"There is no doubt that her relationship with the CIA was CLASSIFIED. That is a FACT."

[berni_mccoy]

-- quote of Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald regarding Valery Plame's status with the CIA.

EAT IT FREEPS!

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. Did he just say that?

GOOD!!! I hope that sound bite goes round the world repeatedly! (Not holding my breath though)

[emulatorloo]

2. yes he said it

but freeps will nitpick --- "that doesn't mean she was covert"

[EstimatedProphet]

7. No, what it means is that freepers are retarded

Classified means restricted to a specific classification. If anyone tries to use an argument like that to justify publically publishing classified material (like the name of a CIA agent) they should be pointed at, laughed at and called names.

[tridim]

3. Aren't all relationships with the CIA classified?

Did he say covert or classified?

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. Read the indictment

It explains what "classified" is. Yes, she was covert.

[maine_raptor]

13. Different levels

CIA has open relationships with some, classified with others. And even within the classified part there are levels of "blackness". She was not in the deepest of black, but still pretty down far the scale.

The fact the IT WAS THE CIA THAT ASKED FOR THE INVESTIGATION, is proof alone that she was covered by law.

That little inconvenient truth blows away all the "she wasn't covert" bullshit.

[Robbien]

4. Ignored by Freeperdom

Freepers just know for positive that Plame was just a desk sitter who "everyone knew" worked for the CIA.

They will not allow facts to get in the way of that knowledge.

[verse18]

8. Facts, we don't need no stinking facts!! n/t

[tanyev]

9. If Rush said it, it's true.

[peacetalksforall]

6. Anyone think Toensing will continue to say she was not covert?

[ClusterFreak]

10. Nuthin' but net, Fitzy!!

Rock on my duke!:yourock:

[in_cog_ni_to]

11. HA! THAT is going to be THE ISSUE in the Plame civil suit! Cheney and Libby will pay for this.

[tularetom]

12. Well if that's the case, why wasn't the actual leak itself a subject

of the prosecution. I think this whole thing is a red herring to cover up the culpability of the actual leaker. Maybe Scooter will spill his guts to avoid a lengthy sentence but I'm not encouraged by the prosecutor's statements this morning.

[pampango]

19. The jury didn't rule on her covert status, did it?

It would appear that Libby could be convicted on all four counts related to obstructing an investigation whether the underlying crime of exposing an undercover agent was proven or not.

Did the jury make any determination on the underlying crime, for any reason?

[tularetom]

22. No they weren't asked to

but my question is why the investigation stopped short of its original purpose namely to determine whether or not the law governing the outing of covert agents was violated. From the prosecutors statement it appears that determination is going to be forgotten and my question is why.

[KoKo]

14. Yep! THAT NAILS IT.....NO ONE CAN DISPUTE IT! She was CLASSIFIED!

:applause:

[Robbien]

16. You are kidding

right?

The rightwingers don't care. Libby was falsely accused and Plame was not covert. Period.

Nothing will change their minds on this.

[Bandit]

23. And Bush* is smart and only tells the truth

:shrug: Is credibility still a word?

[Ganja Ninja]

15. Yup it's why the CIA asked for an investigation in the first place.

If someone had leaked the name of a receptionist or janitor or any non covert employee out at Langley, the CIA wouldn't have made the request, but freepers are impervious to facts and logic.

[Pacifist Patriot]

17. Facts are ignored if they don't fit the frame.

[Canuckistanian]

18. It never would have been referred to the Justice Dept. if it weren't true.

And the investigation would have been stopped dead if it weren't true.

A Federal Attorney like Fitz has better things to do with his time than to pursue false crimes.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

20. Edited: Ahhhhhh Fuck, I Was Reading That As 'Covert'. Guess The Question Rages On.

Course, not to us, but in terms of the general public.

[yodermon]

21. Been to Rest for a while, dude.

Fitz stated as much in the indictment press conference way back in 05.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/28/AR2005102801340.html

Valerie Wilson was a CIA officer. In July 2003, the fact that Valerie Wilson was a CIA officer was classified. Not only was it classified, but it was not widely known outside the intelligence community.

Valerie Wilson's friends, neighbors, college classmates had no idea she had another life.

FITZGERALD: The fact that she was a CIA officer was not well- known, for her protection or for the benefit of all us. It's important that a CIA officer's identity be protected, that it be protected not just for the officer, but for the nation's security.

Valerie Wilson's cover was blown in July 2003. The first sign of that cover being blown was when Mr. Novak published a column on July 14th, 2003.

you can't "blow" someones "cover" if they're not "Covert".

I think what's at issue is is that SINCE her Status ITSELF was classified, Fitz doesn't come out and say the exact phrase "she was a covert agent, she was a NOC, etc" since by doing so he would be making inappropriate statements with regard to her status. A moot point really, but hey, Fitz is a by-the-book kinda guy.

[Beelzebud]

24. To be specific, she was a N.O.C. That is beyond covert.

A N.O.C. or Non-Official Cover officer is so damn covert that if they are exposed in the field, and captured, the CIA will deny they are affiliated with the agent. If a NOC were to get captured by an enemy state, they would be totally on their own, and the agency wouldn't provide them any backup.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonofficial_cover