Way back in the year 2003, well-known journalist Robert (Bob) Novak, relased the name of a CIA agent by the name of Valerie Plame in one of his articles. This came 8 days after her husband, former U.S. Ambassador Joesph Wilson, made accusations of the Bush Administration's handling of the Iraq War.
He claimed that the Bush Administration, in an effort to exaggerate the Iraqi threat, manipulated Pre-war intelligence to point out the threat to the United States from Saddam Hussein.
Now, Bob Novak says that he'd "Be amazed" if the President didn't know who his source was. Novak also said that the American people should "bug the President as to whether he should reveal who the source is."
Novaks's comments were from a Q & A session in the Raleigh, N.C., News & Observer.
Bob Novak had two sources for his article, which ended Plame's career, which lasted more than two decades. Turns out that if the world knows your a CIA agent, you pretty much are out of a job.
One of Novak's sources was Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove (if you watch the West Wing, this is the capacity which Bradley Whitford plays!), who is also a senior advisor to President Bush. Rove is being investigated by Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald, who is heading up the investigation.
But Rove is not in as big of trouble as counterpart Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Cheney's former Chief of Staff, who has been indicted for obstrustion of justice, perjury, and making false statements. Libby and Rove revealed the identity of Plame to Time Magazine reporter Matthew Cooper. Libby also revealed Plame's name to reporter Judith Miller. Libby has since resigned.
Novak's other source is not known to the public, but as quoted above, the President obviously knows. It is assumed that Novak is cooperating with Fitzgerald, but he has not publicly said so.
Democratic Senator Charles Schumer, D-NY, urged the President to either identify the source or say that he doesn't know.
Sen. Schumer, in a letter to the President, said "Unlike Mr. Novak, who can claim an interest in maintaining the confidentiality of his sources, there is no similar privilege arguably preventing you from sharing this information."
Sen. Schumer also pointed out that "At one point, in 2004, you suggested that anyone who was involved in leaking the name of the covert CIA operative would be fired."
My Comments: The President of the United States doesn't have the ability to keep something secret, like a reporter can, especially when it can help Patrick Fitzgerald prosecute leakers. If he doesn't, I imagine that would be obstruction of justice, unless Executive Priviledge can be enacted (please feel free to comment if I'm wrong!).
If PotUS doesn't know, or if he says he doesn't know, then Bob Novak should say who it is. He actually should say who it is anyway, but he probably won't. Which is too bad, that means a more drawn out process.
Better yet, I call for this source to come forward himself. I'm personally thinking that it could be the Vice President himself. If not him, then it's Andrew Card, President Bush's Chief of Staff (the capacity which is currenty played by Allison Janney on the West Wing!). It's got to be a TOP official, because it wouldn't be a big deal if the source was the East Wing janitor (C'mon, what would you really find in the First Lady's Office?), nor is it that new chef the White House just got.
There's a good chance DCoS Karl Rove will be indicted soon.
When this source comes out, or when the leak is leaked, hopefully everyone will be indicted, and this will all be over!
You know, Mr. President, so please tell us! We're all waiting!
-Adam
oregondemocrat@hotmail.com
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