Open Letter from former Intelligence Officers to politicians (re: Plame)

[Starfury]

AN OPEN STATEMENT TO THE LEADERS OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE.

We, the undersigned former U.S. intelligence officers are concerned with the
tone and substance of the public debate over the ongoing Department of
Justice investigation into who leaked the name of Valerie Plame, wife of
former U.S. Ambassador Joseph Wilson IV, to syndicated columnist Robert
Novak and other members of the media, which exposed her status as an
undercover CIA officer. The disclosure of Ms. Plame’s name was a shameful
event in American history and, in our professional judgment, may have
damaged U.S. national security and poses a threat to the ability of U.S.
intelligence gathering using human sources. Any breach of the code of
confidentiality and cover weakens the overall fabric of intelligence, and,
directly or indirectly, jeopardizes the work and safety of intelligence workers
and their sources.

The Republican National Committee has circulated talking points to
supporters to use as part of a coordinated strategy to discredit Ambassador
Joseph Wilson and his wife. As part of this campaign a common theme is
the idea that Ambassador Wilson’s wife, Valerie Plame was not undercover
and deserved no protection. The following are four recent examples of this
“talking point”:

(...)

These comments reveal an astonishing ignorance of the intelligence
community and the role of cover. The fact is that there are thousands of
U.S. intelligence officers who “work at a desk” in the Washington, D.C. area
every day who are undercover. Some have official cover, and some have
non-official cover. Both classes of cover must and should be protected.

(...)

We are not lawyers and are not qualified to determine whether the leakers
technically violated the 1982 Intelligence Identities Protection Act. However,
we are confident that Valerie Plame was working in a cover status and that
our nation’s leaders, regardless of political party, have a duty to protect all
intelligence officers. We believe it is appropriate for the President to move
proactively to dismiss from office or administratively punish any official who
participated in any way in revealing Valerie Plame's status. Such an act by
the President would send an unambiguous message that leaks of this nature
will not be tolerated and would be consistent with his duties as the
Commander-in-Chief.

(...)

There's more. This is a must read to fully understand just how disgusting the Republican spin on Ms. Plame truly is.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/docs/intel.officers.letter.pdf

[Im with Rosey]

1. Great find

This is a perspective that should be hammered loud and clear. The fact that there are idiots out there with loud voices able to put their ignorant spin on this needs to be corrected and stopped by voices of knowledge and reason.

[Coexist]

2. kick

[Nothing Without Hope]

3. Also - we must find WHO FORGED THE DOCUMENTS, WHO SUPPRESSED

THE FACT THAT THEY WERE OBVIOUS FORGERIES, AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SUPPOSED FBI PROBE INTO THESE QUESTIONS REQUESTED BY SEN. ROCKEFELLER IN EARLY 2003?

Discussion and background here in the opening post and replies:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1939214
Thread title: Yglesias: WHO FORGED THE NIGER DOCUMENTS? At the heart of the WMD lies

[fooj]

4. Kick and nominate!

Peace.