Bob Woodward: My CIA leak source was not Libby

[bishop]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/....ap/index.html

Post editor says he was told of Plame in June 2003

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Washington Post editor Bob Woodward testified that a senior Bush administration official told him about CIA operative Valerie Plame about a month before her identity was publicly exposed, the Post acknowledged Wednesday.

Woodward told Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald, who is investigating the leak of Plame's identity, that the official talked to him about Plame in mid-June 2003, the Post said. Woodward and editors at the Post refused to identify the official other than to say it was not I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff.

Libby was indicted last month on one charge of obstruction of justice and two counts each of false statement and perjury in connection with Fitzgerald's investigation.

Plame's husband, former U.S. Ambassador Joseph Wilson, had criticized U.S. intelligence efforts before the Iraq war. On June 23, Libby told The New York Times reporter Judith Miller that Wilson's wife might work at the CIA. Robert Novak, in a column published July 14, identified Plame as a CIA operative.

Woodward's testimony in a two-hour deposition Monday would mean that another White House official told a reporter about Plame before Libby revealed her identity to Miller. A spokesman for White House adviser Karl Rove told the Post that Rove did not discuss Plame with Woodward.

William Jeffress Jr., one of Libby's lawyers, told the Post that Woodward's testimony raises questions about his client's indictment. "Will Mr. Fitzgerald now say he was wrong to say on TV that Scooter Libby was the first official to give this information to a reporter?" Jeffress said.

Woodward, famous for his investigation with Carl Bernstein of the Watergate scandal during the Nixon administration, is now assistant managing editor of the Post. In October he was dismissive of the outing of Plame, telling CNN's Larry King that the damage from her exposure was "quite minimal."

[Apeman81]

Just to point it out, Ms Plame was not a "CIA Operative". Her status was not that addressed in the law being bandied about as the impetus for this investigation. Not that the investigation is wholely invalid, but such "factoids" as "CIA Operative" should be avoided in the name of intellectual honesty.

As for Woodwards assertion, he has always like to see his name in print. Perhaps by refusing to "tell all", he may win a short stint in prison. That should be worth a book, and several magazine interviews.

[Walmas]

We all know that the coruption goes higher up. There is no way that libby had the clearance to get this information. Someone higher up gave it to him. The people who did have clearance were people in the C.I.A. or the president or vice president. If it was the C.I.A there would be no point for them. THere is no gain for the C.I.A. exposing one of there agents.

[ericsp23]

Libby got Plame's name from Cheney according to notes taken during a meeting between the two that were subpoenaed by the grand jury investigating into the leak. That is why he was indicted for perjury and obstruction of justice, he claimed under oath that he heard Plame's name first from a reporter, but the meeting notes prove otherwise. The context under which Plame's name came up at that meeting is still not clear. As far as I know there is no evidence to suggest that Cheney had intended for Libby to leak her name.

[shield772]

We all know that the coruption goes higher up. There is no way that libby had the clearance to get this information. Someone higher up gave it to him. The people who did have clearance were people in the C.I.A. or the president or vice president. If it was the C.I.A there would be no point for them. THere is no gain for the C.I.A. exposing one of there agents.

I have to differ with you on one point, Libby was the VPOTUS Chief of Staff and National Security Advisor and would have the same clearance as his boss, as the White House Chief of Staff has the same security access as POTUS does.

[Walmas]

I might be wrong. I made an assumtion based on an article i read. Heres a link explaining the levels of clearance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_clearance
But just because the person is a chief of staff it doesnt mean they have the same clearance as his boss.

Lets all remeber the true boss of all politicians are us. We elect them and we pay for them

[RickSp]

Just to point it out, Ms Plame was not a "CIA Operative". Her status was not that addressed in the law being bandied about as the impetus for this investigation. Not that the investigation is wholely invalid, but such "factoids" as "CIA Operative" should be avoided in the name of intellectual honesty.

Wrong again.

Plame was not only a CIA operative but had served in the most dangerous capacity possible, as an "NOC", a spy working under non-official cover. Even though she was now working inthe United States her status remained a secret so that the covers of those she worked with might stay intact. Read about it, if you want to be less misinformed: The Exposure Of Valerie Plame

Given that the current administration cabal doesn't care about the soldiers dying needlessly in Iraq, I guess it shouldn't be surprising that outing a CIA agent is not considered a big deal by the administration or their Bushbot drones.

[RickSp]

Raw Story leads with:

National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley was the senior administration official who told Washington Post Assistant Managing Editor Bob Woodward that Valerie Plame Wilson was a CIA officer, attorneys close to the investigation and intelligence officials tell RAW STORY.

Testifying under oath Monday to Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, Woodward recounted a casual conversation he had with Hadley, these sources say. Hadley did not return a call seeking comment.

[Rainbow]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/....ap/index.html
The Washington Post editor Bob Woodward testified that a senior Bush administration official told him about CIA operative Valerie Plame about a month before her identity was publicly exposed, the Post acknowledged Wednesday.

Either Woodward plays its cover up part, or an alternative one.
Nevertheless, it points out that there are some irresponsible people within top government and/or intelligence departments, unless the whole case takes an aim at "inner circle cleaning", since no intelligence agency releases its agents' data to the public.

[ericsp23]

I heard that there are rumors flying around Washington that Bush is going to pardon more than just a turkey on Thanksgiving. I've heard that he is going to issue a blanket pardon for Libby and everyone else under investigation in the CIA leak case and instruct the Attorney General to call off the investigation. I know that it isn't unusual for a president to announce a controversial pardon during a holiday in the hopes that people aren't paying attention. I'm just curious if anyone else has heard anything similar.

[Rainbow]

The Washington Post editor Bob Woodward testified that a senior Bush administration official told him about CIA operative Valerie Plame about a month before her identity was publicly exposed, the Post acknowledged Wednesday.

Woodward told Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald, who is investigating the leak of Plame's identity, that the official talked to him about Plame in mid-June 2003, the Post said. Woodward and editors at the Post refused to identify the official other than to say it was not I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff.

That is quite funny.
Woodward - along with "Washington Post"s editors, knows about the CIA operative and the source, but CIA (itself) does not :-)))

In this business nobody is trusted, and Woodward is not the exception.
That is yet another a political game. Either Woodward is being used for that purpose, or plays its part. It would come out, while time is not a factor but a range it may cover.