Plame: Plugging the Wrong Leak

Armitage admits to "outing" Plame due to her admittedly confusing status as covert or non covert. After several millions of dollars lost and several ruined careers, it would appear the Democrats are prosecuting the wrong man.



The Truth Shall Set You Free. Finally we discover the leak that has been blamed on everyone from last years intern, to President Bush.

I am certain that the Democrats and closet moderates will still conspiracy-ize that this was a cover up by the administration. This is to be expected in the current atmosphere of hate and the up coming election.

Related News Links:
www.cnn.com
www.msnbc.msn.com

Related AboveTopSecret.com Discussion Threads:
politics.abovetopsecret.com...

[edit on 12/9/2006 by Mirthful Me]

You won't get a reply to this other than yours truly. It's the truth and that's not something often scene on ATS.

I noticed an interesting twist / take on all this linked on Drudge - according to Newsbusters.org. Blogger Matthew Sheffield ran into MSNBC's Chris Matthews and asked him why he had dropped the Plame story when it was revealed who the "real leaker" was.

Q: So I've noticed you haven't done anything on the whole Valerie Plame story since the Armitage story broke. Why not invite Joe Wilson on the show to defend himself?

A: Because he'd say basically the same thing he always says. 'My wife had no involvement in getting me the mission.' He'd just repeat it over and over.

Q: Maybe, but isn't it at least worth showing your viewers that this guy has no credibility considering how much you talked about the story before? Shouldn't he be held accountable for wasting all our time? Why not invite one of his representatives or defenders on the show?

A: Well, the story's just gotten so complicated. I mean, it's just such a mess. Because what if it's true that Armitage was the source, but those other guys [presumably Rove and Scooter Libby], also were leakers, what then?

A late update to the story shows Matthews hasn't given up on the "blame the White House" angle:

Update 23:12. On tonight's edition of "Hardball," Matthews ended his boycott of the Plame story, wondering if Armitage was set up to be a patsy by Bush White House staff.

Nice example of not letting the facts get in the way of a good story.

Do you all think they will continue the "Mad Dog" prosecution, or crawl off and lick their wounds?

This has got to be embarrassing for them to an extent.

The previous poster was apparently correct, there has been little activity on this thread.

People sure hate being wrong.

Semper

Again, you either buy into the administration's story, or you don't. Yellow cake, no yellow cake. WMD, no WMD. Saddam-9/11, no Saddam-9/11. Al-Qaeda/Iraq, no Al-Qaeda/Iraq. No Rendition, Rendition. No CIA prisons overseas, CIA prisons overseas.

Plame outed by Cheney, Bush, Rove, Libby, and now, Armitage. They are playing you for a fool, and you are lapping it up like an eager little puppy dog.

The Democrats are no better. They should all be sent to prison, and this two party farce of a claim to political representation for the people of this great country scrapped.

Perhaps you are correct abou the two party system. I disagree, yet you could be right.

The problem is the VAST, VAST majority of the country DISagrees with you and supports the 2 party system.

As for the other "stuff," I'll leave the propaganda to you.

Semper

Carry on. Dismissed.

The little solider is still going down, he was busted on five counts of perjury and obstruction of justice.

Armitage Shmarmitage

By Jason Leopold
www.truthout.org...
Snip~~

The April 5 court filing says I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley were two of the key figures who were involved in conversations and meetings at Cheney's office in which White House officials discussed ways of striking back against Wilson's criticism of the administration's war effort. Karl Rove was also involved in the discussions.

The court document Fitzgerald filed in April did not name any other White House officials who were involved in the Wilson smear campaign, but it's well-known that Vice President Cheney, Libby and Rove led the effort. Rove told Novak that Plame worked at the CIA on July 8, 2003, the same day Armitage spoke to the columnist. Evidence has not been produced that proves Armitage spoke to Novak first.

Libby - not Armitage - spoke to Judith Miller on July 8, 2003, and told her about Plame's work at the CIA. Moreover, Rove - not Armitage - spoke to Matt Cooper of Time Magazine on July 11, 2003, and told him that Plame worked for the CIA. Libby was indicted on five counts of perjury and obstruction of justice for allegedly deceiving FBI investigators and the grand jury about how he discovered Plame worked for the CIA and whether he shared that with reporters.
patrickjfitzgerald.blogspot.com...

What did Libby say to President Bush when he bumped into him in the hall?
Pardon me


[edit on 9/9/2006 by Sauron]

Finally the "left" comes out!!!

About time, you were really disappointing the odds makers for awhile.

Sure, if they are conservative, trump any charges you can and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. Then the left wont have to worry so much about the truth getting in their way.

Semper

Speaking purely for myself, it was never hard to figure out that Mr. Armitage wasthe source of the leak. As some of you may recall, he was hoping to be the next Secretary of State after Collin Powell departed. Not only was he not selected, he was demoted. I have no doubts in my own mind that it was that demotion, more so than the appointment of Condoleeza Rice, that pushed him over the edge.

Because Mr. Powell had come out against the Iraq mission, others in the State department felt like they had enough official cover to make similar statements. Even after Powell was forced to carry watter for Bush's WMD agenda, many of the career diplomats felt safe behind his 'shield.' Although Powell left on good terms with the administration, everyone at State knew the truth.

To be blunt about it, Armitage got liquered up one night and shot his big mouth off to a member of the press. He knew what a certain Mr. Wilson was up to, so he decided to throw a little gasoline on the fire. Armitage may have had his regrets, but he knew what he was doing. His career was over with, and he had what most people in his line of work almost never get...a chance to get some pay-back for being so rudely tossed aside.

Today's U.S. State department is not what it once was. Most of the real talent has gone on to other things. Secretary Rice has made it clear that it's here way or the highway. For his sake, Armitage came clean after he'd left government serivce. They can't touch him now.

For what little it's worth, I've been in government and I got a small taste of what he went through. I'm sure that he still knows a thing or two that would be quie damning to the Bush administration. Even I know some things that my former bosses hope that I never talk about. What Mr. Armitage did was poorly thought out, although it must still be immensely satisfying to him.

Excellent post JO

Very informative and factual.

Which at times can be sorely missed on here.

Semper

Given J.O.'s comments on the issue I would have to say that I am glad this story is finally coming to a close.

It wouldnt make sense for this guy to play fall guy after being 'slighted' by the govt.(referring to him being passed up and demoted). But if this WAS the case from the start... the why did Libby do what he did? Just doesnt make sense to me why he wouldve hung himself out to dry like this. The theory of Mr. Armitage being the fall guy is pretty far fetched... but this is politics and very little lies out of the realm of possibility in this field. I am not saying that this is the case; but it is an interesting possibility. I just dont think it is probable.

Look at the timing here aswell.. with the Anniversary of 911 and the upcoming elections it is good news for the Republicans and they need all the good news they can get. This will no doubt hurt the Democrats in that it shows how they latched so tightly around the wrong person and the wrong issue. This story's timing is definately politically motivated ,IMO. Which is good for the Reps and bad for the Dems... though not as bad for the Dems and the Reps would have hoped.

But man it is much better hearing it from you Semper, than it is hearing it from Ann Coulter. Even though you both are conservatives.. you are at least rational and respectful towards those you debate. I cannot say the same for Ms. Coulter.

thank you for your time,

TONE23

Tone, thanks

Yes, someone needs to give Coulter a shot or something. She is pretty rabid.

Semper

None that really matters, the cat is out of the bag and it wasn't even that big of a cat. ALL employee and "contractor" IDs and personal info is supposed, notice that key word supposed to be kept secret/classifed/not for public. Now not every one at the CIA is an operative or clandestine services expert, but they do have confidentiality agreements which protect them and the company in general.

In my opinion this is all a huge ploy to create a false sence of insecurity, either directed towards the US or indirectly, as well as our foes. Whom evet that may be..

The single greatest truth about politics can be summed up on one complicated statement. It's not what it is, but what it looks like that really matters.

By having Lewis Libby drag his feet, he looked like he had a secret to keep. Here's the ting for anybody who actually knows what he did. I can say this becuase I've been in the Vice President's office, and I've been told what the VP's assistant does.

Whoever holdsthat job is taked with writing everything down. Everything-everything. Anything that is really damning does...get written down. The process involes a pair of large ledger books, which are used because they don't require electricity.

The special prosecutor who went after Libby was entitled to subpoena those records, plus a whole lot more. When he hesistated, the special prosecutor assumed...that it looked like...Scooter knew more than he was telling. So, he got rounded up and brought it. Anyone who is really good at pffice politics can tell you that Mr. Libby took one for the team as a form of mis-direction.

When Libby testified, he said nothing more than what was in those logs. He never said anything else. His lawyers made sure that he used every stictch of subpoenaed evidence as a sort of script. In the end, Mr. special prosecutor didn't want to say that he'd been had...so...he made it look like...he found nothing untoward. Where is Mr. Libby today? Rewarded, with a job that pays much more in a place where he can't be touched.

There's an old addage in D.C. that some of you may know aboutl. It basically says that when you want people to ignore you...make a scene. The Libby affair took everyone's mind off a lot of things, and it succeeded in spanking Mr. Armitage in such a way that D.C. worker drones would get the message. I once heard a Senator say, "sometimes you've just got to let people hate you because it's better than being prosecuted."

Originally posted by Justin Oldham


To be blunt about it, Armitage got liquered up one night and shot his big mouth off to a member of the press. He knew what a certain Mr. Wilson was up to...a chance to get some pay-back for being so rudely tossed aside.

Even I know some things that my former bosses hope that I never talk about. What Mr. Armitage did was poorly thought out, although it must still be immensely satisfying to him.

This doesn't even make sense. You've said nothing whatsoever. What did he know "Mr. Wilson was up to"? Why would outting Plame be any kind of pay back? And why would he feel satisfied about what he did? And lastly, why the hell are people in our upper government who are so immature they can't take an administration change and the accompanying staff changes without (what you are alleging) acting like a 2 year old.

None of your comments are making sense to me.

[edit on 9-9-2006 by Valhall]

The problem is the VAST, VAST majority of the country DISagrees with you and supports the 2 party system.

The vast majority doesn't even vote at all, let alone "support the two party system"...

IIRC more people vote for the winner on American Idol than vote in a given presidential election.

As for Armitage - who knows?
Did he do it? Maybe...
Is he falling on his sword to cover someone else's behind? Also, maybe...

Originally posted by Valhall
This doesn't even make sense. You've said nothing whatsoever. What did he know "Mr. Wilson was up to"? Why would outting Plame be any kind of pay back? And why would he feel satisfied about what he did? And lastly, why the hell are people in our upper government who are so immature they can't take an administration change and the accompanying staff changes without (what you are alleging) acting like a 2 year old.

It has been said that power is like a drug. Having been around persons of considerable power, I have seen some of what you'd call acting like a 2-year old. Armitage was acting out of spite, which an emotion not limited to the young. We would like to think that our leaders act with nothing but sagacity and even-handed patience, but they don't.

Joe Wilson went public with his newspaper piece because he disagreed with the administration's position on Iraq. In his mind, he had nothing to lose. As a known Powell loyalist, he thought he might as well say what was on his mind and go out knowing that he'd fought the good fight.

It's quite likely that Armitage, who had been his superior at the time, was bent over that. The diplomatic corps is very observant of its chain of command, and very vindictive towards those who violate it. If Armitage hadn't exploited Wilson, it's likely that he (Wilson) might have been smeered by one of his peers after he'd left public service.

Wilson was a convenience for Armitage, and that's part of what makes the whole thing so juvenile. The smear against Plame looked worse than it really was, and a lot of people knew that. Why else would Scooter put an end to his political career? Guys like him are easy to recruit and easy to throw away. The fact that such a low-level drone went on to reap such big rewards should tell you that he was bought forthe purposes of putting on a show.

We may not like what Bill Armitage did, and we may not be able to accept the fact he did it for petty reasons, but there it is. If anyone here doesn't think that's "normal," I suggest you try reading some of the blog put out by high ranking Fedeeral employees. The extent of the office gossip they'll put out may surprise you. The lack of maturity on display will be nothing less than you'd expect from a capricious patrician child.

The MSM seems bound and determined to put the Armitage affair behind them as fast as possible. When you get right down to it, the press was too eager to capitalize on the internal politics that are such constants in Washington D.C. In past decades, veteran reporters in the District of Columbia would know better than to blab about what anyone told them over a late night bull session.

The temptation to grab headlines has been too great in recent years, and it may have a lot to do withh te changing nature of the buisness. The pursuit of what is actually news has been replaced with what we used to laughingly refer to as info-tainment. The rise of Katie Couric and the new format she brings with her makes that point.

The question I ponder now is, what did we learn from this? the snippy answer will be "nothing," but I sense something different. There has been a disturnce in the dark side, and it has taken me a while to put my finger on it. the corporate bosses who run the major media outlets have finally got their proof that we really will believe anything they tell us. Where-ever he is, William Randolph Hearst must be...so smug.

Now this hits the nail on the head!!!




Semper