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.)

[*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.