Who first outed CIA operative Valerie Plame?

A) Joseph Wilson (to journalists, lobbyists) October 15, 2003.
B) Knut Royce, Timothy M. Phelps (Newsday) July 22, 2003.
C) Robert Novak (Chicago Sun-Times) July 14, 2003.
D) Lewis Libby (to Judith Miller) July 12, 2003.
E) Unamed Official (to Bob Woodward) mid-June, 2003.
F) Valerie Plame (to Wilson "on third or fourth date") Spring, 1997.

Correct Answer: (F). This information was publicly verified by Joseph Wilson in Vanity Fair, January, 2004.

Note: Valerie Plame was not punished for her intentional and unauthorized disclosure (which might have endangered CIA "assets"); Joseph Wilson was not punished for failing to report Plame's violation, even though his failure to act violated the terms of the security clearance that he held at the time.

Iraq War Must Reads

As an early opponent of the U.S. invasion of Iraq (since I was concerned that the American public would lose heart and abandon the effort and that the US military would become bogged down) I am dismayed by the dishonesty shown by many of the Democrats that I supported.

Therefore, I recommend two articles which are refreshing in their honesty:

• "Our Troops Must Stay" by Joe Leiberman.


• "Who is Lying About Iraq" by Norman Podhoretz.

More "Libby Leak"

Facts we now know:

• Bob Woodward states that he received the information about Valerie Plame's CIA employment in a casual conversation while gathering material for his book (not as an intentional leak as part of a plot to damage Joe Wilson). This took place well before the "Libby Leak" date (the date which Fitzpatrick alleges Scooter Libby became the first White House staffer to give this information to the press).
  


• Woodward states that he told Walter Pincus about Plame's CIA employment. This took place well before the "Libby Leak" date.


• Pincus denies the conversation with Woodward. Thus, either Woodward or Pincus is not telling the truth. Since both are honest men, this would not be perjury, but a normal human memory fault.


• At least one other reporter (and most likely several other reporters) knew of Plame's CIA employment well before the "Libby Leak" date.

Paydirt questions for reporters to investigate:

• What actions will the Office of the Special Prosecutor take to correct Fitzpatrick's obvious public mistatement concerning Libby on this matter?


• What further investigation will the FBI conduct to determine who in the press knew what and when concerning Plame?