Flashback: Accidental outing of CIA official could end a covert career

http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/27/politics/white-house-cia-outing/ ^

[TigerClaws]

Washington (CNN) -- A clerical misstep? Failure to double-check a routine process? Whatever the cause, the seemingly accidental outing of the CIA's top intelligence official in Afghanistan could put the life of the spy and any family members in danger. It also raised the question of whether the official can continue working in Afghanistan after the revelation in a White House media report sent to about 6,000 journalists.

[crosslink]

I read somewhere yesterday that Col North is alleging a 6,000,000 ransom was paid. If so my guess is this person would have been involved in some capacity either in the exchange with the Haqqani network or fund acquisition. He was sure to articulate what this was going to do to his assets and anyone who was helping the USA. They didn't like it and his name is on a list.

[TBP]

Was this a purposeful act because he objected to the hostage trade?

Yes.

[TBP]

Who says it was an accident?

[Smokin' Joe]

SPOX? Isn't that like a bunch of (fictional) guys with pointy ears? (paging Leonard Nimoy)...

Seriously, is it just because no one wanted to spell out "spokesman", "spokeswoman" or (for the gender sensitivity afflicted), "spokesperson"?

[DouglasKC]

So what if he objected? Transfer him. Retire him. No, this was something more. The Taliban wanted to know WHO was CIA and who was not. They out this guy, the chief of station, and then it’s a relatively easy thing to figure out who the rest are. Check his known associates, check his habits. This outing...and it’s no accident...was either a gift to the Taliban or an answer to their demands. We give up say Obama...and here’s the top guy...do what you can with it...oh by the way we’ll be releasing 5 of your guys too like you asked.

[Covenantor]

Could be, but I suspect that SPOX (SPOXes?) Like Tommy Vietor and Jenn Psaki play a lot of shoot-em video games and think it’s so cool to be an acronym just like POTUS, CINC, SECDEF, et al. It just drips “power”.

LOL

[onedoug]

Done intentionally. If oboingo claims it wasn’t, it’s automatically a lie, and the truth is the exact opposite.

[Verginius Rufus]

I am sure the media will give this the same attention that Plame got, huh?

Only if they can find a way to blame it on a Republican.

[Jet Jaguar]

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