Outed CIA agent's husband surprised by Bush seeking counsel

[maddezmom]

BY E.A. TORRIERO

Chicago Tribune


CHICAGO - (KRT) - The diplomat husband of an outed CIA operative said Thursday he was "taken by surprise" when President Bush announced a decision to seek private counsel regarding a federal investigation into the White House's role in the matter.

"I don't know what it means," Joseph Wilson, a former acting U.S. ambassador to Iraq, told the Tribune's editorial board. "I have no specific information."

Wilson was in Chicago to promote his book: "The Politics of Truth: Inside the Lies That Led to War and Betrayed My Wife's CIA Identity."

His wife, Valerie Plame, was outed by columnist Robert Novak in July 2003 after Novak was made aware of Plame's identity. It is a federal felony to reveal the name of a CIA member.

A federal grand jury is looking into whether White House sources or top officials in the Bush administration leaked Plame's name to the media. Wilson claims she was outed in retaliation for an op-ed piece he wrote in the New York Times debunking administration claims that Iraq had tried to buy uranium from Niger.

~snip~
more:http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/nation/8832210.htm

[slinkerwink]

1. now that's just strange.....

[Mikimouse]

2. Perhaps not terribly surprising...

I wouldn't be very surprised if had never occured to Wilson that the corruption went as high as * himself. As a career diplomat, Wilson has probably seen some major corruption, and first hand, but probably not traceable to the top. Since I consider myself naive, as a positive thing, I think that it is not beyond the pale to wonder if he might not be a bit naive as well. But, having said that, better naive than the old cynic that I once was.

[LittleApple81]

3. I think he is just keeping it to himself at this point. He does not

want to attack and be attacked when there are other ways to get the just results.

[Mikimouse]

4. That is certainly a possibility...

Maybe he is simply letting * hang himself.

[Just Me]

21. Wise to be "clueless" about now,...

,...doncha' think *grin*. :bounce:

Some people know "when" to keep their pie-holes shut (like when crooked, corrupt ones have earned their way to running around with their hair on fire *heh heh*).

[Mikimouse]

28. Agreed...LOL!

n/t

[LiberalBushFan]

5. Why is all I ever hear about Plame come from her husband?

Does Valerie Plame have a mouth? Why the hell doesn't she talk about all this?

[David Dunham]

6. She still works for the CIA and has to keep quiet due to her job.

[TorchTheWitch]

7. danger to her network

That was one of the big issues about why her being outed is such a catastrophe. She had built up a network of people whose lives and the lives of their families were put in danger buy simply the release of her name. Having her face plastered all over the US news would only make it worse for them. I can only imagine the extensive amount of damage control that's been necessary since her outting... how much worse it would be to have her face widely seen and details all over the news. I believe she would feel a personal responsibility to protect her contacts as best she can now.

[mike1963]

8. "protect her contacts..." not to mention her life...

:grr:

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

9. Wonder if that is why we are "surpised" at the turn of events

in Congo yesterday?

[Whoa_Nelly]

17. And 70 of Plame's assets were liquidated

due to this leak blowing her confidential cover.
That's 70 people killed.

Aug. 29 Mr. Wilson identifies Karl H. Rove, Bush’s so-called White House advisor, as who had leaked it out to the Washington Post that Wilson’s wife is a CIA agent of 26 years. As a consequence of this leak, her entire team of 70 overseas assets were liquidated.

sources: NY times Seattle Post-Intelligencer AL Martin"
- from Project for the Old American Century
http://www.missouri.edu/~quinnl/news/wilson.html

[librechik]

24. that has never been confirmed, for obvious reasons

I'm just sayin---Who knows, it might be true, but I never saw anybody except Al assert it as fact, and he can't be cited (not unimpeachable, although highly entertaining!) and he was quoting an anonymous source.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

26. That's a rumor only....the only thing we know for sure is that her...

...network was global, and that it was tracking the materials that could be used to make WMDs. The safe assumption is that as soon as Plame was exposed along with the name of her CIA-front company, the word to disband and disappear was immediately sent out to her network. I think it is also safe to say that not everyone was able to get out safely.

[htuttle]

14. She still only appears in public in a disguise

She's usually at least wearing a head scarf and sunglasses. I don't think I've ever actually heard her voice, as a matter of fact.

Given that the fewer people who recognize her from her past work, the better, I'd say that is a good thing.

[NMLobo]

10. I'm Shocked!!!

Maybe it's just his variation of the old I'm shocked! Shocked I tell you. and as stated elsewhere in this thread, why comment? He'll either hang or get away again.

I'm sure his lawyering up is just a "routine precaution". (saaaarcasm off)

Wonder if we're (taxpayers) paying the legal fees?:grr:

[schultzee]

11. The "Texas Twit" must be concerned that he may be implicated

[dryan]

12. Plame Affair

This is a very serious situation. Wilson didn't even know what his wife (then girlfriend) did for about six months. Her career is essentially over at the CIA. They are also the parents of two young children plus Wilson has children from another marriage.

[denverbill]

13. It's a felony to reveal the name. Novak revealed the name.

Someone in a position of power told him, but he too had an obligation to obey the law.

If it had been Michael Moore revealing the name of a CIA agent, he'd be in Gitmo.

[Catfight]

15. why hasn't Novak been prosecuted for revealing her name?

[lightbulb]

19. good question

As the vehicle which broadcast the leak to the entire world, that nasty old fart Novak should be found just as guilty as the original leaker(s).

[denverbill]

22. You've got me. Seems like an open and shut case.

Apparently, right-wing traitors are above the law.

[librechik]

25. He's got his own show now!

"the No Facts zone!"

Why is he not in a cell?

[Media_Lies_Daily]

27. All things in due time. Patience.

[central scrutinizer]

16. not just any felony

thanks to Bush the elder, it has been defined as treason! And treason during war time is really some serious shit.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

18. of course, the little fact that we are NOT at war is a slight

hinderance to this one.
But, it was a good idea.

[Nlighten1]

20. An act punishable by death even...

I wonder if Bush will want to flip the switch himself?

[progressivejazz]

23. Well, it is surprising.

W's handlers obviously should have kept him out of the loop on this one. I figured they would have.

I've always thought W's deviousness was stronger than his stupidity.

Looks like I'm wrong.