Your turn at the Soapbox

Instead of responding to James' post about Valerie Plame in the comments I thought I would just start another post because, well... I'll admit it, I'm long winded.

I think it is hilarious how Conservatives have tried to downplay the Plame affair. Really, though, it shouldn't be a surprise. It is potentially the largest scandal to hit the Bush administration- quite an accomplishment since this administration has taken to scandal like a fat kid to spaghetti-o's.

Let’s lay out the facts. First, Valerie Plame was not only a covert agent but had a ‘Non-official cover’ or NOC, one of the most difficult (but not the most difficult-deep cover )type of cover for the agency to create. She wasn’t a desk jockey. She was an intelligence officer posing as a private energy expert. She was a spy.

The second fact is that she was outed to damage her husbands credibility. Someone (not exactly sure who- but I’m guessing Rove was the genesis of the idea but Cheney probably gave birth to it) wanted damage Wilson's credibility and knew the easiest way to do it. The White House was on course to invade Iraq and no amount of truth was going to stop them. They were willing to do anything to get there.

This is a unique situation because it is the only time in our history that an undercover agent was outed by the White House during a time of war.

Oh yea, outing an undercover agent, that’s a bad thing to do. Treason, in fact.

If she had been outed because she was a double agent, or working for the soviets, that would have been one thing. But outing her because her husband disagreed with the administrations policies? That is such an appalling disregard for the safety of those who dedicate their lives to our country that any undercover agent should be shaking in their shoes.

It looks as though this leak wasn’t even authorized or done through proper channels.

The last person to get caught leaking classified information was Daniel Ellsberg in 1971 who did it to prevent the United States from getting into further wars. He faced multiple life sentences.

Cheney (probably) leaked info in a dirty political trick. I’m calling it treason.

Not only did that expose someone who dedicated and risked her life to this country, but also years and thousands of dollars in building her front company "Brewster Jennings & Associates" and all the people who work there.

It is disgusting disregard to anyone who sacrifices for this country. The idea that the White House will destroy your career, put your life in danger and commit treason because your spouse dares to point out the fact that the President is either lying or uninformed is a blight that cannot be forgiven.

As for the book deals, she looks pretty, etc. If you were the only person be on the receiving end of a treasonous act by a White House official, you would write a book too! Also, is the act of writing a book a sign that you wanted to end up in a current situation? Right! I’m sure that Sgt. Bryan Anderson became a triple amputee just so he could get on the cover of Esquire.

Cheney makes Spiro Agnew look like Robin Hood.