As a Social Worker I needn't reveal a persons name to breech

[usregimechange]

confidentiality. Under HIPAA I can't even acknowledge that I know the person. Rove reveals Plame's CIA status and her husbands identity and it doesn't violate something?

1.07 Privacy and Confidentiality

(b) Social workers may disclose confidential information when appropriate with valid consent from a client or a person legally authorized to consent on behalf of a client.

(i) Social workers should not discuss confidential information in any setting unless privacy can be ensured. Social workers should not discuss confidential information in public or semipublic areas such as hallways, waiting rooms, elevators, and restaurants.

(k) Social workers should protect the confidentiality of clients when responding to requests from members of the media.

etc.

NASW Code of Ethics: http://www.naswdc.org/pubs/code/code.asp

[gratuitous]

1. They're counting on fooling the rubes yet again

As you correctly point out, there are many ways to identify someone without mentioning his or her name. But these lying, corrupt bastards will grasp at any straw in the maelstrom to convince their gullible partisans that black is really white or that up is really down. "He never said the name Valerie Plame" ratchets up the sophistry this bunch uses once again.

It's worked so well and so often for the Bushistas, it's not surprising that they'll try it again when prison terms are staring them in the face.

[usregimechange]

2. Somebody should be going down for this

[blondeatlast]

3. But you are bound by ethics and the law.

In their lust for greed and power, the WH and its cronies are bound by NOTHING.

[snippy]

4. Fitzgerald covered this red herring in the subpoenas issued

by the grand jury. For example, one subpoena requested information related to conversations

". . . concerning Valerie Plame Wilson (whether referred to by name or by description as the wife of Ambassador Wilson). . . ."