Conason: Media Misses the Point On C.I.A. Leak Story

[kskiska]

To observe the Washington press corps is to wonder why so many people who don’t remember what happened yesterday and can’t master basic logic are expected to analyze politics and policy. The latest developments in the Valerie Plame Wilson case—as revealed in Hubris, a new book by Michael Isikoff and David Corn—proved once more that the simplest analysis of facts is beyond the grasp of many of America’s most celebrated journalists.

What Messrs. Corn and Isikoff reveal, among other things, is that the first official to reveal Valerie Wilson’s covert identity as a C.I.A. operative to columnist Robert Novak in June 2003 was Richard Armitage, who then served as Deputy Secretary of State. Unlike other Bush administration figures who were involved in leaking Ms. Wilson’s identity, such as Karl Rove and Lewis (Scooter) Libby, Mr. Armitage was known to be unenthusiastic about the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

From those two facts, numerous pundits and talking heads have deduced that Mr. Rove and Mr. Libby were guiltless, that there was no White House effort to expose Ms. Wilson, and that the entire leak investigation was a partisan witch hunt and perhaps an abuse of discretion by the special counsel, Patrick Fitzgerald. The same pundits now proclaim that Mr. Armitage’s minor role somehow proves the White House didn’t seek to punish Valerie Wilson and her husband, former Ambassador Joe Wilson, for his decision to publicly debunk the Presidential misuse of dubious intelligence from Niger concerning Iraq’s alleged attempts to purchase yellowcake uranium.

But whatever Mr. Armitage did, or says he did, in no way alters what Mr. Rove and Mr. Libby did in the days that followed, nor does it change their intentions. It’s a simple concept—two people or more can commit a similar act for entirely different reasons—but evidently it has flummoxed the great minds of contemporary journalism.

more…
http://nyobserver.com/20060911/20060911_Joe_Conason_opinions_conason.asp

[carolinayellowdog]

1. This weekend I was aghast at Daniel Schorr joining the deluded

I mean, how complicated is it to understand that a) Armitage was the first to leak TO NOVAK, but Libby had already leaked to Miller by that time and b) the real blockbuster revelation in Corn's book is that Plame was not just under cover but IN CHARGE of searching for WMDs in Iraq?

The "Armitage lets everyone off the hook and Fitzgerald is a villain for dragging out this case" meme has also hit C-span-- saw it repeated by the anchor there this weekend.

[Tellurian]

2. Yes, brilliant observations...

and extremely important as a matter of record.

However, are the subjects of your piece affected by your drawing attention to their slothful renderings of factual truths and omissions? Maybe it's time to offer a them challenge. Of course, you could be elevating your profile 100 fold. So, what! We're in a Do or Die environment. (some might call it, Put up or Shut up Time.)

ok, I'll go first and Shut UP!<g>

[peacetalksforall]

3. Joe is my favorite and he got it right again. Nice and simple. My

other issue and I'm glad he named names, is that David Corn has sold out. I've been troubled about what he's been saying for awhile. Teaming up with Isikoff is a strike. Placing all the attention on Armitage is a strike. Combined with other things that have been troubling - he's out. I may revise my position after reading the book - but it appears he shared an agenda - lift the pressure on Cheney.

[Tellurian]

4. Yes, lets draw a chalkline around the evidence...

Subjective evidence, that is-

There is a bold new trend, a lethal mist rolling in over the bogs of the Constitutional Amendments. It's pretty obvious when moviemakers can be paid to 'create' distortions of history. As they are now attempting in the mini series smearing President Clinton in the 'The Path to 9/11'- Where * and his cohorts will spend unlimited amounts of money to distort the Truth. No form of media is immune to the tainted souls that hold power, nor is any length too deep for them to accomplish the unthinkable. This is the real life version of 'Minority Report' unfolding before our eyes.

Libraries are going to be denied Public Access (read) http://www.buzzflash.com/alerts/06/06/ale06080.html Initially, the model used for the test balloon is the EPA; but anything the * administration deems of extreme importance to maintain control of the masses is coming slowly, like an asphyxiating velvet fog.

David and Mike's words were blatant distortions of the Truth, but they rose to the occasion and corrected the anomalys. Unfortunately, these quasi attacks on the Truth are coming at all venues simultaneously, especially the libraries. Academia is going to have to seize the moment for justifying a preemptive strike, if this disastrous outcome is allowed to gain momentum .

I agree with you, I subscribe to the Nation but Joe is my favorite.

aside:

Hmm..I think, about 5 yrs ago I mentioned to Joe, this was going to happen..

[peacetalksforall]

5. $40 million to smear CLinton. Your words make this stand out.

I think we are justified in presenting it that way. ($40 mill is what I heard it cost to make the film).

I completely agree with you about the creeping control. I feel fortunate that I can see it thanks to the work of people like Joe. It is easy to 'imagine back' and see how they did it. Using their think tankers, you can pick out how they called on history to put together a not very imaginative plan - no new ideas, but some cleverness in the way they have rolled it out, plus a lot of criminality. They are the true traitors to the citizens of this country and the world. It boils down to baron and corporate criminality, but the concept is too much for some people - we are full into the intense overhead heat of it, but for some, the concept that this could be done to us, by our own, is only on the horizon.

Most people don't know that this regime have already had major winning successes that affect them and will affect them. They are living proof of the first success - that the enemy is someone else and the cover up of the fact that war is a very profitable endeavor and can be masked and staged - just like a magician's show.

I doubt that what I'm going to say has occurred,, but the thought ran through my mind that Isikoff and Corn may have received funding to write the book other than from publishers. It has kicked off the campaign to undermine the pursuit of law - smearing Fitzgerald, setting up the stage for a pardon of Cheney, Libby, Rove, and Bush.

They (Corn and Isikoff and the benefactors) are struggling with a timing glitch - the book came out on a day that was hotly taken over with the drama of righting a wrong about the smear - thanks to Albright, Berger, Clinton, and the Democratic Congress , plus many DUers and similar enlightened citizens who would not settle for another smear - another 40 million - the ones who kicked this all off., imo.
I hope I'm wrong. imo Isikoff is a traitor -manipulator. I once thought better of Corn. As agents of the Armitage strategy that benefits the WH illogically, he is suspect.