Bush AuthorizedPlame Leak?

“I think the whole point here is not that Dubya decided to declissify the information, which he was and is perfectly entitled to so, but the underhanded way it was done in order to descredit Wislon.

It appears Cheney in particular, with at least the tacit support of GW, set out to discredit Wilson. Then when faced with the fact that they may have, or at least been conplicit in the releaving the identity of a CIA officer, then they staged a cover-up and started pointing fingers and talking about the damage that leaks can do.

At the very least it's another example of the incompetance which has plagued this adminstration from the outset.”

“Y2 - how was the administration's response "underhanded" if they were refuting the statements of a proven liar (see my link earlier)? Where is the incompetence and the cover-up that you infer? Do YOU see any difference between revealing the identity of Valerie Plame (questionably a "covert" CIA employee and husband/agent of aforementioned liar), and the leaks which disclosed the NSA surveillance and the secret prisons?”

“I was just stating an opinion I gathered from your argument. All you had to say was "no". No attempt at strawman was made.

You also said "consensus of the American populace". Why do you think I'm just talking about me and my opinions?

The whistleblower and "I" are not determining factors of any kind. If the whistleblower leaks something to the press, the press releases it, and the American Public or Congress go into a tizzy, then I say "Good for the whistleblower".

I'm really not sure if I made that clear or not. I said nothing about me as an individual. Now I believe the "press" is pretty careful about releasing info from inside sources. Do they not contact the govt. first? I do believe the govt. was contacted about the secret prisons before it was published. The govt asked the papers to withold certain info. I think it was regarding specific countries with prisons.

Its another system of checks then isn't it? Not one whistleblower, a renegade reporter/newspaper, and my lone opinion.
last edited: 4/09/06 5:51:44 PM”

“Omaha - hold a press conference, even one by deputy press spokesman, release the information officially. Release a wide range of information that is no-longer sensitive
Don't leak information selectively to some cherry picked admin fave journos.

It was all done, as this admin team has since before the election, do discredit the individual. They did it to McCain, they did it to Kerry, they did it to Wilson and others. It's got all the hallmarks of a Rove-inspired whispering campaign. It's the way Rove works.”

“Throught his career Rove has done this to individuals who have stood in his way. IF the truth ever emerges then I'd put a few bucks that Rove is at the heart of it. Seeking to discredit the target is at the heart of Rove's best work.
last edited: 4/09/06 6:14:08 PM”

“Actually, by saying Bush, who can not be prosecuted, authorized the leak, it could essentially get both Rove and Libby off the hook. Could Dubya be taking one for the team?

Althought I guess Libbey is up for prejury and obstruction, so that may not help him, but it might help Rove.”

“One thing to keep in mind, peeps, is the same people that are so convinced BUSH/ROVE did all these evil leaks, also believe BUSH/ROVE masterminded the World Trade Center coming down, not those silly little jets.
LOL”

“No SS, only in your own deluded little world are those people the same.”

“LOL

I'm not the one deluded into thinking anyone but the terrorists brought down the towers.

I remember you stateing this 'needs to be investigated' in BB's thread.
last edited: 4/09/06 7:29:50 PM”

“bearmagnet, you are still not getting my point. Relying on the press to be responsible is no substitute for the structures already in place within the government to handle whistleblowers. Is the editor of the New York Times accountable for the safety of the American people? Or does he just want to sell newspapers? Compare that to the plight of Congress, whose every word and deed is scrutinized by the electorate - quite the moderating influence. Can't you see how one angry editor, armed with information from one angry whistleblower, could jeopardize the safety of the entire nation? Or do you just assume that everyone is as "reasonable" as you and I?

Oh and Y2, Wilson discredited himself, he didn't need any help from Rove.”

“The leaks Bush apparently authorized for purposes of selling his Iraq war plans policy were comparatively small potatoes. Of course it was a selective behind the scenes release of misleading info in order to sell the war.

It's just a small wiff of stench in an administration full of rot.

It's so odd the way people point to claims Joe Wilson mislead people (or was mislead) about how he was sent to invesigate the allegations about nuclear materials procurement by Iraq. They cite this info as if it should dismiss his credibility altogether - and yet they seem untroubled by massive deceptions on the part of the Bush team.

In times of war, American's are willing to give their leader massive benefit of the doubt. They are eager to rally around their leaders in times of crisis, and to ignore claims and arguments that might lead them to pull away from their leadership. Bush was counting on that in launching this war. The willful suspension of disbelief is crumbling in the face of mounting evidence of deceit, incompetence and corruption.

Right wing attempts to discredit the messengers, make excuses, bash libbies - etc will at best amount to a few fingers in the dyke.”

“I see, omahiker. It's no substitute but I think it has its place. Your worse case scenario (or not so bad scenario) could happen but hasn't. Unless you have an example?

Sometimes I think govt, like a corporation, is so worried about CYA that going through proper channels may be the last thing a whistleblower would want to do.


Strike that, govt is 100x worse than corporations.

;)”

“How can you separate gov. and corps.?”

“Ambassador Joe Wilson's Letter to the Senate Select Intelligence Committee: http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/05/07/con05233.html”

“I'm of the opinion that Congress, by giving Whistleblowers more protections and a share of any monies collected, think they are a good thing.”

“How can you separate gov. and corps.?”
uncliff
9:29:36 AM
4/10/06

It's theoretical. I've only worked with Corps that have worked closely with govt.”

“Back to the topic....
Let me get this straight, you send out a guy to investigate something and he comes back with information that doesn't agree with what you think (and with time is proven to be correct). Then instead of debating the issues or even having a Press Conference to state your side, you attack his wife and ruin her career (at least 1/2 ruin it, she can't go covert anymore).
My friends on the Right, how can you not find this reprehensible and cowardly? If this was anyone other than Bush & Co. you'd be the first ones to yell "Foul!"”