C.I.A. casually shared Plame's name is the theme of reporting in my newspaper

[mmonk]

The Raleigh News & Observer borrows from the LA times this theme.
http://www.newsobserver.com/114/story/537335.html

Looks like many news agencies are going to cover this from the administration's viewpoint this is no big deal. How do you feel about this approach to the issue? How does this hurt the cause of exposing the whole sordid affair?

[salin]

1. ignores the facts of the case - and the fact that Plame worked

on tracking industrial (?) components of WMDs to prevent WMD capability falling into the hands of terrorists and rogue nations? The fact that to cover Cheney's butt that Cheney and the White House literally blew up a vital network of intel on WMD? Ya it hurts the cause of getting the public to understand the venality behind the story and the recklessness and lawlessness of this administration.

[maine_raptor]

2. Spin, and easily countered.

It was the Agency that ASKED for the investigation to be started. You think the Agency doesn't know which of their employees the law covers?

It's the leaker, not the supplier, of classified information that breaks the law.

[H2O Man]

3. Right.

Also, the CIA did not "share" information on Valerie Plame with anyone who did not have the clearance to receive it. The Bush administration did.

[maine_raptor]

6. Thanks, H20 Man

I don't know why that very simple point is forgotten in this whole wicked weave.

Yup, even if the info (the relationship between Val and Joe and Val's job) was passed via a "casual conversation", all the folks in the room were cleared individuals and as such it was up to them TO KEEP THEIR MOUTHS SHUT.

That's what being "cleared" is all about.

[C_U_L8R]

4. They still lied about it

the crime at hand is perjury

[ClintonTyree]

5. Damned liberal media, again.

There is no more journalism in our "mainstream" media. They've cut budgets to the bone so there's no money for real investigative journalism. They've become nothing more than echo chambers of the Reich-Wing corporatists who own them.

[mmonk]

7. Here's the spin

-snip-

But last week, as former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby went on trial in connection with the leak, it appeared that neither the CIA nor some other intelligence community insiders were all that tight-lipped about such supposedly sensitive matters.

-snip-

When it came to talking to outsiders, the agent's identity was often treated as not much more than water cooler dishing or cocktail party chatter.


http://www.newsobserver.com/114/story/537335.html

[Supersedeas]

8. that seems to be the take I am seeing from Admin supporters - minor violation on technical grounds

And most of the media seems to be treating it that was IF they treat it at all.

The Greensboro News and Record had the AP story on page A11.