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The Plame Affair: When is a 'Leak' a Covert Action? - (ex-CBS, Gannett VP sets record straight)
CHRONWATCH.COM ^ | JULY 17, 2005 | LEE ELLIS

Posted on 07/17/2005 6:37:21 PM PDT by CHARLITE

In journalism, the definition of “leak” suggests that it is applied to government officials who purposely give reporters secret or confidential information in order to publicize something they do not like so that it can be defeated before being voted upon. “Outing” a CIA agent is only a crime if the agent is under cover overseas or has been during the past five years. This law was created to prevent the assassinations of CIA agents on foreign shores as had been caused by Philip Agee in 1978 who listed CIA agents undercover in foreign cities, causing the murder of some.

With these two realities in mind, only a propagandist, who really and unreasonable hates President Bush, could tell such lies about Karl Rove!

1. Rove did not call a reporter to leak something. The reporter called Rove to verify a story about Joseph Wilson, which was not true. Rove tried to explain that neither President Bush nor Vice-President Cheney authorized his trip to Niger; but that it was someone in the CIA who had. Rove then said, in an effort to keep the reporter from going with a false story, that apparently Wilson’s wife worked for the CIA and it was she who had recommended him.

2. It was Novak who actually put the name, “Valerie Plame” into the newspaper and he had called the CIA to be sure that it was OK to reveal her name. Since she was NOT a covert agent, the CIA did not stop him. Joseph Wilson, himself, was recorded as saying that Novak did not “out” his wife wrongly as she was NOT a covert agent at the time. Actually, Plame has been in management at the CIA as a known CIA employee since the days she dated and married Wilson!

Based on these two facts, let’s stop the false attacks on Rove and Bush. The only agent that has been truly “outed” is Fulton Armstrong—not by Rove, but by Senator John Kerry, according to a story in Newsmax on 7/14/2005. Where are Pelosi, Reid and Kennedy now? Why are they so quiet about this?

About the Writer: Lee Ellis is a retired journalist and a former vice president of both CBS and Gannett. He resides in Indio, California, where he writes op-eds that appear in several local newspapers. Lee receives e-mail at indiolee@dc.rr.com.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: agent; blowback; boris; cia; cialeak; corn; corncobbed; corndavid; corned; cornedbeef; cornholed; cornholio; covert; creamedcorn; davidcorn; davidcornhole; democrats; fearlessleader; hillary; iamcornholio; independentcounsel; inquiry; iraq; joewilson; justicedept; korn; leak; lies; media; moosesquirrel; natasha; niger; novak; outing; plame; plamenameblamegame; press; propaganda; reid; resignation; rove; rover; rovernumber6; schumer; secretagentman; smokinthecorncobpipe; source; thenation; tpforthebunghole; voodoointelligence; whitehouse; wilson; wmd
"The only agent that has been truly “outed” is Fulton Armstrong—not by Rove, but by Senator John Kerry, according to a story in Newsmax on 7/14/2005. Where are Pelosi, Reid and Kennedy now? Why are they so quiet about this?"
1 posted on 07/17/2005 6:37:22 PM PDT by CHARLITE
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To: CHARLITE

At last, someone from the media with an IQ higher than room temperature.


2 posted on 07/17/2005 6:41:26 PM PDT by Bobkk47
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To: ThreePuttinDude; Beth528; SMARTY; CyberAnt; nothingnew; Cornpone; Blurblogger; ...
Democrats are really grasping at straws and stopping at nothing to "get Bush!"..........and meanwhile, our CIC moves along in his steady, unperturbable-unflappable, focused manner. That is what they absolutely can not stand - President George W. Bush's RESOLVE! He is the living image of what it means to be an American!

Liberals hate him and islamofascists hate him. Do we see a pattern here?

Char (:

3 posted on 07/17/2005 6:41:40 PM PDT by CHARLITE (I propose a co-Clinton team as permanent reps to Pyonyang, w/out possibility of repatriation....)
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To: CHARLITE

There is no more "loyal opposition". Take the gloves off.


4 posted on 07/17/2005 6:41:53 PM PDT by samadams2000 (Pitchforks and Lanters..with a smiley face!)
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To: CHARLITE
GWB is willing to take a lot of crap from people when it is directed at him. He has always said don't mess with his family and don't toss mud at his friends in pursuit of a political agenda. Karl Rove is a long time and trusted friend. There will be paybacks for this. Stay tuned.
5 posted on 07/17/2005 6:47:38 PM PDT by gov_bean_ counter (Conservatives look at Iraqi dual use chemicals and see WMDs. Liberals see tomato gardens.)
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To: CHARLITE
Great find...simple, short and concise..which is why, the Liberals, are heading for the "Tall Grass" on this matter, with egg on their face.
6 posted on 07/17/2005 6:49:51 PM PDT by skinkinthegrass (Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you :^)
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To: CHARLITE

Could minor Ambassador Joe Wilson himself have been the source in blowing his own Wife's "cover" (even if she had not been a covert CIA agent at the time of the alleged leaks)?

It is distinctly possible, (though it may be unlikely that Joe Wilson himself directly was NY Times Judith Miller's source), since Joe Wilson himself evidently routinely bragged openly to strangers about her CIA employment, prior to such "cover" being "blown" in the press.

Here's an example of Joe's apparently routine and open bragging about Valerie being a "CIA agent," which became known directly to me over a year ago:

He certainly bragged about it per a famous and highly reliable source's (named below) account of his own face-to-face encounter with Amb. Joe Wilson prior to Valerie Plame's "outing" as a CIA agent/employee.

Based upon a personal conversation (we were in a small group eating; it was NOT an "off the record") I had with eminent historian Victor Davis Hanson (we were at a luncheon table together during a trip to Europe), it appeared entirely possible that Joe Wilson himself was the (or one source, if not the original one) possible source in revealing his own wife's status as a CIA agent or employee.

Victor Davis Hanson (Wilson presumably knew Victor Davis Hanson wrote regularly for NRO (National Review Online), had done OpEds for the Wall street Journal, and other publications, and had his own Website with a widespread following) said he (VDH) & Joe Wilson were both in the same "Green Room" before a televised debate-discussion on Iraq, etc. and Joe first warned the TV make-up person not to get powder on his $14,000 Rolex watch, then he bragged to Victor about several things (possessions and trips to Aspen, etc.), like his expensive car (I think it was a Mercedes), and then bragged about his beautiful ("hot") wife who, Joe Wilson said (braggingly) was a CIA operative.

I asked Victor Davis Hanson Why he didn't write up this account.(?) He replied that Joe Wilson would probably simply deny it, since only he (VDH) & Joe Wilson were in the Green Room together before the broadcast.

However, it is now easy to surmise that Joe Wilson is a crass, materialistic, self-promoting, vain, egotistical, bragaddocio-opportunist, so this account is perfectly consistent with Valerie Plame's TWO photo shoots in Vanity Fair.


7 posted on 07/17/2005 6:53:48 PM PDT by FReethesheeples (Gonzales appears to be quite WEAK on Property rights!)
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To: CHARLITE
I shut the 'Rats up about Rove as soon as I mention Fat Sandy Burglar!

how 'bout that guy, he cops to a misdemeanor for stealing and destroying classifed documents, gets a 10K fine and three years suspension of his clearance?
I wonder whose arse he had to kiss for that deal! LMAO And we still don't know the what he took, for whom and why???
8 posted on 07/17/2005 7:12:01 PM PDT by kellynla (U.S.M.C. 1st Battalion,5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Div. Viet Nam 69&70 Semper Fi)
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To: FReethesheeples

"... Joe Wilson is a crass, materialistic, self-promoting, vain, egotistical, bragaddocio-opportunist ..."


Hmmmmm?? With those credentials .. he fits right in with the rest of the democrats. I guess that solves the question about why they support him.


9 posted on 07/17/2005 7:21:30 PM PDT by CyberAnt (President Bush: "America is the greatest nation on the face of the earth")
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To: CHARLITE
It was Novak who actually put the name, “Valerie Plame” into the newspaper and he had called the CIA to be sure that it was OK to reveal her name.

This is a crucial fact, yet virtually none of the lamestream articles about this story mention it. Likewise, Novak apparently learned her name from CIA sources before ever talking to Rove.

10 posted on 07/17/2005 7:25:09 PM PDT by kesg
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To: kesg; CyberAnt
"This is a crucial fact, yet virtually none of the lamestream articles about this story mention it."

As we watch the utter vicious, unprincipled behavior of these Democrats, it brings to mind what a total nightmare we would be living in, if Hillary ever got back into the White House.

Just imagine! She would take the term "covert" to a whole new level. She has practice in doing exactly that, from her first 8 years as co-president.

Char

11 posted on 07/17/2005 7:35:31 PM PDT by CHARLITE (I propose a co-Clinton team as permanent reps to Pyonyang, w/out possibility of repatriation....)
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To: kesg
It was Novak who actually put the name, “Valerie Plame” into the newspaper and he had called the CIA to be sure that it was OK to reveal her name.

This is a crucial fact, yet virtually none of the lamestream articles about this story mention it. Likewise, Novak apparently learned her name from CIA sources before ever talking to Rove. POST, POST, AND RE-POST. This is hugh! I'm stuned! This is series! No, really!

12 posted on 07/17/2005 7:36:22 PM PDT by SERKIT ("Blazing Saddles" explains it all.....)
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To: CHARLITE

Thank God for NewsMax!

ABC News Links Bin Laden and Saddam

http://archives.warroom.com/abcnews-1999.mp3

Here's a video of the ABC News report:

http://www.mediaresearch.org/rm/cyber/2004/binladen061704/segment1.ram


13 posted on 07/17/2005 7:38:52 PM PDT by bitt ('We will all soon reap what the ignorant are now sowing.' Victor Davis Hanson)
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To: kellynla
The "three years suspension of his clearance" is very specifically timed to allow him to resecure his clearence when the cRATS take back the White House in 2008.
14 posted on 07/17/2005 7:41:18 PM PDT by Zacs Mom (Proud wife of a Marine! ... and purveyor of "rampant, unedited dialogue")
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To: CHARLITE
In journalism, the definition of “leak” suggests that it is applied to government officials who purposely give reporters secret or confidential information in order to publicize something they do not like

Like Mark Felt leaking to Woodward & Bernstein who are all considered OLD MEDIA heroes.

Watergate leaks = GOOD

Plamegate leaks = BAD

HYPOCRITES!

15 posted on 07/17/2005 7:42:39 PM PDT by kcvl
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To: FReethesheeples
However, it is now easy to surmise that Joe Wilson is a crass, materialistic, self-promoting, vain, egotistical, bragaddocio-opportunist,

Joe always seemed a lot like Michael Schiavo.

And the two men have other things in common, besides their warped, self-seeking personalities.

Michael and Joe each married a woman, born in 1963, who grew up in Huntingdon Valley, PA

The Dems allowed poor Terri Schiavo to be starved to death like an animal, but the same Dems won't permit anyone to discuss Val Plame's employment history.

What a bunch of hypocrites!!

16 posted on 07/17/2005 7:46:56 PM PDT by syriacus (To WHICH entity does LIBELLER JOE WILSON pledge his allegiance?)
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To: kesg
It was Novak who actually put the name, “Valerie Plame” into the newspaper and he had called the CIA to be sure that it was OK to reveal her name.

In my opinion, the CIA would not have responded in that fashion if Ms. Plame had covert status. Instead of "operative" or "agent", I think her title is more correctly "employee".

17 posted on 07/17/2005 7:51:55 PM PDT by Ben Hecks
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To: CHARLITE

Democrats are really grasping at straws and stopping at nothing to "get Bush!"..........
------
Given too many recent events, I don't know if they are really trying to get Bush, per se. They want to discredit the Repubs any way they can. If they really were TARGETING BUSH specifically, they could easily go after him on the issue of national security involving the borders, illegal immigration, the covert ONE AMERICA agenda, all of it -- but they don't. It is possible they are sandbagging these areas until 2008, or even 2006 to attempt to regain the House and Senate in a big way.

Bush does have resolve, but are his real proactive agendas in the best interest of America? I have serious doubts. Pretend that 9/11 never happened -- now, reanalyze the entire Bush administrations years...interesting things pop out of it.

Keep the faith -- the people will prevail, and that is really what counts in America. That is what America is all about -- the individual American citizen. And that is what is at stake, no matter what perspective you come at it from.


18 posted on 07/17/2005 8:05:01 PM PDT by EagleUSA
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To: CHARLITE

Could minor Ambassador Joe Wilson himself have been the source in blowing his own Wife's "cover" (even if she had not been a covert CIA agent at the time of the alleged "leaks")?

It is distinctly possible, (though it may be unlikely that Joe Wilson himself directly was NY Times Judith Miller's source), since Joe Wilson himself evidently routinely bragged openly to strangers about her CIA employment, prior to such "cover" being "blown" in the press.

Here's an example of Joe's apparently routine and open bragging about Valerie being a "CIA agent," which became known directly to me over a year ago:

He certainly bragged about it per a famous and highly reliable source's (named below) account of his own face-to-face encounter with Amb. Joe Wilson prior to Valerie Plame's "outing" as a CIA agent/employee.

Based upon a personal conversation (we were in a small group eating; it was NOT an "off the record") I had with eminent historian Victor Davis Hanson (we were at a luncheon table together during a trip to Europe), it appeared entirely possible that Joe Wilson himself was the (or one source, if not the original one) possible source in revealing his own wife's status as a CIA agent or employee.

Victor Davis Hanson (Wilson presumably knew Victor Davis Hanson wrote regularly for NRO (National Review Online), had done OpEds for the Wall street Journal, and other publications, and had his own Website with a widespread following) said he (VDH) & Joe Wilson were both in the same "Green Room" before a televised debate-discussion on Iraq, etc. and Joe first warned the TV make-up person not to get powder on his $14,000 Rolex watch, then he bragged to Victor about several things (possessions and trips to Aspen, etc.), like his expensive car (I think it was a Mercedes), and then bragged about his beautiful ("hot") wife who, Joe Wilson said (braggingly) was a CIA operative.

I asked Victor Davis Hanson Why he didn't write up this account.(?) He replied that Joe Wilson would probably simply deny it, since only he (VDH) & Joe Wilson were in the Green Room together before the broadcast.

However, it is now easy to surmise that Joe Wilson is a crass, materialistic, self-promoting, vain, egotistical, bragaddocio-opportunist, so this account is perfectly consistent with Valerie Plame's TWO photo shoots in Vanity Fair.


19 posted on 07/17/2005 8:33:09 PM PDT by FReethesheeples (Gonzales appears to be quite WEAK on Property rights!)
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To: CHARLITE

<"The only agent that has been truly “outed” is Fulton Armstrong—not by Rove, but by Senator John Kerry, according to a story in Newsmax on 7/14/2005. Where are Pelosi, Reid and Kennedy now? Why are they so quiet about this?">

I actually believe that both Rove and Bush really have evolved a very firm and direct set of shared guidelines on how to handle both the liberal press and the Democrat hacks who are within the CIA, likely Clinton appointees. After all there is a reason we have a new director of the CIA. If Plame had compromised her oath as a CIA employee in any opposition to change demanded of the CIA by our president, she would have been fired and/or charged with an offense. Instead her husband was used to engage in the Dems initiative to prove that our CIC lied about the reasons for war in Iraq.

This whole affair illustrates just how comprehensive the changes within the CIA likely are. We know such changes are needed based upon the lack of comprehensive intelligence on Islamofascism secured by the CIA prior to 9/11.This is good news by itself and Rove's beneficial fingerprints are all over this affair.

Dems were aced by the GOP again. And the liberal media still thinks our CIC is stupid. Hillary Clinton jokes that
our president is like Alfred E. Newman ?? Give me more of Alfred !!

This administration is beginning to show a form of domestic image mastery that we have not seen for many years, since the Reagan administration. Oh to be a fly on the wall of the White House press room tomorrow! It is now our presidents work to unify our nation as best he can,
so we can move forward in our war against Islamofascism.
Perhaps a few more media professionals will get behind him now, after they have had circles run around them on this one. One can hope.


20 posted on 07/17/2005 8:41:52 PM PDT by Candor7 (Into Liberal Flatulence Goes the Hope of the West)
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To: Candor7
What a splendid comment, Candor. Thanks so much for going to the trouble, and taking the time to write such cogent remarks. You may find this new article interesting, which I just posted a few minutes ago. It's by Jack Kelly, whose pieces nearly always go deeper than the average journalist.

By all means, chime in on that thread, if you have some more of your excellent insights!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1445072/posts

Thanks so much again for contributing to this thread, Candor!

Char :)

21 posted on 07/17/2005 8:50:58 PM PDT by CHARLITE (I propose a co-Clinton team as permanent reps to Pyonyang, w/out possibility of repatriation....)
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To: Ben Hecks
In my opinion, the CIA would not have responded in that fashion if Ms. Plame had covert status. Instead of "operative" or "agent", I think her title is more correctly "employee".

I think people tend to generalize when it comes to using terms to describe someone's "employment" in government agencies. For example, I worked for the IRS 20 years ago. I tell people I was an IRS "Agent", because it is easier to use a term most people are familiar with. My actual title was Revenue Officer, but the distinctions between the duties of an "Agent" and an "Officer" are lost on most people, so I don't elaborate.

22 posted on 07/17/2005 8:52:04 PM PDT by Auntie Dem (Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho! Terrorist lovers gotta go!)
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To: FReethesheeples; Miss Marple; kcvl; Mo1; Timeout; Shermy; Grampa Dave
and Joe first warned the TV make-up person not to get powder on his $14,000 Rolex watch, then he bragged to Victor about several things (possessions and trips to Aspen, etc.), like his expensive car (I think it was a Mercedes), and then bragged about his beautiful ("hot") wife who, Joe Wilson said (braggingly) was a CIA operative.

I want to know where Wilson got the money for that crap BEFORE he wrote his book.

23 posted on 07/17/2005 8:54:45 PM PDT by Howlin (Is Valerie Plame a mute?)
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To: MJY1288

See 23, please.


24 posted on 07/17/2005 8:55:10 PM PDT by Howlin (Is Valerie Plame a mute?)
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To: Howlin
His op-ed title in the NYT's is proof of his self importance "What I Didn't Find in Niger"

He might as well said 'What I Didn't Find in My Naval"

25 posted on 07/17/2005 9:01:47 PM PDT by MJY1288 (Whenever a Liberal is Speaking on the Senate Floor, Al-Jazeera Breaks in and Covers it LIVE)
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To: Howlin
"I want to know where Wilson got the money for that crap BEFORE he wrote his book."

Have you forgotten that it was Joseph Wilson who was the "Advance Person" for Bill & Hill's 200 million dollar vacation to Africa. Wilson handled the contracts, because he knew lots of people in Africa. We all know there is no corruption in Africa and the idea that Joe Wilson might have gotten kick backs from 200 Million Dollars worth of Contracts is something this honest man Joe Wilson would never do < /sarcasm >

26 posted on 07/17/2005 9:11:28 PM PDT by MJY1288 (Whenever a Liberal is Speaking on the Senate Floor, Al-Jazeera Breaks in and Covers it LIVE)
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To: MJY1288

Clinton goes to Africa in March of 1998.

Wilson buys this house in 1998:

http://eyeball.sabotage.org/plame-eyeball.htm


27 posted on 07/17/2005 9:31:31 PM PDT by Howlin (Is Valerie Plame a mute?)
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To: CHARLITE

Apparently, Judith Miller went to jail to protect one or more of the following choices: (take your choice)

Sources Judith Miller is protecting by going to jail:

1. Karl Rove
2. Dick Cheney
3. Colin Powell
4. Haliburton
5. Tom Delay
6. GW
7. Laura Bush and her twin daughters
8. Bush's Doggie
9. _____________ (Fill in the blank with any Republican!)
10. All of the above


28 posted on 07/17/2005 10:43:38 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (The MSM is trying to make us believe, Judith Miller is in jail to protect Karl Rove!)
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To: Howlin
Exactly. Where did he get the money?

I love it when I wake up in the middle of the night and interesting stuff has surfaced. Thanks for the pings!

29 posted on 07/18/2005 12:39:57 AM PDT by Miss Marple (Karl Rove is Plame-proof.)
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To: MJY1288

It was the "CIA" that requested this investigation. We've all been assuming that the request was to find the leaker about Valerie's identity.

But just what if.....the request was actually to build a case against Joe & Valerie? How much secret information did she share with him? She obviously can't keep a secret since according to Joe, she outed herself to him on their third date.

What if Joe blew it himself by writing his NYT article and his book. Don't CIA people have to keep their mouths shut about trips? Findings? etc???


30 posted on 07/18/2005 8:08:14 AM PDT by chgomac
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