From: "Robert G Lewis" 


"George J. Sherwood"  wrote in
message news:4435db36{at}w3....
> Robert G Lewis wrote:
>
>> The questions in my mind is what are the procedures for the president to
>> declassify information ? What laws are in place to protect the identify
>> of
>> covert agents ? Was the CIA ever notified that her identify was
>> declassified or was it just leaked leaving her ( and others) exposed ?
>
> The procedure for the President are to just make the decision.  Pretty
> much
> only answerable to the voters.  Everything that I have read about this so
> far doesn't saying anything about authorization to release her name.  That
> seems to be missing here, big headlines about the President authorizing
> release of classified info, but I haven't seen that release included
> anything but info from the NIE.  I think people are making a big jump to
> reach this conclusion that he authorized the release of Plame's name.
> Maybe
> I have missed that part, but it isn't what Libby has said. What has been
> said is that the President authorized the release.

Voters, Congress and the courts ( in some cases) .  Of course I
also expect the President to obey the law ( I'm NOT saying that Bush has
violated the law) and should he break the law face criminal charges. That's
why my questions.  I wonder if the president declassifies something but
doesn't inform the Agencies it anyone can subsequently be charged if they
leak it ?

>
>>
>> it's one thing for the President to authorize the release of information
>> on an enemy state , its another to leak information that puts our intel
>> assets at risk. I don't how outing her identify did anything to correct
>> any perceived falsehoods that Wilson may have been putting out. Fight
>> falsehoods with truth not outing someone's spouse.
>
> Again, I believe this is a conclusion being reached not supported by the
> evidence yet.
>
> George

Well I think it is a given that her name was leaked. I would also think
that anyone who worked with her ( or even for the front companies she
worked for)would be consider suspect by foreign governments. I do not see
how that helped the Presidents case other than to serve to try and
discredit a critic, not to counter the critics arguments. Personally I
think it was a bad for the country for the information ( her identify) to
be leaked. Leaking facts to counter facts ( or allegations if you prefer)
is one thing.

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