UNTANGLING THE FACTS IN CIA LEAK PROBE

[ProSense]

UNTANGLING THE FACTS IN CIA LEAK PROBE

Thu Sep 7, 6:49 AM ET

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.

Snip...

Almost from the beginning of his investigation, Fitzgerald has known about the blabby Armitage, who came clean promptly. But Fitzgerald understood that the Armitage confession was of limited relevance. It didn't discourage the special counsel from conducting a thorough probe that uncovered the secretive effort, emanating from Vice President Dick Cheney's office, to discredit Joe Wilson and use his wife's two decades of dangerous devotion to her country as a weapon against him. Indeed, the only reason Armitage knew about Valerie Wilson was that he had read a negative dossier on Joe Wilson prepared at Libby's behest.

Corn, the Washington editor of The Nation, has responded on his blog to pundits who now exonerate the White House. "Rove's leak (to Robert Novak and Matt Cooper) and Libby's leak (to Judith Miller and Cooper) were part of a campaign to discredit former ambassador Joseph Wilson," he wrote. "That's no conspiracy theory. The available evidence proves this point."

In an article published in The Nation on Sept. 5, Corn says the available evidence also proves that Valerie Wilson was not only a genuine CIA undercover officer, but that she was in charge of operations seeking proof of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Specifically, she ran the Joint Task Force on Iraq, part of the CIA's Counterproliferation Division. She worked overseas using a "nonofficial cover." By disclosing her identity, the Bush officials ruined her career and endangered the sources she had used in the president's service. "Hubris" also suggests strongly that her alleged role in dispatching her husband to Niger has been exaggerated.

All this is contrary to the dominant right-wing perspective in Washington. So now we will see whether those who were so thrilled by the Armitage scoop are honest enough to confront more significant and embarrassing facts. But the fundamental issues have not changed.

more...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/uc/20060907/cm_uc_crjcox/joe_conason20060907

[PoiBoy]

1. Great post... thanks..!! n/t

:hi:

[hughee99]

2. Just wondering...

If she ran the Joint Task Force on Iraq, part of the CIA's Counter-proliferation Division, wouldn't you naturally expect her to have at least some involvement in sending a person to Niger to investigate claims that Iraq was seeking yellow-cake? This investigation would seem to be of significant importance to someone in charge of operations seeking proof of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

[EST]

3. She was, but very limited.

According to the CIA, someone was needed to check out the allegation, someone with a lot of experience with the people and the various governments involved.

Joe Wilson had done some previous work for them and they asked her if she would seek his agreement to go. She did. He did. And the rest...as they say, is bullshit.

[hughee99]

4. I agree...

the repukes like to make it sound like any connection between her and sending him to Niger is "proof" of some kind of conspiracy. Because of her position, and her relationship with him, how could she be COMPLETELY uninvolved in the whole thing. It would make no sense.

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. Yet, they never seem to mind

that Dick Cheney's daughter got a high level job in the State Dept. or Colin Powell's son headed the FCC. I guess nepotism is okay only if you're a Republican?

[windbreeze]

6. Do as I say...and not as I do...perhaps??? n/t