Valerie Plame, What should be done? Options

[*mipadi*]

I don't know how many of you have followed the Valerie Plame incident, but I've followed it with great interest. Basically, it starts off with this guy named Joseph Wilson, an American ambassador, who was one of the first to debunk the White House's claim that Iraq had attempted to buy "yellow-cake" uranium from Nigeria. In retaliation for his criticism, someone, who was long unidentified, revealed that Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame, was an undercover CIA officer working in Nigeria. Not only is revealing the name of an undercover operative a federal felony, but this could have easily resulted in her death, and ruined her career as a CIA officer.

For a long time, the person or people who revealed her identity (in a Time article) were unidentified. Of course, the person or people had to have been high-ranking officials to even know of Plame's existence. After a long set of appeals, Time has finally agreed to release the notes of the reporter, in order to help identify the people involved in this crime.

As it turns out, the writer of the article, Matthew Cooper, had numerous contacts with many White House officials, including--ta da--Karl Rove, President Bush's chief advisor.

If Karl Rove, and/or other ranking White House officials, revealed Plame's name, this is not only a felony, but a malicious, traitorous act by White House officials. What do you feel should be done about these crimes?

(More information can be found in this MSNBC/Newsweek article.)

[*not_your_average*]

Well, I think that we first must find out who revealed Valerie Plame. Then we can talk about who we should put in jail. It is unclear whether Karl Rove did or did not reveal Valerie Plame, but whoever did needs to be put in jail.

[*mipadi*]

It looks like Karl Rove did do some talking to the media about Plame.

[Shahin]

If Karl Rove, and/or other ranking White House officials, revealed Plame's name, this is not only a felony, but a malicious, traitorous act by White House officials. What do you feel should be done about these crimes?

(More information can be found in this MSNBC/Newsweek article.)

Treason is an unforgivable crime. If it is indeed Mr. Rove that did the talking, execute him. That's my personal view and opinion on the matter. Of course, him and Mr. P are buddy buddy.

[*mipadi*]

"After two days of questions, the White House said Tuesday that President Bush continues to have confidence in Karl Rove, the presidential adviser at the center of the investigation into the leak identifying a female CIA officer.

Bush did not respond to a reporter’s question Tuesday about whether he would fire Rove, as Democrats demanded, in keeping with a June 2004 pledge to dismiss any leakers of Valerie Plame’s identity.

At a White House briefing later, spokesman Scott McClellan was pressed about Rove’s future.

"Any individual who works here at the White House has the confidence of the president. They wouldn't be working here at the White House if they didn't have the president's confidence," McClellan said." [1]

Is it time for Bush to keep his promise and fire anyone connected with the Valerie Plame incident--even if one of those involved is Karl Rove?

[*kryogenix*]

Basically, it starts off with this guy named Joseph Wilson, an American ambassador, who was one of the first to debunk the White House's claim that Iraq had attempted to buy "yellow-cake" uranium from Nigeria

False. He debunked that Iraq bought yellow cake. However, he acknowledged that Iraq was trying to buy it from Nigeria. In fact, Wilson's article was rather misleading. He was sent there to determine if Iraq was looking to buy yellow cake, but his article said that they didn't buy yellow cake. It's pretty sad that the guy couldn't set politics aside to do his job properly.

"After two days of questions, the White House said Tuesday that President Bush continues to have confidence in Karl Rove, the presidential adviser at the center of the investigation into the leak identifying a female CIA officer.

Bush did not respond to a reporter’s question Tuesday about whether he would fire Rove, as Democrats demanded, in keeping with a June 2004 pledge to dismiss any leakers of Valerie Plame’s identity.

At a White House briefing later, spokesman Scott McClellan was pressed about Rove’s future.

"Any individual who works here at the White House has the confidence of the president. They wouldn't be working here at the White House if they didn't have the president's confidence," McClellan said." [1]

Is it time for Bush to keep his promise and fire anyone connected with the Valerie Plame incident--even if one of those involved is Karl Rove?

I believe the only thing that has been confirmed was that Rove said that Wilson's wife helped get Wilson the job of determining the Iraqi-Nigerian connection. There was nothing about him saying she was an agent.

He hasn't been proven guilty. But if he is, he deserves to be punished.

[*mipadi*]

False. He debunked that Iraq bought yellow cake. However, he acknowledged that Iraq was trying to buy it from Nigeria. In fact, Wilson's article was rather misleading. He was sent there to determine if Iraq was looking to buy yellow cake, but his article said that they didn't buy yellow cake. It's pretty sad that the guy couldn't set politics aside to do his job properly.

So you think it is wrong for Wilson to clarify that Iraq had been unsuccessful in buying uranium? Part of his job does not include saying that Iraq had attempted, but not succeeded, in buying uranium?

I say, Bush should fire Karl Rove, as he promised. He said that anyone who had leaked Plame's name would be removed from his administration. It's time for Bush to come through on his promise.

[technicolour]

Bush SHOULD fire Karl Rove. Dumbass. You don't blab something like that to the media. Even if he HINTED at it to where someone could figure it out easily, well, off with the head.

I'm still confused about the uranium though. Wilson should state the truth, whether Iraq did or didn't buy it.

[*mipadi*]

Wilson said that Iraq didn't try to buy it.

[technicolour]

Ok. Wilson said Iraq didn't buy it. I just woke up and I need to watch the news..but..i'm strill confused. I swear i've read the thread 6 times and i'm still confused.

[mai_z]

Isn't Time also at fault for revealing this kind of information to the public? Like, it could have been anybody who told one person about the undercover CIA agent, but it was Time who told the world.

[*mipadi*]

Certainly it's an issue of journalistic ethics as well. Is it ethical to ruin someone's career, and risk the lives of dozens of her contacts? All Matt Cooper can say is that, in the future, he will be more judicious with his email conversations.

But still, this does not excuse Rove's and Libby's role in revealing Valerie Plame's identity, and it does not excuse George Bush's handling of the incident. Two years ago, he promised the American people he would fire anyone involved in revealing her identity; yesterday he backtracked and said he'd only fire those who committed a crime. How can you trust a man who tells such blatant lies to the American public?

[technicolour]

I just heard about the 2 years ago thing on Conan. Ha. But seriously, If Karl Rove even hinted at it or SOMETHING then off with his head.

[*mipadi*]

"The [Senate Judiciary Committee] is considering a bill sponsored by Sen. Richard Lugar and Rep. Mike Pence, both Indiana Republicans, that would protect reporters from being imprisoned by federal courts" [1]

I find it repulsive that our lawmakers in Congress are abusing their power and manipulating the law in order to protect themselves from the courts. It's clear that this bill is designed to protect people like Karl Rove, who clearly abused his trusted position of power in an effort to gain political momentum for the President.

I also find it appalling that, at the same time, President Bush has gone back on his word to fire anyone who was connected to the Valerie Plame incident. It's clear that our president is willing to sacrifice his credibility to protect members of his administration, even liars like Karl Rove who told the President and America two years ago that he was not involved in this incident. It's appalling that this administration continues to get away with such gross corruption and abuse of power.

[medic]

I do not think this information that they got should be used, I mean they released a CIA officers name. Its unmoral. This is a stunt of the US administration, trying to make it look like going to Iraq was justified. (I do support the war, and Bush.) I hope Mr. Matthew Cooper gets his ass thrown in jail and rots from the inside out. As for the White House officials, they should be relived of there duties, and put in a federal prison with Mr. Matthew Cooper.

If Mr. Matthew Cooper is not put in prison than the U.S should let the other reporter (I can't think of her name) that went to jail due to the same circumstances out of prison.

[*not_your_average*]

I also find it appalling that, at the same time, President Bush has gone back on his word to fire anyone who was connected to the Valerie Plame incident. It's clear that our president is willing to sacrifice his credibility to protect members of his administration, even liars like Karl Rove who told the President and America two years ago that he was not involved in this incident. It's appalling that this administration continues to get away with such gross corruption and abuse of power.

Not the first time it's happened with good ol' Bush. Why would he fire Karl Rove? Karl Rove is responsible for winning him the 2004 election. He' also responsible for advising President Bush on almost everything.

[technicolour]

I also find it appalling that, at the same time, President Bush has gone back on his word to fire anyone who was connected to the Valerie Plame incident. It's clear that our president is willing to sacrifice his credibility to protect members of his administration, even liars like Karl Rove who told the President and America two years ago that he was not involved in this incident. It's appalling that this administration continues to get away with such gross corruption and abuse of power.

Gross corruption and abuse of power? Well hot damn WELCOME TO POLITICS!

[*CrackedRearView*]

Rove won't get fired and he won't resign; he turned Bush into a semi-coherent public speaker...the man deserves the Nobel Prize for Saving a Moron.

[*mipadi*]

Rove won't get fired and he won't resign; he turned Bush into a semi-coherent public speaker...the man deserves the Nobel Prize for Saving a Moron.

And then he deserves jail time for committing a federal felony.

It might be hard to "save the moron" from a prison cell.

[technicolour]

Just shoot him and be done with it. My god. This is actually fading out of the news. Since the Supreme court stuff and then the London bombings..and all the little kids who are getting kidnapped..

Violence is the solution for this.

[*mipadi*]

It shouldn't fade out of the news. This is an important issue.

Nice timing, though, for George Bush to name his candidate for Supreme Court. I wonder if Karl Rove had something to do with that timing?

[technicolour]

I wonder if Al Queda timed those bombings, as well...

[*mipadi*]

No need to be sarcastic; I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Bush timed his announcement to take the heat off of Rove.

[technicolour]

*sigh* Yes. It wouldn't suprise me as well. Stupid politics. Off with their heads...but someone is going to keep bringing up this silly issue and someone's head will eventually roll. Hopefully.

and whats wrong with being sarcastic?

[*mipadi*]

And the plot thickens! It looks as though d**k Cheney's Chief of Staff, Scooter Libby, helped out Valerie Plame. (See here.)

Will Bush come through on his word to fire anyone involved, or is he going to dogde his responsbility yet again?

[Spirited Away]

And the plot thickens! It looks as though d**k Cheney's Chief of Staff, Scooter Libby, helped out Valerie Plame. (See here.)

^ *points and laugh at censorship*
/end spam


forgive me. cramming for management is making me an air head.

[*not_your_average*]

UPDATE:
Vice President's Chief of Staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, indicted in CIA leak probe.

[*mipadi*]

Evidently, George Bush authorized the intelligence leak in order to bolster his incorrect claims that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction.

Hm…and it's the Democrats who are soft on security, right? Right…

The thing that distresses me most is that Bush was adamant in saying before he had nothing to do with the leaks—and yet, it was done under his authorization.