Uneasy bedfellows in investigation of CIA leak

[UpInArms]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/10/12/MN115224.DTL

Washington -- The first real political scandal of the Bush administration appears to have legs, to the discomfort of an unusually large number of people in Washington --

both in the White House and the press corps.

The White House is facing accusations that two of its officials outed a CIA agent, endangering national security and possibly committing a criminal act, to punish a critic of the administration's policy on Iraq.

<snip>

But some experts believe that government investigators will get to the bottom of the story -- in part because the nation's intelligence and defense establishments have been deeply angered by the exposure of one of their own.

...more...

[Spazito]

1. Good article!

Thanks for the link.

[Rose Siding]

2. This is the "hunt" we aren't on?

We're on the "hunt" for Osama and Saddam and wmds, but this one's WAY tougher???

snip>
"I have no idea whether we'll find out who the leaker is partially because, in all due respect to your profession, you do a very good job of protecting the leakers," Bush told reporters.
end snip>

Here, Rove seems to try to make lemonade. It's the journalists fault, and oh btw, we TOLD you that secretive was good. Haven't we always hated leakers, especially when they were Dems who we had to polygraph? :grr:

[markbark]

3. You'd Think Poppy Would've Clued Him In

on this one....

Dubya's about to learn very painful and expensive lessons:

1. The intelligience community existed long before the current admininstration. They will remain long after the BushII junta is a dim and distant memory.

2. They take care of their own and do not suffer fools gladly.

3. They rarely forgive and NEVER forget.

[Woodstock]

5. There's a quote around where Poppy said this is traitorous

Only traitors leak out the identiy of CIA agents is what Poppy said.

[UpInArms]

6. you mean

this quote:

We need more human intelligence. That means we need more protection for the methods we use to gather intelligence and more protection for our sources, particularly our human sources, people that are risking their lives for their country. Even though I'm a tranquil guy now at this stage of my life, I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious, of traitors.~~George H.W. Bush, April 16, 1999, Dedication Speech, George Bush Center for Intelligence

[Whoa_Nelly]

9. Poppy link to that statement

http://www.cia.gov/cia/public_affairs/speeches/1999/bush_speech_042699.html

[Woodstock]

4. Novak the righteous

"There is a code in this -- the business I'm in and have made my life's work, that you do not reveal confidential sources,"

Oh, so that code is more important than this one:

Plame's career as a clandestine operator was ruined, and the CIA front company she and other CIA agents used as cover was exposed. Intelligence officials have expressed concern that as a result of the leak, U.S. enemies would be able to track down the foreign agents Plame had recruited over years of painstaking work. {and this likely means death for them! - insert mine}

[Skittles]

10. the business he is in?

he's a f***ing republican tool hiding under the guise of a journalist. Traitorous bastard.

[EFF BrandyWine]

12. Unfortunately Novak is protected on this one, Woodstock...

if a reporter does not protect a source, soon there would be no sources to protect. Note please that the other reporters that were called have not revealed the name of the caller/callers. Since they did not run with the story it would seem they could (behind closed doors) give up the source. Apparently no one has asked them thus far.

The entire episode is dreadful and truly borders on treason IMO...this lady was connected to a lot of people that might now be in danger. Loss of life is also a possibility...let us hope that is not the case.

[E_Zapata]

7. oh, I think the CIA can get those 'journalists' to reveal their sources.

oh yes I do.

First up? Novak. Sweet justice.

[Skittles]

8. the "first real political scandal of the Bush administration"

PLEASE.

[Nlighten1]

11. Indeed...

We should be incredulous at this claim.