[dogbyte12]

There is a difference though between knowing somebody works at the CIA, and the knowledge that they actually are more than an analyst.

I am curious as to when people became aware that she worked at the CIA. When Wilson quit as ambassador to Gabon, I think his last job overseas, is that when Plame stopped undercover work? Is that when people started to know that she worked at Langley?

It is murkey. But I think part of the murkyness is because of the job. She could easily be both in the same career. Spies come in from the cold. An undercover agent in a police department can quit when they are getting too well known on the street, and revert to a uniform or plains clothes homicide. I don't know exactly what Plame did, but I think the analysis is a bit too unsophisticated. It really doesn't have to be either or here.

The answer to the question "Was Valerie Plame a operative or a analyst" is most likely yes. Both.

[Notwithstanding]

Maybe it was Ari Fleisher who leaked this - and Pesident Bush fired him when he found out.

After all, he did quit right after Novak wrote his story.

[jwalsh07]

Perhaps some enterprising youn Jimmy Olsen should simply ask her neighbors if they knew she was a CIA employee. If they knew it's hard to make a case as to where the info came from. If not, it points to a leak with a purpose and then it's on to find the future perp walkers.

One other thing, if he worked with her for three decades that puts her in my age bracket, 50-60, and she has twins who are three years old. God bless her. I minded my daughters triplets for a week this summer and it damn near killed me and I'm in pretty good shape for an old sog.

[Notwithstanding]

If that is the case, then Bush will end up smelling like a rose for firing someone who crossed the line even though there was no media pressure to do so - in other words, for doing the right thing SIMPLY BECAUSE it was the right thing to do.

[jwalsh07]

It's not either analyst or operative, there is a third way.