This will be a bitter pill for some conservatives to swallow. CIA Director Michael Hayden personally reviewed and okayed Henry Waxman's opening statement for Valerie Plame's testimony today. Furthermore, Hayden took pains to set the record straight: Plame was indeed a covert agent up until the day Robert Novak revealed as much to the public. You see, many on the right (including some here at The Stump) have spent a lot of time trying to convince us otherwise. They never fail to use quotation marks when referring to the administration's "outing" of Plame so as to suggest that no such undercover status ever existed. While Patrick Fitzgerald may not have believed he had enough evidence to prove that a crime was committed, there was really never much doubt that Plame had covert status.
In fact, Plame's testimony proved illuminating on a number of fronts. Under oath, articulate, and forceful, she laid to waste a veritable forest of myths that the right has erected against her. No, she wasn't a mere pencil pusher, she'd undertaken undercover missions to foreign countries over the past five years. No, she hadn't been the one to select her husband to go to on his fact-finding mission to Niger. No, she didn't talk to Nicholas Kristof (or others in the media) about her job at the CIA. But most importantly, in the words of the man who now heads the CIA, she was very much a covert agent.
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 11)
16. This is another of Chainey's underhanded cheap shots. In his world of I.D.I.C. (infinite diversity, infinite coplications)* he maneuvers with great adeptness. Valerie was used to snipe a cheap shot at former ambassedor Wilson. Chaney created a new but short term position at the CIA, the "innocent bystander"...
* Spock (Star-treck)
Edward Thain at 4:37PM on Mar 16th 2007
17. Plame was about as covert as I am. She was as desk jockey!
Glad to see the democratic congress has their priorities in order.
Al at 2:26PM on Mar 16th 2007
18. I see Plame "was" a covert CIA agent. WAS she at the time of the outing? When was her last covert mission? In her testimony it sounded like--this outing destroyed her CHANCE to become a covert operative. I may be wrong--that's just what it sounded like.
Also, isn't it a conflict of interests to involve your spouse who happens to be a politician of an opposing party that was actively trying to discredit the president? And did she provide any "Classified" information to her husband, that he wouldn't normally had access to?
It sounds like Mr. Wilson put his wife in jeopardy and amid this storm.
If not, then someone needs to pay, this may not be "treason" as some suggest but certainly is wrong and unethical.
mailman12_2000 at 2:35PM on Mar 16th 2007
19. A minute of fame may get her book published. Better rush into print because in 30 days, she is a has been. Joe Wilson, husband and so-called 'diplomat' was undersecretary of some minor post. Nothing big or important.
More books come from Washington and are nothing than anywhere else in the world. What a waste of ink and the enviroment and printing presses.
Texas.
Longdrycreek at 2:42PM on Mar 16th 2007
20. How can a person working in the CIA office building everyday and wearing a badge be covert? Not that I really support any of the other players in this.
Joe at 2:40PM on Mar 16th 2007
21. While our 'estwhile' spy; Mrs. Plame was wonderfully confident that when she sent her husband Amassador Wilson to Africa to make sure that nothing like Uranium was being sold to the "Bad Guys!" And whilst Ambassador Wilson was swilling his Gin and Tonics at the Emasssy Club; a 1956 specially modified "El Camino" was loading up on "Yellow Cake" Uranium and heading back to unload the product that was delivered to a very "Bad" government... So, much for the rest of the story folks! Spy my Ass, neither one of the players involved could find their ass with both hands...
ENRIQUE IGLESIAS at 2:41PM on Mar 16th 2007
22. No David, it is NOT a "fact" that she was a covert agent. You can say it until you're blue in the face, but it won't make it true. She drove to work every day AT THE CIA BUILDING! She said today in her testimony that there were people in the "Washington Cocktail Circuit" that knew she worked for the CIA. Victoria Toensing, who co-wrote the law about covert operatives, has stated that her status didn't meet the criteria. Match point game...you're wrong
Scott Anderson at 2:42PM on Mar 16th 2007
23. Valerie Plame was outed by her husband and herself. Many of their friends and associates were aware of her position at the CIA long before the "outing". She was Not covert! Plame and Wilson do not like Bush. Ambassador Wilson gave misleading information to the CIA and the media regarding Sadam Hussein's attempt to secure a source for uranium in Niger.This fact is on the record.
Charles at 2:45PM on Mar 16th 2007
24. Covert?Where? How about her in Hustler as a covert?
ED McGowan at 2:43PM on Mar 16th 2007
25. The axis of evil, Bush,Chaneny and Rove have the combined intelegience of a idiot. Not only by outing a agent did it set our ability to get people we need to gather imformation on matters of national security, it also cost the tax payers millions of dollars by outing a trained agent, it takes years to train an develope the ability to become a effective agent. I wouldn't be in a big hurry to help gather information for the US no matter how much cash they throw at me if I could possibly be exposed because some politician can find any WMD's.
David Robison Sr. at 2:52PM on Mar 16th 2007
26. Any one who thinks the issues involved here are not serious needs to stop and think for a couple of minutes. The seriousness of outing a "covert" CIA agent is not some isolated publicity stunt. It not only puts at risk the contacts she had in her "covert" activities, but it brings into open question future CIA "covert" contacts who can be exposed who can be exposed at the whim of disgruntled politicians and non thinking
journalist. If you cannot grasp the implacations for the security of this country, you have missed the boat!
gary watkins at 2:53PM on Mar 16th 2007
27. Enrique and Scott add fascinating information to the story. Thanks for making a contribution.
Longdrycreek Ranch, Texas
James from Texas at 2:46PM on Mar 16th 2007
28. I perjury before a congressional committee is still a working concept, Ms. Plame may have a go at that. My guess is she will be exempt as surely as the "farm" actresses were called by the Democrats some 20 years ago to testify about life on the farm.
James, Longdrycreek Ranch, Texas
James from Texas at 2:50PM on Mar 16th 2007
29. Let me get this straight, Armitage was the first to leak Plane, and Fistgreald was not able to send anyone to jail for this suppose crime, what is all these show trials the Democratic are conducting. I don"t get it.
john C at 2:57PM on Mar 16th 2007
30. Let me get this straight, Armitage was the first to leak Plane, and Fistgreald was not able to send anyone to jail for this suppose crime, what is all these show trials the Democratic are conducting. I don"t get it.
john C at 2:57PM on Mar 16th 2007