White House defends not probing CIA leak

[UpInArms]

http://makeashorterlink.com/?B54512416

WASHINGTON -- The White House, under investigation by the Justice Department for the disclosure of a CIA officer's identity, insisted Wednesday there was no reason for the administration to undertake its own probe when the disclosure occurred two months ago.

While saying they welcome the investigation, the White House and the Republican National Committee also stepped up efforts to portray the agent's husband as a Democratic Party sympathizer and his complaints about the leaks as political partisanship.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan, responding to questions from reporters about the administration's delay in investigating the leak, said there was no information "to suggest that there was White House involvement" in the initial disclosure by conservative columnist and CNN personality Robert Novak.

"We could go through the paper, probably on a daily basis, look at anonymous sources, look at allegations that are made against the administration and try to track down that information," McClellan said. "But we would be doing a severe disservice to the American people, because we are staying focused on their business and the highest priorities that are going on in here."

...more...

you know that national security is secondary to the 2004 campaign with these creeps - their Machevillian complex runs too deep

[diplomats]

1. Notice the contradictory spin

They say they welcome the investigation but say the whole thing is political. What???

[zbdent]

2. Wasn't there some flak about how this misAdministration

keeps a tight ship on leaks? And that any leaks were intentional?

I know that's not the official version, but there have been very few leaks from this misAdministration, and the ones that have leaked out have been ones which really have caused damage which catch Dems.

[LeftHander]

3. Ken Starr and white water was not a disservice...??!!

Scum bag liars....

[acropolis]

4. almost valid

"We could go through the paper, probably on a daily basis, look at anonymous sources, look at allegations that are made against the administration and try to track down that information," McClellan said. "But we would be doing a severe disservice to the American people, because we are staying focused on their business and the highest priorities that are going on in here."

it would almost be a valid argument except the cia requested the investigation back then. so there would be no 'looking through papers', there would just be investigating the leaks that people request investigations of:/

[damnraddem]

14. Almost valid, except: they should have looked through the paper, ...

found the article by the Administration hack Novak, noted a breach of security, and investigated. No need to have paid any attention to any article that was anti-Administration.

[shcrane]

5. Bipartisanship my a**

Doesn't the need for bipartisanship always spring from this admin's lips when they want something? But committing acts of treason is merely a patisan slander?!?!?! What the f***???

[gratuitous]

6. Pretty selective about which laws they think are "serious"

Hey, so a few CIA operatives go "boom." Not that big a deal as long as you can take revenge on a political opponent is it?

[E_Zapata]

7. So, should all CIA operatives with ties to dem sympathizers FLEE

the CIA?

That is what that assessment amounts to: If you have any connections to any democratic party voters, your name is fair game to be leaked contrary to federal law, and your life and the lives of associate operatives are expendable since high level white house people can leak your name and never have to answer for it.

Arrogant criminal bastards.

[shcrane]

11. If you're not with us you're against us!

Repugs think that they're the only true Americans; therefore, they can't commit treason. CIA, military, FBI, justice employees be warned! Rat out any closeted Democratic co-workers as they may disagree with King... ahem... president.

[PurityOfEssence]

8. So treason by their own people is just fine, as long as it's not in the WH

That's pretty soft-on-treason, if you ask me. Even though it was brought to their attention that some "loose cannon" (ha ha, as if they didn't know) did this, they just don't mind as long as it's not too near the delicate sensibilities of the King. Be serious, this wasn't a "Rogue Elephant", this was a skilled circus performer.

This should be attacked; it's a huge mistake on their part.

It's worse than that: hearing that it's two high administration officials doesn't say that it's NOT in the White House, does it? So they only investigate huge crimes if they're easily tied to the King; that means that they HAVE NO TROUBLE WITH THIS KIND OF TREASONOUS THUGGERY, AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T LINK DIRECTLY TO JUNIOR.

Cue the Doobie Brothers:

"Treason is just all right with me,
Treason is just all right with me
Treason is just all right with me
Treason is just all right..."

[NoKingGeorge]

10. Any Administration WOULD investigate Treason.

Yo asshole, Not a leak. You had evidence three months ago that an act of Treason may have been comitted. In the Administration. For three months no one, NSC, FBI, Homeland Security raised a flag about an act of Treason. If I was in the WH I would be very afraid to go to work knowing that there are Traitors in there and no one notices.

[damnraddem]

15. No, no, they would only be afraid to go to work in the Administration ...

if there were no other traitors there. They like a place where they can feel right at home. ;-)

[The Magistrate]

9. The More They Try To Defend Against This, Ma;am

The better it will be for us.

The C.I.A. already knows who did this, you may depend upon it. The investigation, therefore, must come out right in the end.

The longer these reptiles wriggle about, the more damage they will do to themselves.

[0007]

12. This investigation would be a disservice

to the American people? Doesn't seven out of ten americans want a special investigation.

These people are unbelievable.

[damnraddem]

13. Well, they have a point:

it IS more important to them to give money to the rich, fight to preserve their own power, and destroy American institutions than it is to preserve the nation's security. Let's face it, they've shown those priorities repeatedly ever since the Selection -- why expect them to change now?

[wabeewoman]

16. What is so perfect about this is

that no matter how they spin it, 'outing' a CIA agent is criminal. Doesn't matter who they are married to, what their polical party is. As Aaron Brown said, what does being a democrat have to do with it? (paraphased) That was one of the most intelligent questions I've seen him ask. People know this was wrong and the fact bush is trying to justify it and make it political is back-firing. And that they did it for revenge makes them look as petty and mean as they are.