A neighbor's view of Valerie Wilson's 'outing'

[UpInArms]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2005-07-24-wilson-neighbor_x.htm

Joe and Valerie Wilson are my next door neighbors in a hilly neighborhood just west of Georgetown. We moved in within months of each other seven years ago, attracted to our respective houses by the view of the Capitol in the distance and the Washington Monument in the foreground. The patriotic view is stirring.

<snip>

As I finished reading the column, Joe ventured out onto his deck and offered a neighborly hello. I held up the paper and yelled over, "I had no idea about Valerie!" Joe looked stricken and gestured to me to keep my voice down. I immediately realized the "outing" of Valerie as a covert CIA operative had had a devastating effect on the Wilson family. In the weeks to follow, I came to understand just how harrowing the disclosure was. Obviously, the identification of Valerie meant an end to her decades-long career. It also meant the country had lost an essential part of the services provided by someone who was an expert on weapons of mass destruction.

Much more than that, it meant — along with the danger faced by Valerie's secret sources because of her exposure — the Wilson family was in danger. There is no shortage of crazies in the world who blame the CIA for their problems. What a tragedy that the Wilson kids cannot play in their yard without their parents having some degree of worry because of this episode.

<snip>

And we also now know that the only reason Valerie Wilson was mentioned was because, as Time magazine put it, the administration had declared "war on Wilson" for his whistle-blowing. The outing of Valerie seemed intended to send a not-so-subtle message to other potential critics, "Mess with us, and we'll mess with your family."

...more...

[Wickerman]

1. nice piece

can't believe it was in USA Today.

thanks, nominated.

[fooj]

2. Recommend and kick

:kick:

[scarletwoman]

3. Thank you for posting this. I would have never come across it on my own.

Giving this a recommendation and a kick.

sw

[Paradise]

11. Ditto. n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

4. Actually, I think they were also specficially trying to shut up Valerie

herself. There are so many scandals involved in this, and in her position she might be have been able to do some very heavy-duty whistle-blowing of her own, for example about the forging of the Niger Uranium documents and the suppression of the fact that they were obviously fraudulent for many months.

Some background in this thread and in links given in the replies:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4169890

So trying to smear the truthfulness of Wilson's revelation that Saddam had NOT bought that yellowcake would be one reason and, if I am right, the removal of an all-too-competent agent from that issue would be a second one.

The administration was busy lying about Saddam seeking nuclear arms capability, and Valerie Plame knew too much - they wanted her OUT of there so their lies were safer.

[Scout1071]

5. Great read.

[stellanoir]

6. What they have done to

Ms. Plame-Wilson and her family is totally unconscionable.

What they have done to Mr.Wilson is far worse than that.

I'm just hoping that these two citizens who have devoted their lives to public service, go down in history in such a way that they will be recognized as the true patriots that they are, as opposed to these skanks that are ruining all the positive potential that our country ever had.

[TacticalPeek]

7. My favorite part:

"The Wilsons don't need a lawyer for any pending proceeding; I am simply helping them understand some of the technicalities of the criminal investigation and collecting facts for any eventual civil suit."

Bwaaahahahahaha! :evilgrin:

[Burried News]

14. Civil suit - oh yeah

Cheney screwed with the bull now he gets the horn.
Maybe not so speedy Gonzales can give Cheney some pointers.

[SeattleGirl]

8. Wonder how the WH & Freepers will try to spin this

Seems everyone who comes to the defense of the Wilsons gets attacked, and it seems the bigger the truth the defender tells, the bigger the attack. Well, "bring it on" -- I don't think they are going to squirm out of this one. They are pissing too many people off who AREN'T going to back down.

[burrowowl]

9. KICK!

U$A Today is coming up with some good ones, what is up?

[AuntiBush]

10. Feeling So Damn Bad for the Wilson's & the CIA, now!

Does our troops get the real news over there or are they fed propaganda? Anyone know? And the raw courage it took for Wilson to stand-up for the honest to goodness truth for our country. And what do they get - all this from the Rethugs.

Does anyone doubt the PNCA now?

And do other's realize the implications of this domino-affect it's created, which certainly spanning the globe. Was this intended... need I ask anymore.

[FourStarDemocrat]

12. I wonder why they aren't receiving police protection..

There are a lot of wingnut loonies out there. Anyway, nice piece. Thanks for posting it.

[Brotherjohn]

13. A few days ago, a Repub talking point was "I bet all her neighbors knew!"

I guess now it's time to go after the neighbors.

[Alizaryn]

15. Great article!

It certainly brings the whole thing down to a very real, very human level.

[byronius]

16. It's the little picture that says it all, in this case.

'Joe looked stricken and gestured to me to keep my voice down.'

May Karl Rove and his minions burn for this, long and mightily.

[MissMarple]

17. "Mess with us, and we'll mess with your family."

These people have no ethics, no morals, no integrity.

[Puzzler]

18. OK...

...possible wingnut spin:

"Why does his neighbor hate America?"


-P

[gizmo1979]

19. I duped this sorry.

it was such a great story hopefully everyone reads it!