Posted on 07/19/2005 9:45:45 AM PDT by Maceman
Dear Mr. President:
In June 2004, you said that you would fire anyone found to be involved in the disclosure of Valerie Wilson's identity as a covert CIA agent.1 Today, you significantly changed your position, stating that you would remove Karl Rove or other White House officials involved in the security breach only "if someone committed a crime."2
Your new standard is not consistent with your obligations to enforce Executive Order 12958, which governs the protection of national security secrets. The executive order states: "Officers and employees of the United States Government ... shall be subject to appropriate sanctions if they knowingly, willfully, or negligently ... disclose to unauthorized persons information properly classified."3 Under the executive order, the available sanctions include "reprimand, suspension without pay, removal, termination of classification authority, loss or denial of access to classified information, or other sanctions."4
Under the executive order, you may not wait until criminal intent and liability are proved by a prosecutor. Instead, you have an affirmative obligation to take "appropriate and prompt corrective action."5 And the standards of proof are much different. A criminal violation of the Intelligence Identities Protection Act, which Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald is investigating, requires a finding that Mr. Rove "intentionally disclose[d]" the identity of a covert agent.6 In contrast, the administrative sanctions under Executive Order 12958 can be imposed without a finding of intent. Under the express terms of the executive order, you are required to impose administrative sanctions – such as removal of office or termination of security clearance – if Mr. Rove or other officials acted "negligently" in disclosing or confirming information about Ms. Wilson's identity.7
I have enclosed a fact sheet on Karl Rove's Nondisclosure Agreement and its legal implications, which provides additional detail about the President's national security obligations. I urge you to act in compliance with Executive Order 12958 and your responsibility to safeguard national security secrets.
Sincerely,
Henry A. Waxman Ranking Minority Member
1 Press Conference: President Discusses Job Creation With Business Leaders (Sept. 30, 2003). 2 Bush: CIA Leaker Would Be Fired if Crime Committed, Reuters (July 18, 2005); Bush: Any Criminals in Leak to Be Fired, Associated Press (July 18, 2005). 3 Executive Order 12958, sec. 5.5(b). 4 Id. at sec. 5.5(c). 5 Id. at sec. 5.5(e). 6 50 U.S.C. sec. 421(a). 7 Executive Order 12958, sec. 5.5(b).
Waxman sets the stage and is operating true to form here, by telling a baldfaced lie in his very first sentence. Having observed so many instances of such dishonesty and mendaciousness from him in the past, I would have expected nothing less from him.
There, now it's accurate!
"I could park my car in his nostril."
You COULD, but then again...
LOL that's great. There should be an archive of each one of these partisan hacks that gives their positions on issues for Democrats versus their position when a Republican is involved.
"Just looking at Waxman tells you all you need to know about him."
Hey, wasn't Waxman the inspiration for those critters in the old Quizno's Subs commercials? You know, that dancing, singing, mutant roadkill, LOL?
Thank you for your kind letter. Upon reading it, I summoned Mr. Rove to my office at which time I struck him with a rolled-up newspaper and shouted, "Bad ... Bad". I trust this will meet with your satisfaction and alleviate the twist in your shorts.
Up Yours,
W
"that would be a more fitting occupation for those charlatans!"
How about hard labor on the rock pile at Leavenworth?
I do see the resemblance, but I always thought that critter was inspired by Alex in "A Clockwork Orange."
Either way, that little critter is so gross that even now, long after they have stopped using him to promote their product, I still can't bring myself to eat at Quiznos.
I always think of a rat on a sub roll.
Your image, beating the dead horse equals the tv's image of the beatings of Rodney King!!!
Waxman looks like a freakin' nerd..he probably got his ass kicked in school for being a snitch.
Dikhed.
LOL, please note that the very first line is WRONG, a lie. Even Waxman has been tricked by the media's attempts to change Bush's statements.
There are so many ways that he is being hypocritcal here, can't even bring them all to mind, need research.
"I still can't bring myself to eat at Quiznos."
That has got to be one of the most ill-begotten ad campaigns of all time, associating those "things" with anything edible. If I were a franchisee, I'd have sued.
Dear Congressman Waxman:
Doesn't Valerie Wilson have to actually BE a covert CIA agent in order for herto be disclosed as such?
Congressman Pigface speaks.
Considering that virtually every MSM report on this story has been proven to be either in error, outright fraudulent or selective in the reporting of relevant facts, I'd have to say that the public opinion on this case is widely misinformed and not worth a festering bowl of dog snot.
I think in the end it is the MSM that will end up with yet another high profile egg-on-their-face fiasco that will only serve to further diminish whatever little credibililty they have left.
Besides, given that Bush is not running for third term, it is hard to see how this hurts him at all in any real way.
"There's just too many leaks. And if there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is.
And if the person has violated law, the person will be taken care of."
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