Next time a wing nut says Plamegate is just politics.....

[Jack from Charlotte]

Give them this article from... Why it Matters

http://Firedoglake.blogspot.com/

(snip)

Why has your cover been blown? Because you work as a CIA colleague of the wife of a man who dared to question the veracity of the President of the United States on a matter of national security,

....The next time someone says to you, "What's the big deal?" you tell them. What was done to Ambassador Joe Wilson and his wife Valerie and their twins is despicable, and goes much further than political payback ever should. It crossed way over a line. They will have to look over their shoulders for the rest of their lives, just in case. But it did not just touch their lives. It touched the life of every CIA agent working under Brewster cover, every employee of a Brewster company in ever country in which they maintained an office. And every single person with whom those people ever met, because all of them would be considered national security risks in their own nations for meeting with a potential CIA agent.

[porphyrian]

1. Intentionally outing an active undercover CIA agent is treason.

trea·son (trzn) n.

1. Violation of allegiance toward one's country or sovereign, especially the betrayal of one's country by waging war against it or by consciously and purposely acting to aid its enemies.

2. A betrayal of trust or confidence.

[longship]

5. Dictionary definition is not appropriate.

The Constitution defines treason. That is the only appropriate definition in this context.

[Richard Steele]

6. No, we have some laws which SPECIFICALLY refer to this...

...And go into much more detail than the Constitution.

They make it very clear that revealing
the identity of a CIA agent is considered TREASON.

[longship]

7. We'll have to see where Fitz takes it.

Treason would certainly be appropriate. But the Constitution requires two witnesses to the treason. It may be troublesome to get them. As you imply, there are multiple avenues to go down to hold these bums accountable. I hope Fitz grabs for the brass ring, but another major felony would be acceptable if the Constitution's treason definitions prove to be difficult to satisfy.

[porphyrian]

9. Flip-flopper.

You just chided me that it was inappropriate. Git.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[porphyrian]

8. The hell you say.

You aren't the authority on appropriate language usage at DU, and I don't appreciate your assertion.

[longship]

11. Read the Constitution. It specifically mentions treason.

and the criteria on which charges must be based.

My position is clear here. I did not stutter. Although treason may be appropriate, it is not likely that it will come to that because of the Constitutional requirements.

So, in this context, a dictionary definition is not appropriate.

[porphyrian]

13. Read this.

You have no place telling me what is and what isn't appropriate regardless of context. You're just another opinion. So, in this context, you're wrong.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[porphyrian]

15. You are still just an opinion.

And yours is no more valid than anyone else's here. Thus, you are still wrong.

[tridim]

2. Or remind them that GHW Bush disagrees

As he described the treasonous act of outing a CIA agent as one of the worst crimes that can be committed.

[melissinha]

3. not so sure it wasn't a trap

:tinfoilhat: If it can be estblished that Cheney in fact suggested that Wilson be the one that do the investigation, then I will believe that the whole thing was a set up to get Brewster Jennings....

Cause the contract for yellow cake was a blatant fraud and Plame could have been outted "accidentally" by anyone just as she was by Novak regardless of Wilson's reaction.... Do you think that there could have been a context in which Novak or Miller could have just mentioned the yellow cake and PLame and Wilson's relationship in passing?

It is quite possible that Wilson played into CHeney's hands.... you know how the administration thinks that is above reproach, prime example.

[Brotherjohn]

4. Exactly. And while the article alludes to our own safety...

... the point should be made even stronger at the end when it's all tied together.

It not only touched the life of every CIA asset who was ever linked to Plame (some of them may be dead now because of the leak), but it endangered the life of every single one of us.

Whether or not Plame was still active in the field, her cover company, and the cover of anyone who ever worked with her in the field, was blown. It is probable that CIA efforts to prevent the spread of WMDs into terrorist hands was directly compromised.

If the United States is ever subjected to a terrorist atack with WMDs, the Bush White House will have that blood on its hands.

So don't tell me it was just a "harmless" act and "politics as usual".

IT...
WAS...
TREASON!!!

[Tower]

12. I'll them only traitors can shrug off treason.