PLAME WHITEWASH? Washington Post, page one, 10/12/03

[DeepModem Mom]

On CNN, Jeff Greenfield did a piece on Richard Armitage being outed as the original leaker of Valerie Plame Wilson's identity as a covert CIA agent. He said those on the right, were saying, "We told you so" (the matter was of no consequence), and those on the left were saying, "Not so fast." Greenfield included in his report a statement from this portion of a 10/12/03 Washington Post story by Walter Pincus and Mike Allen. Greenfield's words are in caps:

That same week (week of July 7), TWO TOP WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS DISCLOSED PLAME'S IDENTITY TO AT LEAST SIX WASHINGTON JOURNALISTS, AN ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TOLD THE POST for an article published Sept. 28. The source elaborated on the conversations last week, saying that officials brought up Plame as part of their broader case against Wilson.

"It was unsolicited," the source said. "They were pushing back. They used everything they had."...

***

After Novak's column appeared, several high-profile reporters told Wilson that they had received calls from White House officials drawing attention to his wife's role. Andrea Mitchell of NBC News said she received one of those calls.

Wilson said another reporter called him on July 21 and said he had just hung up with Bush's senior adviser, Karl Rove. The reporter quoted Rove as describing Wilson's wife as "fair game," Wilson said. Newsweek has identified that reporter as MSNBC television host Chris Matthews. Spokespeople said Matthews was unavailable for comment.

Link to article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A13696-2003Oct11?language=printer


WAS THIS STORY A FANTASY, CONJURED UP BY THE POST, AND/OR "AN ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL"? WHAT DO THE SIX JOURNALISTS HAVE TO SAY? HOW ABOUT THE "SEVERAL HIGH-PROFILE REPORTERS"? WAS IT RICHARD ARMITAGE WHO TOLD ANDREA MITCHELL? IF THIS ARTICLE IS CORRECT, JOE WILSON REPORTED THAT CHRIS MATTHEWS SAID IT WAS ROVE HIMSELF WHO TOLD HIM THAT VALERIE WAS "FAIR GAME."

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

[EST]

1. This is a masterful stroke.

At one swell foop, they have deflected the entire thrust of the Plame investigation, made the accusers look silly, and indemnified themselves against further legal action, at least in the republiclown eye.

With the enthusiastic participation of the prattling hairdos, they may well pull it off.

Ah, well, we are used to an uphill fight.

[librechik]

2. and why do we have a known "gossip" in a top post at State

with a security clearance, no doubt--and why did he not know the harm he might cause? Why is he still employed?

[hughee99]

3. He's not still employed...

Armitage was one of Colin Powell's guys, and left when Powell left in 2005.

[H2O Man]

4. In a relatively short time,

people will see that the "news" about Dick Armitage not only does not take away from the original crimes, but will help to have it exposed further. The criminal investigation has met a "clog" with Scooter holding steady, at least for the time being. The civil case will benefit from the Armitage information. The OVP had been looking to use the Armitage card. Judge Walton cast it aside with his ruling on Woodward's source (actually, Bob had three sources). Now it is exposed.

Step back, and look at the big picture. This isn't going to clear Rove or Cheney. Not at all.

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Thanks for your enlightenment -- and encouragement -- H-Man! nt

[Me.]

7. Who Were The Other Two?

Libby holding fast 'cause he still thinks he will get away with this. I think everyone is forgetting how ticked off RA was about the way they treated his boss. He is a man of patience by training and from what I've read makes sure he has his shot before pulling the trigger.

*shadow government*

[Leopolds Ghost]

8. Encouragement? The very fact that there is a civil case screams...

"We blew it, they skated, and it's all over but the shouting from Joe Wilson"

(a man who has not played his cards right from day one -- I've known several people who were whistleblowers who didn't know how to avoid coming across as vindictive martyrs.)

This whole nightmare truly sucks and what saddened me was the total lack of a postmortem or any kind of analysis on these boards in June, when we knew that all the admin officials had skated on the original crime. :mad:

[warrens]

6. It's all going to come out now

And no one is going to look good. Scooter is still in trouble, and Rove is still under suspicion. This just adds another name. Remember, Novak said TWO sources. Not one.