Revealing the Identity of Undercover Agents
There may be a major scandal brewing in the Bush administration. The Washington Post yesterday had a major story on how some administration officials revealed the identity of an undercover CIA operative to journalists.
At CIA Director George J. Tenet's request, the Justice Department is looking into an allegation that administration officials leaked the name of an undercover CIA officer to a journalist, government sources said yesterday.
Bush Administration Is Focus of Inquiry: CIA Agent's Identity Was Leaked to Media
By Mike Allen and Dana Priest
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, September 28, 2003; Page A01
Both Dan Drezner and Josh Marshall link to the following quote from remarks by George H.W. Bush on the 16th of April, 1999 at the dedication ceremony for the George Bush Center for Intelligence:
We need more human intelligence. That means we need more protection for the methods we use to gather intelligence and more protection for our sources, particularly our human sources, people that are risking their lives for their country. Even though I'm a tranquil guy now at this stage of my life, I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious, of traitors.
Meanwhile all Condoleeza Rice can say in response to questions about someone in the administration revealing the identity of an undercover CIA operative to Robert Novak among others is "It's with the appropriate channels now, and we'll see what the Justice Department — how the Justice Department disposes of it." That doesn't sound like the reaction of someone who's outraged.
Don't get me wrong. The Justice Department needs to investigate the apparent violation of United States law and the accompanying breach of national security. The guilty party must be held responsible and punished severly. No, I'm not complaining about there being a Justice Department investigation. I'm complaing about the lack of outrage and concern from the White House. "It certainly would not be the way that the president would expect his White House to operate" do not sound like words spoken by someone who's outraged. They are spoken like someone who's trying to contain a political problem.
They are not the words of someone who thinks that "those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources ... are, in my view, the most insidious, of traitors."
UPDATE: According to this morning's Washington Post:
White House officials said they would turn over phone logs if the Justice Department asked them to. But the aides said Bush has no plans to ask his staff members whether they played a role in revealing the name of an undercover officer who is married to former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, one of the most visible critics of Bush's handling of intelligence about Iraq.
Something tells me that's not the way George H.W. Bush would be reacting. Of course, as a former Director of Central Intelligence himself, he probably would never have had the problem. He wouldn't have allowed anyone access to that kind of information unless he knew they'd share it only with those who need to know it. (Need I add that those who need to know it do not include journalists?)
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I heard the story as well on my way to work this morning and on Good Morning America. I was wondering, "...how bad would you have to piss someone off to have them identify you as an undercover agent to the press?" Depending on what you were doing or the kinds of people you were dealing with, it could be a death sentence for you.
If I worked for the CIA with this administration running the show, I would take my first exit out of the CIA and find another line of work. You certainly can't trust people in this administration.
Also, having the Justice Department look into it seems to me a bit like having the fox guard the hen house.
About Condoleeza Rice... for someone who is suppose to be brilliant, she doesn't seem to have a clue, but maybe that's not entirely her fault.