What Woodward Knew

US News ^ | Nov 17, 2005 | Michael Barone

[YaYa123]

What to think of the quite astonishing revelation that Bob Woodward was told by administration sources—not Scooter Libby or Karl Rove, it seems clear—that Joseph Wilson's wife worked at the CIA, and told a month before what Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald said was the first revelation by an administration source, Libby, to a member of the press?

Here's the story from yesterday's Post on Woodward's testimony, and here's Woodward's statement, printed next to the story on the jump page. Here's the story by the Post's excellent media reporter Howard Kurtz on Woodward's apology to Post Executive Editor Leonard Downie for not telling him about this some time ago.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

The CIA had no idea the Berlin wall waould come down or the SU would collapse.

[Revolting cat!]

Mebbe Woodward can play Robert Redford again in the movie version of this soap opera! Who'd play Dustin, though?

[Prost1]

Whoooaoaooaooaooo.....

Barone is absolutely on fire! News analysis at its very best!

[McGavin999]

The CIA has become anti-American. Is that possible?

I think that some within the organization have, and I think it's very important that those who haven't get sniffed out as soon as possible before the American people lose faith in it altogether.

There are heroic things being done by members of the CIA and they are being tainted by these creeps who cloak themselves in secrecy and slyly whisper state secrets to the press. It's time for the CIA to cull the herd.

[t2buckeye]

His analysis is the most clear-cut, easy to understand explanation...withOUT political hatred and hyperbole...than any other writer...

[b4its2late]

It may mean Clinton administration sources as well.

Wouldn't that be a hoot? Probably too good to be true though.....

[CFC__VRWC]

Pinch Sulzberger has been driving the Times into the gutter. He is the guy who befriended Judith Miller when she was first hired and evidently has now authorized firing her, if not demanding it. The folks at the Post must see a golden opportunity to finally go past their rival.

Assuming the Post can get past it's own credibility problems, which have suddenly seemed to multiply in the past few weeks. This business of Woodward declining to offer exculpatory (for Libby) evidence in Fitzgerald's investigation because he couldn't be bothered with subpoenas is one of the most self-serving and cowardly things I've heard in a long time. As far as Pincus goes, it's clear that he's just Joe Wilson's stenographer, and now he's facing a possible contempt citation just like Miller did. And this whole business with Matthew Mosk and MD4Bush, plus the mounting revelations that the entire paper is just another part of the Maryland democrat party dirty tricks unit (a dirty tricks unit that is neck deep in the vilest racial slur campaign I have ever seen against Lt. Gov. Steele) is really going to make them look bad.

So while there's no doubt Pinch is driving the NYT into the ground, I wonder if the Post isn't coming in right behind it.

[YaYa123]

Definitely Clinton factions within the CIA working long and hard to sabotage George Bush. Can there be any doubt the whole purpose of the Niger trip was to do just that? Bet your butt Valerie was a player, with hubby in on the action.

Shame on Porter Goss if he can't clean house.

[eeriegeno]

The CIA has become anti-American. Is that possible?

Load the CIA up with Clinton leftists for eight years and it will take twenty to undo it.

Question, did Clinton appoint any ACLU lawyers to the CIA during his tenure? I rest my case.......

[Political Junkie Too]

I'm asking myself, if Bush staffers all immediately released reporters from their confidentiality agreements (even if the reporters refused to accept the release), and Woodward's source is refusing to release Woodward from his confidentiality agreement, then who would be most likely to not behave like the other Bush staffers?

-PJ

[chgomac]

There are heroic things being done by members of the CIA ...lest we forget, one of our first casualties in Afghanistan was Mike Spann. He and his wife both CIA & heroes to me.

[citizencon]

Woodward knew Libby was innocent and said nothing...

[Paladin2]

IIRC the CIA did a great job in Afghanistan or at least got the job done and made good with the PR. Riding a camel is somewhat diferent from riding a desk though.

[Parley Baer]

Has Powell been interviewed by Fitzgerald? That is a question that needs to be asked.

[Prince Charles]

I [Barone] recall that some years ago Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan argued that the CIA should be abolished, and I argued that that was a ridiculous and irresponsible position. As usual when Pat and I disagreed, Pat turned out to be right.

Indeed. An old-fashioned Soviet-style purge is in order.

[cgk]

I say Tenet.

[YOUGOTIT]

Assuming this is true (CIA works to punish Bush and help the Terrorist) then those in the CIA that did this must be brought to justice and put in jail.

How many think this will happen?

Like it was said in the story the MSM is out to get our President and to help the terrorist and it would seem that certain GS employees at the CIA are doing the same thing.

Will this be investigated? Answer NO the Senate is full of cowards and their white flags are waiving.

[Cicero]

True. Race to the bottom.

[Wolfstar]

Everybody LOVES Michael Barone! He makes the whole mess comprehensible!

I especially appreciate Michael Barone's closing paragraph:

I recall that some years ago Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan argued that the CIA should be abolished, and I argued that that was a ridiculous and irresponsible position. As usual when Pat and I disagreed, Pat turned out to be right.

I'm coming to the same conclusion myself. We have many intelligence agencies. A CIA that is a rogue agency which holds itself above ANY President of the United States is a danger to the Republic.

[wildcatf4f3]

a purge of the whole country. 30 million less leftists and i'd sleep like a baby.