Sens Kerry and Lugar blow cover of CIA Agent?

[Craig]

http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050412/ap/d89dhct00.html

 

Senators May Have Blown Cover of CIA Agent

Mr. Smith came to Washington again Monday, as an alias for a Central Intelligence Agency officer who works covertly. Senators, however, may have blown his cover.

 

During questioning on John R. Bolton's nomination to be President Bush's ambassador to the United Nations, Bolton and members of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee referred to "Mr. Smith" as one official among several who were involved in a dispute over what Democrats asserted was Bolton's inappropriate treatment of an intelligence analyst who disagreed with him.

 

"We referred to this other analyst at the CIA, whom I'll try and call Mr. Smith here, I hope I can keep that straight," Bolton said at one point.

 

Committee Chairman Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., both mentioned a name, Fulton Armstrong, that had not previously come up in public accounts of the intelligence flap.

 

It is not clear whether Armstrong is the undercover officer, but an exchange between Kerry and Bolton suggests that he may be.

 

In questioning Bolton, Kerry read from a transcript of closed-door interviews that committee staffers conducted with State Department officials prior to Monday's hearing. ADVERTISEMENT

 

 

 

"Did Otto Reich share his belief that Fulton Armstrong should be removed from his position? The answer is yes," Kerry said, characterizing one interview. "Did John Bolton share that view?" Kerry said, and then said the answer again was yes.

 

"As I said, I had lost confidence in Mr. Smith, and I conveyed that," Bolton replied evenly. "I thought that was the honest thing to do."

 

 

Have at it, kids.

[FutureGM]

Well, if it does turn out that they blew the guy's cover, something will need to be done about that.

 

On another note, I can't believe that Bolton, who once called the UN completely obsolete, will now be our representative to that organization. That just doesn't make any rational sense to me.

[BullDurham]

One person was once elected president of Duke Student Government on the platform of abolishing it. That he did. That's the reason why this recent election has been for the NINTH Duke Student Government.

[legacyofCangelosi]

Well, if it does turn out that they blew the guy's cover, something will need to be done about that.

 

On another note, I can't believe that Bolton, who once called the UN completely obsolete, will now be our representative to that organization. That just doesn't make any rational sense to me.

740466[/snapback]

 

Thats the right person for the job then. Someone who recognizes the impotency of the UN and who is willing to do somehting to change it. As for the Duke student, theres no evidence syaign that Blton will try to dissolve the UN, so that analogy is faulty.

[Guest Fritz]

Well, if it does turn out that they blew the guy's cover, something will need to be done about that.

 

On another note, I can't believe that Bolton, who once called the UN completely obsolete, will now be our representative to that organization. That just doesn't make any rational sense to me.

740466[/snapback]

 

Thats the right person for the job then. Someone who recognizes the impotency of the UN and who is willing to do somehting to change it. As for the Duke student, theres no evidence syaign that Blton will try to dissolve the UN, so that analogy is faulty.

740662[/snapback]

Exactly what I was thinking. Once people realize the UN is a failure (Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan, etc.) perhaps it can be repaired or reordered in such a way that incompetency won't rule the day. Then again, what's wrong with an organization that lets countries like Cuba and North Korea be on a "human rights" committee?

 

:plain