their lawyer said Armitage was just 'gossiping' and isn't included in the 'conspiracy' against them.

If they had the capacity for SHAME, they would become hermits. However, we can expect another op-ed in the NYT from Joe any day now.

Armitage, Powell, and Fitzgerald are still silent about their own perfidy.

34 posted on 08/31/2006 10:32:35 PM PDT by Carolinamom (This is no time to go wobbly. - Lady Margaret Thatcher)
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To: Torie

Who said he lied? Fitzgerald, who knew from the beginning exactly WHO "outed" Valerie Plame?


35 posted on 08/31/2006 10:32:46 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: Carolinamom

I hope they do go forward with their case. I need something to enterain myself with next winter.


36 posted on 08/31/2006 10:33:28 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: West Coast Conservative

maybe this will be the end of plame's book deal


37 posted on 08/31/2006 10:37:31 PM PDT by machogirl
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To: Adrastus

Yes and that Fitzgerald knew this back then as well. I really hope Libby and others affected can somehow get their legal costs reimbursed, their bills must be dreadful.


38 posted on 08/31/2006 10:37:52 PM PDT by 1066AD
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To: Howlin

It will certainly be a howler. Nothing worse than to be laughed AT.


39 posted on 08/31/2006 10:38:23 PM PDT by Carolinamom (This is no time to go wobbly. - Lady Margaret Thatcher)
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To: West Coast Conservative

And I'm waiting to hear of the sanctions that the Washington Post is going to take against their reporters who falsely reported aspects of this story and fanned the flames... I'm waiting... I'm still waiting... Still waiting...


40 posted on 08/31/2006 10:38:34 PM PDT by The Electrician ("Government is the only enterprise in the world which expands in size when its failures increase.")
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