Is the clue all in a name? Plame v Wilson

[sunnystarr]

If Fitzgerald hasn't called Novak back and leaned on him a little then he should.

Knowing now from today's WP article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/20/AR2005072002517_pf.html

Plame -- who is referred to by her married name, Valerie Wilson, in the memo -- is mentioned in the second paragraph of the three-page document, which was written on June 10, 2003, by an analyst in the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR), according to a source who described the memo to The Washington Post.

The paragraph identifying her as the wife of former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV was clearly marked to show that it contained classified material at the "secret" level, two sources said. The CIA classifies as "secret" the names of officers whose identities are covert, according to former senior agency officials.

(emphasis added)

that Mrs. Wilson was known as Mrs. Wilson, or Valerie Wilson at the CIA, and this identifying name remained intact even when labeled "secret" in official memorandum, one has to ask the BIG question of why Robert Novak identified her as "Valerie Plame, CIA operative."

We now know that high level government officials plotted against Ambassador Wilson in order to diminish the validity and viablity of his CIA debriefing of his Niger assignment. This plot accuses Valerie Wilson of orchestrating and directing Joe Wilson to a boondoggle trip to Niger by using her CIA status. Why not just identify her as Valerie Wilson, Joe Wilson's wife? Why Valerie Plame? The desired result wouldn't have been affected.

The reasons I've read so far fall short. Sure Robert Novak could have looked up Valerie Wilson and found that her maiden name was Plame. But why would he bother? She had been known at the CIA and in government for 6 years as Valerie Wilson. Any search on CIA employees would only yield the name Wilson. Novak had to have another agenda or was used for another agenda. Novak is now stating that he mistakenly and inadvertently used the term "CIA operative" in describing Valerie Wilson and had no intention of implying that she is or was a covert agent. I submit Novak identified her as Valerie Plame, a covert CIA agent, deliberately and did so at the request of a high level government official or someone who was working for this or these official(s).

I've read here and on a few other blogs that it was possible that Cheney and his gang of thugs wanted to dismantle the covert operation that Valerie Wilson spent so many years building. We know she was connected with WMD and one source specifically stated Iraq WMD.

Robert Novak himself makes the case for this. Remember that in October 2003, Novak printed the name of the front company that Valerie Wilson built and developed. This further placed anyone who worked for or represented the company at risk of their lives. Was this to further inform our enemies of who to look for in the event that they didn't connect the name Plame with the company? There isn't anyone else reading his column that would care what company Valerie listed as her employer on a campaign contribution. Novak also stated that the company didn't exist. Obviously by October that was probably unfortunately true and due to Novak himself. Or was this to get the message out there that the company closed?

However, he may have destroyed himself in the process since those in power have to be already concerned that Fitzgerald or others will connect these dots. Notice how it was Novak who insisted with full confidence that Rhenquist would announce his retirement, giving the time and stating that it would happen soon after the President's plane landed. It didn't happen and in fact the opposite happened. His trusted source(s) deliberately misinformed him and left him with egg on his face. Is this the beginning of neutralizing Novak and casting doubt on his reports? Was this the same source that fed him the name Valerie Plame, covert CIA agent?

While it may never be proven, it must be recognized by all reasonable people that Rove would have access to both names used by Valerie. Rove gets what Rove wants. It's very revealing that he only identified her as Joe Wilson's wife. Taking Rove's modus operendi into consideration, we can theorize that the very name "Plame" was the important leak and one he had to be distanced from. It would be considered very "Rovian" to use Judith Miller for that purpose ... to give Novak the name Valerie Plame, CIA operative. I personally believe that he printed it exactly as it was given to him.

Novak should read the writing on the wall and come clean with the rest of the information that he hasn't yet revealed to Fitzgerald and the Grand Jury. Or maybe he has and that's what's in the redacted 8 pages that provide the gravity and details of the assault on our national security. Maybe that's why the career assasination of the "great" Robert Novak has begun.

[madhat]

1. Plame is crucial

because according to Gertz, she was accidentally "outed" as Plame back in the 1990s, thus giving anyone who leaked her name a ready-made defense under the 1982 law.

http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040722-115439-4033r.htm

Rove is this smart, and this stupid.

Keep in mind that somebody leaked this info to Gertz.

[skids]

3. That article doesn't say what name was outed.

Since most of the Russia "outings" were blown aliases, the name outed could have been "Edith McDooglefucker" for all we know. The second one would be more likely to be her real name, but we don't know that, or whether "Wilson" or "Plame" was used.

It is an open mystery. It could be as simple as Novak wanting to make Plame out to be one of "those feminazis who keep their maiden name."

[madhat]

4. She wasn't married until 1998

So the outings were under Plame.

[mmonk]

5. which may be key

[alcibiades_mystery]

8. Absolute bullshit

Mere propaganda, probably sent by Rove. There has never been any evidence that Valerie Plame was compromised by Aldrich Ames, other than the veiled word of anonymous officials. It is a lark and one they dare not publicize too frequently. The Cuba business is similarly dubious.

[madhat]

9. You may be correct.

I've always wondered who Gertz's source was, if any. But the article was cited as evidence in the media's Amici Brief pleading on behalf of Miller and Cooper not testifying. I am in favor of pulling down Rove and the whole WH as soon as possible, but I'm just saying that the Plame name seems to make sense in the context of Rove pre-thinking his defense.

[Goldmund]

2. Great questions

I have a simple question: I keep seeing references to "the redacted 8 pages". What is this about? Where were they redacted from?

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

10. Hey goldmund

now that I finished my homework I can get back to you.

The eight pages that are mentioned are eight pages that Fitz keeps showing to the judges in the case They're super secret info that has come out to the Grand Jury. Every time Fitz trots out these eight pages the judges fall in line. Even one who felt that judy 'media darling' miller had a right to keep her sources confidential agreed that the alleged crime was so serious miller had to give up her source.

Lawrence O'Donnell over at huffingtonpost.com has a really great blog on it. He was the first to out rove & has been right on since then.

best

[rumpel]

6. I still believe it is important to find out Bolton's inquiries of US

citizens, which names are being withheld to the Senators, even though Boltons' staff were privy to the reports.

My gut feeling is based on reading that during the pre-war time, Wilson made his rounds countering the incessant WH marketing of the "mushroom cloud" on TV including CNN. The WH must have already been preparing for some kind of action against Wilson. I would not be surprised if Cheney's office or the WHIG ordered Bolton to request intelligence information on Wilson.

I think the name Plame comes from intensive background check, whereas the Secret Memo comes from the intel circle.

Whoever the source of Novak must have been privy to both reports. Now that they claim Rove heard it from reporters to me indicates the possibility of Gannon being fed the info, who appears to me like someone, who could make such a booboo.

fixed typos

[sunnystarr]

7. Gannon knew the contents of the memo which should

be especially disturbing since the paragraphs about V. Wilson were marked secret. However, this memo didn't identify her as Plame. So the important source is the one who leaked the name Plame.