Bush 'involved' in CIA leak case

[tyovan]

A former White House press secretary has said the US president was involved in misinforming the public over the leaking of a CIA agent's identity.

In an excerpt from his book, Scott McClellan says George W Bush helped mislead the public over the role in the affair of two White House aides.

The CIA agent, Valerie Plame, says her identity was leaked because her diplomat husband opposed the Iraq war.

The White House said Mr Bush would not ask anyone to pass false information.

Lawsuit

Mr McClellan's book is not scheduled for publication until April and the excerpt released was brief.

It refers to a White House press conference he attended in 2003.

At the conference, Mr McClellan told journalists that the two aides Karl Rove and Lewis "Scooter" Libby were "not involved" in leaking Ms Plame's identity.

The excerpt reads: "There was one problem. It was not true.

"I had unknowingly passed along false information. And five of the highest ranking officials in the administration were involved in my doing so: Rove, Libby, the vice-president, the president's chief of staff, and the president himself."

Mr McClellan, who served as press secretary from 2003 to 2006, has made no further comment on the excerpt.

Libby, Vice-President **** Cheney's former chief of staff, is the only person charged over the affair. He was sentenced to 30 months in jail for obstructing an inquiry into the leaking of the identity.

However, Mr Bush intervened in July to prevent Libby from serving a prison term.

Ms Plame said Mr McClellan's excerpt was "shocking".

"I am outraged to learn that former White House press secretary Scott McClellan confirms that he was sent out to lie to the press corps.

"Even more shocking, McClellan confirms that not only Karl Rove and Scooter Libby told him to lie but Vice-President Cheney, presidential Chief of Staff Andrew Card and President Bush also ordered McClellan to issue his misleading statement."

Current White House press secretary Dana Perino said the meaning of the excerpt was unclear.

However, she said: "The president has not and would not ask his spokespeople to pass on false information."

In July a judge dismissed a civil lawsuit brought by Ms Plame against Mr Cheney and other Bush administration officials.

She maintained her cover had been blown after her husband, Joseph Wilson, a former ambassador, said the Bush administration had manipulated intelligence on Iraq to back its case for war.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7105001.stm

Hope it hasn't been posted yet.

[HR24]

Stirring the pot for future sales....

[Rictor]

It pains me to know that after all the lies, the unconstitutional laws, the stripping of civil liberties, the wasted lives and treasure, the steady and shameless erosion of the Republic, these guys are going to get nailed for leaking the name of a CIA agent.

[2Sheds_Jackson]

It pains me to know that after all the wasted time and money going after somebody for a leak that wasn't a leak, people are still trying to advance their personal fortunes by propagating the lie.



"I am outraged to learn that former White House press secretary Scott McClellan confirms that he was sent out to lie to the press corps.


...says the woman who worked for the government's top spy agency. Gosh, what a babe in the woods - what a shock it must have been to her, as a 20 year CIA agent, to learn only now that the government would lie to people. Imagine her horror when she discovers that there's no tooth fairy.

[budgie]

It pains me to know that after all the wasted time and money going after somebody for a leak that wasn't a leak, people are still trying to advance their personal fortunes by propagating the lie.

...says the woman who worked for the government's top spy agency. Gosh, what a babe in the woods - what a shock it must have been to her, as a 20 year CIA agent, to learn only now that the government would lie to people. Imagine her horror when she discovers that there's no tooth fairy.

Well it's the tooth fairy that conservatives believed in: Bush the honest, down-to-earth guy you could crack open a cold one with (God knows, he needs one...). It's as if this Republican Messiah were Santa Claus, Robin Hood and Jesus all rolled into one. Somehow for that lot the blame still falls on everyone but Bush: the Iraq invasion? The Brits gave faulty intel. Plame? The CIA...come on we're not that stupid.

Napoleon once said that you should "Never ascribe to conspiracy that which can be explained by incompetence." A handy copout for those trying to cover up a conspiracy, but nevertheless telling in cases such as these. Bush either knew about it or he didn't - he is either a schemer or an incompetent buffoon. He can't be both but neither looks pretty.

[pistol]

It pains me to know that after all the wasted time and money going after somebody for a leak that wasn't a leak, people are still trying to advance their personal fortunes by propagating the lie.


So now you are accusing McClellan of lying by admitting that he lied? What color is the sky in your fantasy world?

[2Sheds_Jackson]

So now you are accusing McClellan of lying by admitting that he lied? What color is the sky in your fantasy world?

McClellan can't "admit" that Bush lied unless he knows for certain that he did. And McClellan is already backing off, saying he doesn't know. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if Bush did lie. It's what political leaders do, especially in wartime.


Well it's the tooth fairy that conservatives believed in: Bush the honest, down-to-earth guy you could crack open a cold one with (God knows, he needs one...). It's as if this Republican Messiah were Santa Claus, Robin Hood and Jesus all rolled into one. Somehow for that lot the blame still falls on everyone but Bush: the Iraq invasion? The Brits gave faulty intel. Plame? The CIA...come on we're not that stupid.

Napoleon once said that you should "Never ascribe to conspiracy that which can be explained by incompetence." A handy copout for those trying to cover up a conspiracy, but nevertheless telling in cases such as these. Bush either knew about it or he didn't - he is either a schemer or an incompetent buffoon. He can't be both but neither looks pretty.

There's a 3rd option, which so many have a hard time comprehending. He's the chief of the executive branch - he has the authority to leak Plame's name - and it therefore would not be a leak. He also has the authority to lie to the public about it. Just like FDR did all the way through WWII. Anybody who's so politically naive as to not understand that so late in the game is more incompetent and unable to learn from their mistakes than Bush ever was. All Presidents lie - they're allowed to. It's one of the things that we, by way of our law, empower them to do. That's why nobody was ever going to jail over the Plame affair - and it's been a dog and pony show from the get go - even if it was to the rapturous applause of the halfwits in the cheap seats.

[BugHunt]

McClellan can't "admit" that Bush lied unless he knows for certain that he did. And McClellan is already backing off, saying he doesn't know. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if Bush did lie. It's what political leaders do, especially in wartime.

Eh? But wasnt the point we WERENT at war with Iraq at the time? *


Hence why when the whitehouse fabricated and yes lied about intelligence - so they could execute a poorly planned and incompotent war?





There's a 3rd option, which so many have a hard time comprehending. He's the chief of the executive branch - he has the authority to leak Plame's name - and it therefore would not be a leak. He also has the authority to lie to the public about it.

Seems to me theres a difference between a President in say WW2 lying to preserve his nation. And a incompotent buffon lying to START a avoidable war for reasons know only to himself.....



So if by your standards lying, starting badly executed wars getting thousands (most likely hundreds of thousands dead) is a "good" president, what exactly would equal a "bad" president?

If a Stalin or Pol Pot was elected or some american dictator came to power - there are no points in your reasoning where you personnely would question, let alone opposed him is there? After all "hes the president" its what they do etc.....

Blind unquestioning trust and obedience in governments are very dangerous states of minds.



* Oh i know i know your going to cry "911" the ultimate get out clause.... IT LITERALLY MEANS EVERY1 IS NOW A THREAT AND THE US IS AT WAR WITH ALL... THE most empowering event in presidental history. Bush literally cant do no wrong afterwards. He can lockup. investigate, torture or invade any1 or any place now with that ace up his sleeve....

[AZRON]

One little over looked fact , the person who leaked or mentioned this woman was Richard Armitage.

His name seems to be missing from the above dialogue.
Repeat the person who started the whisper game is named Richard Armitage. Why isn't he mentioned in the above dialogue ?

As a matter of fact when Robert Novack was told about Joe Wilson's wife her name wasn't mentioned. Novack was told the Joe Wilson's wife worked for the CIA. The person who mentioned Joe Wilson's wife is named Richard Armitage.
If the leaking of a CIA is a criminal offense then why isn't anyone screaming to indict Richard Armitage??????????????????????????

Novack then got a copy of Who's Who in D.C. and found that Joe Wilson's wife is named Valerie Plame. Deep.......deep.........deep cover.

So what's this about these other people ?????????

[budgie]

... it's been a dog and pony show from the get go - even if it was to the rapturous applause of the halfwits in the cheap seats.

Hey I paid $8.50 for my seat!

[Blackwater11114]

McClellan can't "admit" that Bush lied unless he knows for certain that he did. And McClellan is already backing off, saying he doesn't know. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if Bush did lie. It's what political leaders do, especially in wartime.



There's a 3rd option, which so many have a hard time comprehending. He's the chief of the executive branch - he has the authority to leak Plame's name - and it therefore would not be a leak. He also has the authority to lie to the public about it. Just like FDR did all the way through WWII. Anybody who's so politically naive as to not understand that so late in the game is more incompetent and unable to learn from their mistakes than Bush ever was. All Presidents lie - they're allowed to. It's one of the things that we, by way of our law, empower them to do. That's why nobody was ever going to jail over the Plame affair - and it's been a dog and pony show from the get go - even if it was to the rapturous applause of the halfwits in the cheap seats.

i don't post much... i enjoy reading ....(call me a lurker) but i do enjoy YOUR comments.... Thank you very much for starting my Thanksgiving day with a laugh.....

[2Sheds_Jackson]

Eh? But wasnt the point we WERENT at war with Iraq at the time? *

Hence why when the whitehouse fabricated and yes lied about intelligence - so they could execute a poorly planned and incompotent war?

Huh whatnow? No no, see now you've confused two different fantasies of the left. That's what happens with the tangled web weaving and all that. The alleged lie we're talking about here is the lie about leaking Plame's name, not about intel starting the war. The war started in March '03. Novak's column came out months later in July. And the story of the leak didn't break until months after that in October 03.


Blind unquestioning trust and obedience in governments are very dangerous states of minds.

Agreed - but so is ignorance of the law. There's a looonng way between unquestioning trust and simply recognizing reality.


One little over looked fact , the person who leaked or mentioned this woman was Richard Armitage.

You betcha. But, personally I suspect that one reason why nobody has gone to jail for it may be because the disclosure was given the "ok" from on high (even if it may have been after the fact). I think if Bush was actually pissed off about the leak, there would be plenty more heads on a platter...