[LEAKGATE] Why Patrick Fitzgerald Gets It

Larry Johnson
[LEAKGATE] Why Patrick Fitzgerald Gets It
Fri Oct 14, 2005 04:28
http://disc.server.com/discussion.cgi?disc=149495;article=93534;title=APFN

Why Patrick Fitzgerald Gets It

By Larry Johnson | bio
Mr. Johnson worked with the Central Intelligence Agency (1985-1989)
http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/10/13/21472/723

From: Politics
Federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald understands very well that something beyond a crime was committed when Karl Rove, Scooter Libby, and other White House operatives spread the name of undercover CIA officer, Valerie Plame, around Washington as part of a coordinated effort to discredit her husband, Ambassador Joe Wilson. Someone needs to alert Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen that he is a nitwit and moron for trying to advance White House supplied talking points that no real crime occurred.

Here are some of the facts that will come out when Fitzgerald ends his investigation:

1. Valerie Plame was still a non-official cover officer in July 2003 when her identity was revealed by colostomy bag Bob Novak.

2. Valerie Plame had traveled overseas on secret missions using that cover as required under the statute in question.

3. Valerie Plame's exposure also almost compromised the identity of other non-official cover officers.

4. Valerie Plame did not have the authority to send her husband on the Niger mission and in fact did not make the decision.

Other mental midgets like Cohen, such as Victoria Toensing, continue to insist that no crime could have been committed because Valerie Plame, "worked at a desk job". Newsflash for these so-called Washington insiders who have proven they know nothing about the intelligence community--at least 40% of the people working at CIA Headquarters are working undercover. Just because they may physically go to the CIA building in McLean, Virginia everyday does not mean that their relationship with the CIA is acknowledged.

During my four years of sitting at a desk at CIA I was undercover. My position with the CIA was not even known by my own parents. Only my wife was privy to that secret. Many of the undercover folks still working at CIA are at headquarters on a temporary basis. Some travel overseas on temporary assignments that last less than a month. Others await a semi-permanent posting for a two or three year stint overseas.

The point that Cohen and the other White House hacks have missed is that protecting the identities of intelligence officers, whether they are working under official or non-official cover, is part of national defense. To compromise these identities is to commit an act of treason.

Patrick Fitzgerald understands that he must prosecute within the confines of the law. However, he also understands that what was done to the wife of Ambassador Joe Wilson was more than a rough game of inside the beltway hardball. Karl Rove told Chris Matthews that "Wilson's wife is fair game". Not only was she an unfair target, but in going after her the White House political crew unwittingly exposed several intelligence assets and caused the loss of intelligence assets overseas.

Richard Cohen is dead wrong to argue that the best thing Patrick Fitzgerald can do is leave town. To the contrary, the best thing Patrick Fitzgerald can do is a send a clear message to politicians in both parties that when it comes to political hardball intelligence assets must be kept out of the game. At the end of the day our nation's security is no game, it is a matter of life and death.

Oct 13, 2005 -- 09:47:02 PM EST
Why Patrick Fitzgerald Gets It | 23 comments (23
http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/10/13/21472/723

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Patrick J. Fitzgerald Investigating Bush Administration
http://www.apfn.org/apfn/Fitzgerald.htm

U.S. District Chief Judge Thomas F. Hogan
http://www.apfn.org/apfn/HOGAN.htm

Larry Johnson

Larry C. Johnson is the Managing Partner and founder of BERG Associates, LLC, an international business-consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. BERG that specializes in counter terrorism and money laundering investigations. Prior to forming BERG, Mr. Johnson worked with the Central Intelligence Agency (1985-1989) and the Department of State's Office of the Coordinator for Counter Terrorsim (1989-1993). Since 1994 Mr. Johnson has helped script terrorism exercises for the U.S. military forces that have the counter terrorism mission. Mr. Johnson also has served as an instructor for the U.S. State Department's Anti-Terrorism Training Program, where he has lectured on Current Terrorist Threats and Trends and on International Accords for Combating Terrorism to officials from more than 45 countries. Mr. Johnson has directed or participated in the forensic audits of banks and casinos Latin America, tested procedures and systems for detecting and preventing money laundering, and directed the forensic audit of a multi-million dollar business suspected of money laundering in the Colon Free Zone of Panama. Mr. Johnson manages and directs BERG Associates investigations of international fraud and product counterfeiting, which has resulted in the confiscation of products worth one million dollars, fines totaling $500,000, and criminal penalties for the offenders.
http://www.tpmcafe.com/contributors/main#ljohnson

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Patrick J. Fitzgerald Investigating Bush Administration
http://www.apfn.org/apfn/Fitzgerald.htm

U.S. District Chief Judge Thomas F. Hogan
http://www.apfn.org/apfn/HOGAN.htm

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Thursday, October 13, 2005
6am-8am The media is turning on the Bush Administration.

8am-9am Judith Miller from the New York Times is in the news and Jane Hamsher http://firedoglake.blogspot.com knows more than most about why.

Guest: Jane Hamsher

Subject: Judith Miller, C I A, Valerie Plame, Joseph Wilson, Karl Rove, Media
http://www.charlesgoyette.com/archive/index.cgi?2005-10-13-Charles