Brushing Off the Leak of a Covert CIA Agent

Posted by Michael Link on July 3, 2007 at 12:30 PM

Adding insult to injury, Tony Snow brushed off the leak of the identity of a covert CIA agent. As if it wasn't enough to just excuse the obstruction of justice, today in the press briefing Tony Snow mocked the importance of this case, saying "In Washington, things get leaked all the time" in response to the characterization of the case as "serious."

(Video at AmericaBlog).

So if he's going to take issue with this being serious, let's take a look at what they've said about leaking classified information in the past:

Vice President Dick Cheney: "Those leaks do do enormous damage to our national security. It happens in several ways. It, obviously, reveals techniques and sources and methods that are important to try to protect. It gives information to our enemies about how we go about collecting intelligence against them. It also raises questions in the minds of other intelligence services about whether or not they can work with the United States intelligence service, with our CIA, for example, if we can't keep a secret."

Former WH Spokesman Scott McClellan, on President Bush: "The President has made it very clear that the leaking of classified information is a serious matter, and he takes it very seriously. That's why he is saying that we need to get to the bottom of this, and the sooner, the better."

Homeland Security Advisor Frances Fragos Townsend: "Let me be clear that, you know, with every unauthorized disclosure of classified information it does harm to our national and homeland security. Every leak is a victory for our enemies who plot to kill us, because we tell them something about our knowledge, our intelligence capability and our perspective on their capability."

Comments (18) «

Its only wrong unless their buddies do it

1
AzraelsJudgement on July 3, 2007 at 12:41 PM

i watched and could not even believe he said it, things get leaked all he time, wow, and the pres will commute their sentence if they get caught leaking it.

2
jimmyc451 on July 3, 2007 at 01:47 PM

Excellent reporting, as always.

3
Terra on July 3, 2007 at 02:44 PM

This is a sad day for this country. But let's not lose sight of a simple fact. There is every reason to think Cheney-Bush knew and encouraged Libby's actions. Therefore, commuting a sentence under those circumstances constitutes an impeachable offence.

It's time to stop getting mad and time to take action. Urge your Reps to support HRES 333 - the impeachment of Cheney.

4
rjsnj on July 3, 2007 at 03:10 PM

Michael,

Good job. Just keep damning them with their own words.

5
SandyH on July 3, 2007 at 03:54 PM

Yes, I think this is a great issue to hammer as far as it will go. Nobody has a worse record than the Clinton's in this arena. Hypos!

6
wwwrench on July 3, 2007 at 05:24 PM

I do not believe that any president since Richard Nixon has had a lower regard for the law than Bush. Let him talk about his morality while he steals, lies, and kills, and furthermore pardons other despicable people. This would have never happened in the Clinton, Bush Sr., or Reagan Administrations. This Independence Day, let us lament the hypocrisy of today's "King George."

7
Floyd on July 4, 2007 at 12:57 AM

I do not believe that any president since Richard Nixon has had a lower regard for the law than Bush. Let him talk about his morality while he steals, lies, and kills, and furthermore pardons other despicable people. This would have never happened in the Clinton, Bush Sr., or Reagan Administrations. This Independence Day, let us lament the hypocrisy of today's "King George."

8
Floyd on July 4, 2007 at 12:57 AM

Go to MSNBC and read Keith Olberman's comment from last

night's show.

IF YOU CAN FIND A DEM WITH GUTS, PERHAPS SEVERAL,

ASK THEM TO READ KEITH'S COMMENT INTO THE

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD.

WELL WRITTEN. HE CALLED FOR BUSH AND CHENEY TO RESIGN.

IF YOU WANT TO HEAR APPLAUSE, LINE UP THE DEMS

AT THE MICRPHONE, SCRIPT IN HAND, READING KEITH'S

WORK INTO THE RECORD.

HE HAS SAID IT BETTER THAN ANY POL.

9
Integrity on July 4, 2007 at 05:54 AM

Impeach Chimpo
Impeach Shotgun

10
rjsnj on July 4, 2007 at 09:09 AM

How many straws heaped on the camel's back does it take to break it???
This should be the last straw!!!
IMPEACH NOW!!!!!!

11
Butte on July 4, 2007 at 09:56 AM

libby didn't leak anything, armitage did....libby was found guilty of obstruction. libby was not pardoned (yet..hehe!). what about clinton's full pardon of marc rich for library funds??? you whiners are pathetic

12
whinerwatcher on July 4, 2007 at 11:12 AM

Bill & Hillary:
Worse than you thought & worth remembering, and this came from a Democrat

Dear ( Ex) President Clinton:

I recently saw a bumper sticker that said, "Thank me, I voted for Clinton-Gore." So, I sat down and reflected on that, and I am sending my "Thank you" for what you have done, specifically:

1. Thank you for introducing us to Jennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, Monica Lewinsky, Dolly Kyle Browning, Kathleen Willey, and Juanita Broderick. Did I leave anyone out?

2. Thank you for teaching my 8 year old about oral sex. I had really planned to wait until he was a little older to discuss it with him, but now he knows more about it than I did as a senior in college.

3. Thank you for showing us that sexual harassment in the work place (especially the White House) and on the job is OK, and all you have to know is what the meaning of "it" is. It really is great to know that certain sexual acts are not sex, and one person may have sex while the other one does NOT have sex.

4. Thank you for reintroducing the concept of impeachment to a new generation and demonstrating that the ridiculous plot of the movie "Wag the Dog" could be plausible after all.

5. Thanks for making Jimmy Carter look competent, Gerald Ford look graceful, Richard Nixon look honest, Lyndon Johnson look truthful, and John Kennedy look moral.

6. Thank you for the 73 House and Senate witnesses who have pled the 5th Amendment and 17 witnesses who have fled the country to avoid testifying about Democratic campaign fund raising.

7. Thank you, for the 19 charges, 8 convictions, and 4 imprisonment's from the Whitewater "mess" and the 55 criminal charges and 32 criminal convictions (so far) in the other " Clinton " scandals.

8. Thanks also for reducing our military by half, "gutting" much of our foreign policy, and flying all over the world on "vacations" carefully disguised as necessary trips.

9 Thank you, also, for "finding" millions of dollars (I really didn't need it in the first place, and I can't think of a more deserving group of recipients for my hard-earned tax dollars)
for all of your globe-trotting. I understand you, the family and your cronies have logged in more time aboard Air Force One than any other administration.

10. Now that you've left the White House, thanks for the 140 pardons of convicted felons and indicted felons-in-exile. We will love to have them rejoin society. (Not to mention the scores you pardoned while Governor of Arkansas)

11. Thanks also for removing the White House silverware. I'm sure that Laura Bush didn't like the pattern anyway. Also, enjoy the housewarming gifts you've received from your "friends."

12. Thanks to you and your staff in the West Wing of the White House for vandalizing and destroying government property on the way out. I also appreciate removing all of that excess weight ( China , silverware, linen, towels, ash trays, soap, pens, magnetic compass, flight manuals, etc.) out of Air Force 1. The weight savings means burning less fuel, thus less tax dollars spent on jet fuel. Thank you!

13. And finally, please ensure that Hillary enjoys the $8 million dollar advance for her "tell-all" book and you, Bill, the $10 million advance for your memoirs. Who says crime doesn't pay!

14. The last and most important point - thank you for forcing Israel to let Mohammed Atta go free. Terrorist pilot Mohammed Atta blew up a bus in Israel in 1986. The Israelis captured, tried and imprisoned him. As part of the Oslo agreement with the Palestinians in 1993, Israel had to agree to release so-called "political prisoners". However, the Israelis would not release any with blood on their hands. The American President at the time, Bill Clinton, and his Secretary of State, Warren Christopher, "insisted" that all prisoners be released. Thus Mohammed Atta was freed and eventually thanked the US by flying an airplane into Tower One of the World Trade Center . This was reported by many of the American TV networks at the time that the terrorists were first identified. It was censored in the US from all later reports. Why shouldn't Americans know the real truth?

What a guy!!

If you agree that the American public must be made aware of these facts, pass this on. God bless America and THANK YOU (once again) for spending my taxes so wisely and frugally.

SINCERELY,
A US Citizen
PS.
Please pass along a special thank you to Al Gore for "inventing" the Internet, without which I would not be able to send this wonderful, factual e-mail.

AND THE REST OF THE STORY Hillary Rodham Clinton, as a New York State Senator, now comes under the "Congressional Retirement and Staffing Plan," which means that even if she never gets reelected, she STILL receives her Congressional salary until she dies. (Would it not be nice if all Americans were pension eligible after only 4 years?)

If Bill outlives her, he then inherits HER salary until HE dies. He is already getting his Presidential salary until he dies. If Hillary outlives Bill, she also gets HIS salary until she dies. Guess who pays for that?

WE DO!

It's common knowledge that in order for her to establish NY residency, they purchased a million dollar-plus house in upscale Chappaqua , New York . Makes sense. They are entitled to Secret Service protection for life. Still makes sense.

Here is where it becomes interesting. Their mortgage payments hover at around $10,000 per month. BUT, an extra residence HAD to be built within the acreage to house the Secret Service agents.

The Clintons charge the Federal government $10,000 monthly rent for the use of that extra residence, which is just about equal to their mortgage payment. This means that we, the taxpayers, are paying the Clinton 's salary, mortgage, transportation, safety and security, as well as the salaries for their 12 man staff -- and, this is all perfectly legal!

When she runs for President, will you vote for her?

How many people can YOU send this to?

13
watchdog on July 4, 2007 at 12:16 PM

Why won't we call a duck a duck?

This deal for libby to lie and cover for Cheney throughout the court proceedings seems crystal clear. The die was set when they stopped at Libby.

If any of you out there thought Libby was going to prison and you are democrats you need to wake up and smell the corruption in the White House.

Libby did his job and was repaid with no prison, and call me a republican if he doesn't get the pardon.

14
Jakethedog on July 4, 2007 at 01:28 PM

Why won't we call a duck a duck?

This deal for libby to lie and cover for Cheney throughout the court proceedings seems crystal clear. The die was set when they stopped at Libby.

If any of you out there thought Libby was going to prison and you are democrats you need to wake up and smell the corruption in the White House.

Libby did his job and was repaid with no prison, and call me a republican if he doesn't get the pardon.

15
Jakethedog on July 4, 2007 at 01:30 PM

Impeach Dick then Bush for perjury and obstruction of justice.

16
jumbo on July 4, 2007 at 08:33 PM

I just leaked Tony Snow's personal address, SSN and the route he takes to work every morning. Nothing serious, though. Things get leaked in Washington every day.

17
YaFatha on July 4, 2007 at 10:18 PM

Good Grief! No matter how bad the Republicans get, they never sink to the level of total lunacy with which the Democratic Party seems to be infected.

I agree that the Bush administration is evil and rotten to the core. But in this particular instance, the Libby matter, it is beyond me how anyone can be convicted in this case in which no primary crime was committed. How can anyone be convicted of lying about a matter where it has never been shown that anyone was guilty of anything? What crap.

Additionally, whether an intentional lie was ever told in the first place is a debatable matter. I wouldn't give ten cents for the integrity of a Washington D.C. jury, or the moron of a judge who presided over that case.

All I can say is ----- You people are absolutely crazy and without any sense of decency whatever. Sad, but true.

18
cometcatcher on July 5, 2007 at 10:31 AM


« Hide Comments

Comments are now closed for this entry.