Valerie Plame Wilson, whose cover as a covert CIA agent was famously blown by top Bush administration officials, told a Brown University audience last night she is pleased that the U.S. intelligence community has released an assessment concluding that Iran halted its covert nuclear weapons campaign in 2003.
“I’m pleased that they have some gumption and have pushed back” against the Bush administration, which has often pointed to Iraq as a rouge nation that is developing a nuclear arsenal, Plame told a packed house on campus last night .
While the new intelligence report appears likely to make President Bush’s “case for war somewhat more problematic,” Plame said, his policies in Iraq and Afghanistan have been a boon to Iran’s government.
“We have done grave damage with our policies in Iraq,” said Plame. “We’ve taken care of Iran’s enemies — the Taliban and Saddam Hussein.”
After her hour-long speech and question-and-answer session, Plame dropped one bombshell almost casually. She said a lawyer had called her just before her talk began and told her that special prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald had agreed to turn his transcripts of interviews with Mr. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney over to U. S. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., who is known for his relish for investigating wrongdoing by Republicans.
Plame said she didn’t know whether the Bush administration would allow the transcripts to be sent to Congress.
Let’s hope this is true. Patrick Fitzgerald was in an unusual position. He was appointed by James Comey [an honest man] standing in for the ailing John Ashcroft. Comey gave Fitzgerald maximum powers, something no "Bushie would have done. So, he may have the power to do whatever he wants to do – and he usually does the right thing. This would certainly be the right thing. The essential issue on the table right now is that our Chief Executives lie to us [and anyone else who will listen]. That needs to be proved once and for all. Whether they end up behind bars doesn’t matter as much as their chronic spinning needs to be confronted as much more than twisting a story here and there – it is outright lying. And these interviews may demonstrate that in spades. The Plame story remains the Royal Road to the nasty truth about this Administration, and Patrick Fitzgerald may well hold the key that unlocks it once and for all…
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