Originally Posted By ElKay On a side not, the fact that Libby and Rove have apparently told Fitzgerld that they had in fact mentioned Plame to reporters, should at minimum put their security clearences in jeoparty. I heard a report on NPR that people loose their security clearences for the tiniest of reasons. Outting a CIA analyist is pretty huge. If Libby or Rove have their security clearances lifted, they would pretty much be out of jobs and most likely not even be able to get a car loan for that reason. They'd never be able to work for a government agency or be able to work in a profession. Only the most partisan think tank would stick out their necks to hire them. They'd essentially be G. Gordon Liddy or Olie North, neocon kooks ranting on talk radio. Making a living, but tainted in the public arena.
Originally Posted By ElKay I recall that one of several "trial balloons" for Libby defense was that he either was so overworked or his memory was so poor that he must have forgotten that Plame was a CIA anaylist. That made me laugh, because that reminded me of Michael Deaver's advoidence of being charged with some, long forgotten transgression in Reagan's White House. If MY memory serves, Deaver sucessfully argued that he shouldn't be charged because he was an alcoholic and plastered most of the time he was breaking federal laws. Hey, whatever works.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer >>At the time that Mr. Novak's column appeared, Ms. Plame was not covert. << But her identity and role with the CIA was classified, regardless of whether she was covert. But Fitzgerald did say she was covert and that her cover was blown. Hmm... do I believe the guy who read a couple of articles, or the guy who has been looking into this matter as part of a very public investigation involving senior members of the White House staff...
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh <There are good indications that Cheney made inquiries about Joe Wilson's connections to the CIA and it doesn't take a genius to assume that since Cheney and Libby had a very close working relationship and a similar world viewpoint, that Cheney told Libby about Plane as connected in getting their critic the gig to go to Niger.> There are also indications that that is not what happened. Bob Woodward's testimony especially undercuts that notion.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh <But her identity and role with the CIA was classified, regardless of whether she was covert.> And still, no one was charged with that, after two years of investigating it. <Hmm... do I believe the guy who read a couple of articles, or the guy who has been looking into this matter as part of a very public investigation involving senior members of the White House staff...> Don't trust either of us. Read the definition of a covert agent, and read aboutMs. Plame's work history. There's no possible way she qualifies as a covert agent.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer Of course her identity and role were classified. This investigation would have ended in 15 minutes if that wasn't the case. Wishful thinking, as you say, is not an argument.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh <Of course her identity and role were classified.> But not covert. <Wishful thinking, as you say, is not an argument.> I'm talking facts. There appears to be no question that Mr. Libby talked about Plame's occupation with several people. If her status was classified, and it was a crime to release that information, then why wasn't he charged with that crime?
Originally Posted By TomSawyer >>If her status was classified, and it was a crime to release that information, then why wasn't he charged with that crime?<< Fitzgerald isn't done with the investigation yet.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh <Fitzgerald isn't done with the investigation yet.> If he was going to charge Libby with revealing classified information, he would have already done it.
Originally Posted By StillThePassHolder "If he was going to charge Libby with revealing classified information, he would have already done it." Only Fitzgerald would know that for sure.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer >>If he was going to charge Libby with revealing classified information, he would have already done it.<< Perhaps. But that doesn't mean it isn't illegal.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan I can't believe the same people who were taking the administration to task for planting a fake reporter among the White House press corps are now the same ones outraged over the White House press secretary altering transcripts. There's just no pleasing you people.
