Imagine this scenario

[bluestateguy]

What if, for example, a CIA agent was covertly monitoring an anti-war organization. Let's say the agent infiltrated the group and his/her covert status was listed as classified for "national security". The undercover agent went to the group's meetings and participated in the group's activities.

Then let's say a member of the organization found out about this and leaked the agent's name on the group's website and passed the information along to Air America radio, where it was repeated on the Randi Rhodes show.

How would the Bush Administration respond? How would conservatives respond?

[ThoughtCriminal]

1. One problem for the agent

This may have changed, but I think the CIA is still prohibited from domestic spying.

[tocqueville]

2. In a democratic country it's not illegal to out of an agent spying on ...

a LEGAL organisation. Same with eavesdropping etc... It must be done on a judge order on SUSPICION of conspiracy to illegal, subversive, violent activities.

This kind of stuff has happened plenty of times in Europe, specially under periods of social unrest.

The services always deny and the story mostly stays there.

BUT IT IS ILLEGAL TO LEAK THE NAME OF SOMEBODY SPYING ON THE ENEMY (SPECIALLY FOREIGN) OR AN INTERNAL ILLEGAL ORGANISATION. That's treason.

in the case you name, the authorities would have to prove that the organisation they spied on was SUBVERSIVE. Which in that case would be very difficult. THey would probably spin the story as "fantasies"
or attempts to smear the current administration.

[mwooldri]

3. If parallels are being drawn between this and Plame...

... then there's no comparison, there but there's another situation where you can draw parallels.

Now suppose Al-Quaeda found out that a specific CIA agent managed to infiltrate their organisation - and told the world by means of dropping off a tape to an Arab news network.

In that situation, the CIA agent would be in mortal danger, the Bush Admin would be hoping that their agent gets it out there alive and conservatives would be commending the agent. This would be a victory for our side - in a round-about sorts of way.

In your situation, the CIA are covertly monitoring these anti-war guys. I don't think the CIA agent would be in mortal danger but they'd be mighty PO'd at the government apparatus that runs this country. I'd say that the BA would be mighty embarrassed in private but try to say nothing publically, but try to spin it as if these anti-war people were a threat to national security. Also the 'CIA' guy would suddenly be working for Homeland Security, and not the CIA as an appropriate cover.

With Plame, to borrow a soccer metaphor, it's an 'own goal' situation, where the same side outed their own agent.

[newyawker99]

4. Hi mwooldri!!

Welcome to DU!!