For those that say that Wilson lying is defense for Libby lying about Plame.

[rushmc 23]

Rule can head off dirty tricks at CIA

By ZELL MILLER
Published on: 11/02/05
It's like a spy thriller. Institutional rivalries and political loyalties have fostered an intelligence officer's resentment against the government. Suddenly, an opportunity appears for the agent to undercut the national leadership. A vital question of intelligence forms the core justification for controversial military actions by the current leaders. If this agent can get in the middle of that question, distort that information and make it public, the agent might foster regime change in the upcoming election.

But the rules on agents are clear. They can't purposely distort gathered intelligence, go public with secret information or use their position or information to manipulate domestic elections or matters without risking their job or jail.

But their spouse can!

The agent realizes her spouse can go out on behalf of the spy agency, can distort information, go public with classified information and use all this spy-agency-sponsored material and credentials to try to pull down the current government, and it is all perfectly legal.

Suppose the spouse adds just one more brilliant, well-aimed lie: claim your foremost political opponent put the spouse up to the trip. As your spouse uses your agency's name to mount attacks, your enemy may fall into your trap. Will your enemy suffer your spouse's lies or take the bait and try to clarify his non-role? If he tells the press he didn't hire your spouse, the press will demand to know, "Then who did?"

Instead of you violating secrecy laws, it is your victim who is guilty because he tried to set the record straight. Heads, you win; tails, he loses.

It sounds unbelievable, a fiction, perhaps to be called "To Sting a King." But it is no fiction. This is the story behind Valerie Plame, Joe Wilson and the Bush administration. And it appears that Plame and Wilson will get away with the biggest sting operation ever.

No one seems to care that our intelligence agency has crippled our president. Certainly not the media. They are determined to make Wilson a hero. Recall the dozens of times the Washington Post and The New York Times carried his lies on the front page, above the fold. The conclusive story discrediting Wilson was buried 6 feet deep, back by the obituaries.

To the media, it doesn't matter that the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence says Wilson lied about what he did and with whom he met while investigating Iraqi attempts to purchase "yellowcake" uranium.

To the media, it doesn't matter that the CIA says what Wilson did actually find supported that Iraq was attempting to buy the uranium — a direct contradiction to Wilson's public claims.

To the media, it doesn't matter that he claimed the vice president assigned him to the uranium investigation when we all know now it was his wife.

Some absurdly claim that Plame had nothing to do with her husband's political activities against President Bush. But let it be clear. Plame could not have done what Wilson did and gotten away with it. Wilson could not have done what he did without Plame giving him a way to do it.

Something has to be done. We can't let the CIA become the domestic dirty tricks shop, with Republican and Democratic agents each trying to pull down their opposing presidents.

We need a Plame rule. Any family member of a CIA agent tapped to help out must live by the same rules regarding information disclosure and domestic political manipulations as those imposed on the agent. If the family member fails to live by those rules, the agent is terminated.

Clearly this will restrict the flexibility of the CIA. But who ever thought that the flexibility given to CIA agents would be misused to destabilize a U.S. president? No one — until Valerie Plame.


Zell Miller is a former Georgia governor and U.S. senator.

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[kallend 2,148]

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>Working in an office in the US is NOT undercover.

Wow. Just - wow. Do you think covert agents are all just like James Bond, running around foreign countries with fake passports, hidden guns and fast cars to make a quick getaway? Some of them spend most of their time in the US. Which is a good thing - there are threats inside the US as well.

.

Hey, I was sat next to B.J. Worth on the plane last week and he admits to being James Bond and base jumping off the Eiffel Tower, etc. to escape his enemies.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[billvon 3,118]

>Again, this whole issue is in the context of the law that was "supposed" to have been broken.

That's easy. Someone with a security clearance blabbed, thus violating the terms of the clearance. It doesn't matter who knew what. If you have access to secret information and you blab to the press, you go to jail. (Unless, of course, you have an administration protecting you.)

[SudsyFist 0]

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Oh come on. Go read the law. I states that the agent has to be undercover or "covert". All CIA agents are classified.

HUH?

[AlexCrowley 0]

TV's got them images, TV's got them all, nothing's shocking.

[rushmc 23]

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The level of ass-covering is unreal, and this article misses the facts and the point.

I think you are right!
http://www.talkshowamerica.com/2005/11/wilson-outed-his-wife-in-2002.html

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[ReBirth 0]

Even if true....

How does that change the fact that Libby lied?

[rushmc 23]

No, but if true, then there was no crime to invesigate to begin with. Telling the truth would have resulted in no charges.

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[GTAVercetti 0]

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No, but if true, then there was no crime to invesigate to begin with. Telling the truth would have resulted in no charges.

For sure. But, by that logic, Libby thought he was committing a crime or at the very least hiding something.

Otherwise, why lie?

Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing.

[rushmc 23]

Polical reasons and maybe panic?

I don't know, but the report I posted the link to (just for you) came from ABC not NewsMax

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[AlexCrowley 0]

I think there's a typo in your sig line.

TV's got them images, TV's got them all, nothing's shocking.

[ReBirth 0]

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the report I posted the link to (just for you) came from ABC not NewsMax

You ok? Not feely woozie or anything right?

[rushmc 23]

Quote

Quote

the report I posted the link to (just for you) came from ABC not NewsMax

You ok? Not feely woozie or anything right?

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[GTAVercetti 0]

Quote

Polical reasons and maybe panic?

I don't know, but the report I posted the link to (just for you) came from ABC not NewsMax

I know. And I said nothing, didn't I?

Political reason should not be acceptable for such action. Panic? Maybe one time. But multiple times? And what was the reason for the panic. Libby is a hardass; doubtful he would be panicked easily by Fitzgerald.

You will also find that I recognize that this Libby went and did something dumb about a crime/non-crime during an OFFICIAL investigation. Whether Plame was outed is really moot at this point.

Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing.

[SudsyFist 0]

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I think there's a typo in your sig line.

*dying*

[wmw999 2,588]

If there really was no crime committed, and Libby lied because of panic, it gets to be more and more similar to Clinton lying about his BJ.

Really. It's not illegal. It might jeopardize his position as CIC to be in a relationship with someone so subordinate to him (thanks for the thoughts about that, Lawrocket), and it's massively embarrassing, but it's definitely not illegal.

That sword cuts in a couple of directions, though

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[GTAVercetti 0]

But since when is lying during an official investigation (who's purpose is to determine if there WAS a crime) not illegal. That is why he was indicted.

Stupid in hindsight? Yes. Still illegal? Yes. Obstruction of Justice and Perjury are still illegal even if, in the end, they don't pertain to an actual crime.

But please, correct me if I am wrong.

Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing.