An important Grand Jury investigation is going on right now that when concluded will give us a view of the worst scandal of the Bush Administration. Well so far anyway. Last year in response to her husband's outspokenness about Bush, Valerie Plame, an undercover CIA NOC agent working on tracking weapons of mass destruction was exposed by right-wing columnist Robert Novak. A NOC agent is "non-official cover" which means the agent can in no way be traced back to the CIA or government agency. They are on their own if they are caught. The NOC agents are specially trained and they are a select few who do some of the most dangerous work.
Novak admits that persons within the Bush White House gave him Plame's name. Not only was a NOC agent exposed but in a subsequent article, Novak also exposed the name of the front company, which she and other agents used as a cover when doing their job. Her name was released to Novak to intimidate her husband Ambassador Joseph Wilson from speaking out further. There are few people with access to the names of CIA NOC agents and those people would have to be high up in the administration with top-level security clearance. Because the CIA can never reveal their assets, we will never know what damage has been done to our intelligence gathering and security. We will never know how many sources and informants have lost their lives because their contact has been exposed.
Who was behind what could only be called treason? How far up does it go? And when did Bush know about it? Both Bush and Cheney have "lawyered up" with criminal defense attorneys. Bush was questioned regarding recently but remarkably not under oath. He did have his criminal defense attorney present for the questioning. Colin Powell appeared before the Grand Jury not long ago to answer questions about conversations he had with Bush and just recently Air Force One phone logs have been subpoenaed. It has come to national television and print reporters being subpoenaed and questioned by the Grand Jury in an effort to capture the traitor.
Instead of wanting to get to the bottom of this breach of national security, the republican controlled congress would rather ignore it. Long Island Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) dismisses calling the leak a crime as "...off the mark" in an article in the fringe right-wing magazine Human Events. King cares little that Valerie Plame's life was put in danger along with other agents. He cares little that contacts and sources are now compromised. Peter King wants Ambassador Wilson to be investigated not the White House. King does not seem to understand exposing Valerie Plame has harmed the security of the United States. An agent of the United States working for the safety and security of this country was exposed for ugly partisan purposes. This is not politics this is treason. King should be ashamed of himself for trying to deflect from an issue of national security all in an attempt to provide cover for a treasonous act committed by the Bush Administration. When asked about investigating this leak, Rep. Porter Goss (R-Fla) who is chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence and Bush's choice for CIA Director said "Somebody sends me a blue dress and some DNA, I'll have an investigation." How can a breach of national security be treated to cavalierly?
The Grand Jury investigation continues and soon the traitors will be exposed and brought to justice. Our national security is too important for political games. We cannot wait until after the election to find out about the crimes and cover-ups like we did in 1972 allowing Nixon to win re-election. Being an undercover agent knowing your life is in danger if you are exposed is a not an easy job and there are few who can do that job. Agents should not have to worry about political hacks using them as pawns to silence critics.