NYT: C.I.A. Seeks Inquiry Into Naming of an Operative

[dkf]

C.I.A. Seeks Inquiry Into Naming of an Operative
By THE NEW YORK TIMES

Published: September 28, 2003

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 — The C.I.A. has asked the Justice Department to investigate whether senior Bush administration officials broke the law by revealing the identity of an agency operative, a government official said today.

The operative is the wife of a former envoy to Iraq, Joseph C. Wilson IV, who publicly voiced skepticism about the Bush administration's policies on Iraq and on Iraq's reported weapons program.

After Mr. Wilson went public with his criticism, his wife was identified as a Central Intelligence Agency operative by the columnist Robert Novak, who attributed the information to senior administration officials.

The government official said George J. Tenet, the director of central intelligence, had determined there was a security breach and had asked the Justice Department to investigate. A Justice Department spokesman said tonight that he could not confirm the department had opened an inquiry.

--Finally!

And looks like Tenet is asking questions!

[Sliverofhope]

1. This has potential to get interesting

But I can't help but wonder why none of the wire services have picked this up. This should be big news. I don't know what to think.

[madaboutharry]

2. Sometimes it is the unexpected

that brings someone (or maybe a lot of people down). For all the corruption of the Nixon administration, it was a security guard finding some masking tape on a door that lead to Nixon's downfall and resignation. This group in the White House conspired to steal an election, has lied with impunity, and has undoubtedly involved itself with corrupt and self-enriching business dealings. All of which has gotten a pass. Now someone, according to some theories Karl Rove, in a moment of spite and retaliation, has blown a CIA cover and broken federal laws. There is only so much that they can continue to cover up. The mood has changed and I do not think that the press is going to roll over on this one. It is just too serious. It may even have cost people in foriegn countries their lives. This may actually be what does it. If this came from the inner circle inside the oval office, Bush will never survive such a scandal. It may be this unexpected twist in the WMD hunt that does this administration in for good. Then it won't matter who wins the nomination. Bullwinkle could win.

[Newsjock]

3. Link here

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/28/national/28WILS.html