Carpe Datum

Pass the Effing Popcorn

Well, although this made the front page of the Washington Post, some other local scandals knocked this off the front pages of our local paper. Still, imho, it's a big story, because *finally* someone in the worst administration in history is going to end up going to jail for something. That something is "outing" an undercover CIA agent as an act of political spite.

A little background: Bush originally misled Americans into thinking Saddam had been busted trying to obtain Uranium in his State of the Union (this may turn out to be true, that Saddam really tried it, but when we in the US checked on this by sending ambassador Joseph Wilson to Niger to do some digging, he reported "no way is it true"). Wilson came out after the speech and told this story, making Bush look pretty stupid. National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice was on TV this morning getting hit with it again. She now claims that she may have been told before the SotU speech but then later "forgot" the Africa claim was bogus. I have to say, her memory makes her very highly qualified to be a top member of *this* administration.

Anyway, shortly after Wilson came out, Robert Novak published a column about the incident with an "oh by the way" mention that Wilson's wife happened to be an undercover CIA operative. Novak's source was a senior administration official, language that usually means cabinet level or higher (maybe a total of a dozen people) in the administration. Now, it just so happens that outing an undercover operative is a federal offense with mandatory jail time attached. Somehow, though, the press doesn't really seem to care about it.

I mean, when Hillary tried to fire a bunch of political appointees in the travel office (which is not against the law ... quite contrary, it is traditional when administrations change), that was above-the-fold front-page news for weeks on end. Just as one example. You all know there were dozens during the Clinton years. But hardly a peep about this "outing". Until now.

A senior administration official said two top White House officials called at least six Washington journalists and revealed the identity and occupation of Wilson's wife. That was shortly after Wilson revealed in July that the CIA had sent him to Niger last year to look into the uranium claim and that he had found no evidence to back up the charge. Wilson's account eventually touched off a controversy over Bush's use of intelligence as he made the case for attacking Iraq.

"Clearly, it was meant purely and simply for revenge," the senior official said of the alleged leak.

This news comes shortly after the CIA completed its own internal investigation into this matter and handed the case over to the Justice Department to pursue further. It probably would've ended there. I mean, this *is* the Bushco Justice Department, and they've never met a Republican that they thought needed to be prosecuted. I guarantee you it would've ended there for the media. Except for one official (again, there are only a dozen or so it could be) who *finally* had an attack of decency, ethics and morality to call a reporter and make sure that this gets pursued. That same official will undoubtedly be forthcoming with the investigation and finger those responsible.

I never watch the morning news shows, but Rice and Colin Powell were on separate shows this morning and were each very briefly asked about this at the tail end of long lie-filled discussions and evasions on Iraq. Both of them briefly said that they had absolutely no idea what any of this is about. What a complete steaming pile of bullshit.

I mean, if I'm Tim Russert (the "Meet the Press" host) and the NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR, you know, the person responsible for all issues related to INTELLIGENCE in this country, claims she doesn't know anything about the outing of a CIA agent or the news that someone has leaked to verify it along with the names of those responsible, THEN I WOULD FUCKING ASK A FOLLOW-UP!!! But no, it was time for commercial. The guys on "This Week" gave Colin Powell the same kid-gloves treatment. Unbelieveable.

In the end, although I have to say that I'm taking a great deal of satisfaction in watching this story unfold (Eschaton said it best: "Pass the effing popcorn."), and I will cheer when someone goes to jail for this, the most serious thing about it is that it happened. People in the entire administration *know* it happened, and they're acting like it is no big deal or just another thing to deny.

Corrente has more on this, including a choice quote from George Bush, Sr:

Even though I'm a tranquil guy now at this stage of my life, I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious of traitors.

Further down in the original Post article, the senior administration official who is now admitting that this all really happened has an interesting take on the matter:

Asked about the motive for describing the leaks, the senior official said the leaks were "wrong and a huge miscalculation, because they were irrelevant and did nothing to diminish Wilson's credibility."

And so the White House has finally revealed its priorities. They've found something worse than a federal offense, something worse that what conservatives would consider traitorous behavior: a political blunder.

CalPundit had the following commentary this morning, and I couldn't have said it better:

Now that this story has been confirmed, it really makes you face up to the true contemptibility of the whole affair. Think about it: two top White House officials, the ones who run this country and are supposed to guard the security of our country, blew the cover of a CIA agent solely to gain some petty revenge on a minor political opponent.

I just don't know how much worse it gets than that. As much as I despise the team in the White House, I always thought that ó in their own way ó they were doing what they thought was best for America. I never thought they would betray their own country just out of spite. I really didn't.

But if they'll do something like this, they'll do anything. I guess Krugman was right all along: these are radical ideologues who care about nothing except staying in power and will do anything, no matter how craven and malevolent, to get what they want.

It's enough to make you sick.

Unlike CalPundit, I do not even pretend to be surprised.

Posted by Observer at September 28, 2003 10:38 AM