Larry Johnson: Undercover, Covert, and Classified (Also Hush Hush) [View All]

[understandinglife]

Undercover, Covert, and Classified (Also Hush Hush)

by Larry C Johnson

America got a terrific look at a classy lady yesterday when Valerie Plame testified before Henry Waxman's Government Reform and Oversight Committee about the events surrounding her betrayal by the Bush Administration. And America got a disturbing look at a Republican party devoid of reason and just plain common sense when Georgia Congressman Lynn Westmoreland and Libby loyalist Victoria Toensing did the intellectual equivalent of declaring, THERE IS NO SUN.

You see, it was rainy and cloudy in Washington, DC yesterday. Since they could not see the Sun there was in fact no Sun. They had to see it to believe it. Okay. I'm making that part up. Westmoreland and Toensing were far more obtuse and stupid than a person who would insist the Sun did not exist because they could not see it. Westy and Toenag demonstrated a level of stupidity and obtuseness that one usually only encounters among schizophrenics hospitalized with the criminally insane. Despite Valerie's sworn testimony and a statement endorsed by the current director of the CIA, these dopes droned on and on that Valerie Plame was not undercover when she was exposed in Robert Novak's July 2003 ill-fated column.

I find it absolutely mind boggling that adults like Westmoreland and Toensing can be so out of touch with reality and still allowed to walk around without a straight jacket keeping them under control. It would be one thing if we were arguing about the color of Valerie's hair color in 1989 and had only a black and white picture as evidence. Such a discussion would truly be one based on one's own opinions. But that is not the case here folks. It is a simple question. Was Valerie a covert officer when her name appeared in Bob Novak's column in July 2003?

Valerie's testimony on Friday the CIA had never put anything on the public record regarding her status. Yesterday the CIA came out of the closet. CIA Director Michael Hayden approved a statement that contained the following language:

During her employment at the CIA, Ms. Wilson was under cover.

Her employment status with the CIA was classified information prohibited from disclosure under Executive Order 12958.

At the time of the publication of Robert Novak's column on July 14,2003, Ms. Wilson's CIA employment status was covert.

This was classified information.

Got it? The Director of the CIA confirmed in public for the first time that Valerie Plame Wilson was undercover, was covert and that this information was classified. What is it about English that goober Congressman Westmoreland and ditzy Vicky Toensing don't understand?

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More at the link:http://noquarter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/03/undercover_cove.html

Larry's commentary on the entire treasonous catastrophe that the outing of Valerie Plame Wilson represents, continues to be cogent and valuable.

Would be neat if DUers stopped by his blog and told him thank you!