To the editor:
While the investigation into the identification of Valerie Plame as a covert CIA operative has not been completed, one of the few things people have agreed upon is the seriousness of the issue. In addition to being a federal offense, this particular case has important political ramifications since it's related to a central argument of Bush administration for the Iraq war. Bush claimed that Saddam Hussein was obtaining uranium from Africa for nuclear weapons, and the former diplomat (and Ms. Plame's husband) Joseph Wilson, challenged this argument - correctly, it turns out - in an op-ed piece for the New York Times. In retaliation, someone identified her as a CIA operative.
Now while still agreeing in principle that outing a covert agent is a "serious matter," Pat Roberts has apparently begun laying the foundation for minimizing this specific offense: "I must say from a common-sense standpoint, driving back and forth to work to the CIA headquarters, I don't know if that really qualifies as being, you know, covert." (Journal-World Online, July 25)
Such rationalization on the part of a lawmaker is disappointing. It's irresponsible to charge anyone before the investigation is complete, but it's equally irresponsible to trivialize the offense by spinning the issue for political reasons. Is it too much to expect that our lawmakers have respect for the law? May be.
Oliver Finney,
Lawrence
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Speakout (anonymous) says…
Arminius, you miss the point. If the president of the USA says that he will fire any person who discloses the idenity of any CIA operative, then when Rove did that he should be fired. NQA. (no questions asked)! Period.
But we find that Bush is not a man of his word and because of that we are in the mess we are in. There were no exceptions to that clearly stated rule. Bush has made many false statements but because of his political base, the Christian whatever, they won't hold him to task.
That is like accepting that an ordained minister like Jesse James Jackson can father children out of wedlock and Christians all over America can condone that even though their religion doesn't. When are we going to stand up for something? When are we going to say NO to the wrongs in this life?