WASH POST's Ben Bradlee Claims Plame Leaker Was Richard Armitage

The Drudge Report ^ | march 13, 2006 | Drudge

[blogblogginaway]

WASH POST's Ben Bradlee Claims Plame Leaker Was Richard Armitage Mon Mar 13 2006 10:48:34 ET

THE WASHINGTON POST's famous Watergate editor Ben Bradlee claims that it was former State Department Deputy Secretary Richard Armitage who was the individual who leaked the identity of CIA official Valerie Plame.

In the latest issue of VANITY FAIR: "Woodward was in a tricky position. People close to him believe that he had learned about Plame from his friend Richard Armitage, Colin Powell's former deputy, who has been known to be critical of the administration and who has a blunt way of speaking. 'That Armitage is the likely source is a fair assumption,' former WASHINGTON POST editor Ben Bradlee said."

'I had heard about an e-mail that was sent that had a lot of unprintable language in it.'"

Developing...

[Caveman Lawyer]

Few too many weasel words in there to justify the headline.

[Mo1]

'I had heard about an e-mail that was sent that had a lot of unprintable language in it.'"

Where's the email?

[Straight8]

What leaker?
Just heard on Tony Snow (who was very involved with covert operations) that Ms. Plame drove through the front gate at C.I.A. HQ every day when going to work. Mr. Snow pointed out that a covert agent NEVER, EVER, does that.

[MinuteGal]

I strongly believe it could be Armitage.

IMO, Powell was becoming bitter long before he resigned and he is still bitter. I think he was either quietly asked to resign or he was being isolated with the key to his private washroom changed during one dark night. I don't think the President trusted him any more toward the end.

Whatever the history on this, I congratulate the freepers who were stating that Deep Throat 2 was Powell or one of his clones at State.

The State Department is still one pig trough of anti-administration, anti-America, anti-Israel and pro-Arab squealers and bitter-enders.

Leni

[Hatteras]

Ben "Gee, officer, I think they went thataway!" Bradlee?

[dinoparty]

Thanks. So is Scooter being railroaded, or is he an ADDITIONAL leaker?

[jveritas]

I and some other freepers thought that it was Armitage many months ago. We shall see.

[kabar]

I may be in a minority here but I simply don't care about this story.

You may not, but Scooter Libby does. I am sure the WH is also concerned since Fitzgerald is still investigating. This story has yet to play out.

[kabar]

Some Plame Truths

[rod1]

It was a non-story to mention her regardless of who did it since Plame was not covert at the time.

I suspect Armitage needed no real motive in just mentioning her. It is likely he and Woodward were simply chit chatting about some of their most favorite anti-administration people of the time. Joe and Valerie were certainly A list for that. The less than honorable motives came after-wards when they attempted to hang the administration with the leak they probably perpetrated.

[HawaiianGecko]

The article doesn't give us any data that would allow a deduction about his motive. It does, however,
indicate that Bob W. and Richard A. are friends and that does allow for a conclusion that they were simply
having an off the record conversation as all friends have.

[InterceptPoint]

'That Armitage is the likely source is a fair assumption,' former WASHINGTON POST editor Ben Bradlee said."

Surely there is more than this. Of course Armitage is a likely source. That is a fair assumption. The same statement could apply to dozens of people in Washington. It is completely meaningless.

[jveritas]

Thanks, good article.

[Peter Libra]

I simply don't care about this story

Ditto that but..... (myself shouting with despair)

Will Woodward and Bernstein NEVER go away?.

Bradley too, wants his life time of "Warhols fame". He wants in on this act. Oh,I forgot, Warhol prophesied every one should have 15 minutes of fame. LOL

[HawaiianGecko]

"People close to him believe that he had learned about Plame from his friend Richard Armitage." or
"That Armitage is the likely source is a fair assumption"

I agree with you. This whole article is meaningless.

I'm not entirely sure how either of those lines translate into Ben Bradley says it was Armitage. It may very well be true and Bradley is certainly in a position to know more than I am, but he didn't make any definitive statement here.

There are people that say President Bush is a criminal.  By making that statement, I certainly didn't proclaim that I believe such nonsense.

[elc]

LOL. Drudge sure is on top of things. This is an old story that was floated around last fall. The premise is Armitage and Woodward are old friends and were simply chatting when Armitage happened to mention her name. No malice intended (especially since he is a critic of the war). Much ado about nothing, as usual.

[gondramB]

Yes, although it would be nice if the press had more than that before coming to conclusions.

[gondramB]

"Surely there is more than this. Of course Armitage is a likely source. That is a fair assumption. The same statement could apply to dozens of people in Washington. It is completely meaningless."

Yes, as apparently her job wasn't totally secret even if it was classified.

[Constantine XIII]

I wonder if Scooter would have a chance at winning a lawsuit for harassment. :P

[Jedidah]

"Ben Bradlee can sit on the identity of Deep Throat for how many years??? But in this case he hangs a source out to dry? What do these decisions have in common: they both disadvantage Republican administrations."


Sorry, but there's a big diffence between now and then, as far as Bradless's role.

In regard to Watergate, he had pledged confidentiality. Give the guy props for keeping his word all those years.

Now, he's just like us, a spectator and speculator. He can muse, quietly or out loud, about who did what without breaking any promises.

This is not Watergate, and to elevate this petty pseudo-scandal to that level is ridiculous. In fact, I'm tired of every interesting issue having a "gate" plastered on the end.