BTL:Critics Question Credibility of FBI Investigation into White House Leak...

Critics Question Credibility of FBI Investigation into White House Leak Exposing CIA Operative

Interview with Ray McGovern, retired CIA analyst, conducted by Scott Harris

The Justice Department and FBI have begun an investigation into allegations that Bush administration officials leaked the identity of a covert CIA operative to a conservative columnist. Valerie Plame, the CIA agent whose identity was exposed, is the wife of former U.S. Ambassador Joseph Wilson, who had publicly refuted President Bush's claim that Iraq was seeking uranium in the African nation of Niger for a nuclear weapons program. The White House had sent Wilson to Africa in 2002 to investigate the matter, but ignored his findings. President Bush repeated the charge in his January State of the Union speech, using it as a key justification for war on Iraq.

Ambassador Wilson has accused White House officials, including the president's chief political advisor, Karl Rove of engineering or condoning the leak to punish him and to intimidate other government officials from going public with criticism of President Bush's manipulation of intelligence to gain support for his war on Iraq.

The Justice Department-FBI investigation of the matter has come under attack from Democrats who point out the obvious conflict of interest Attorney General John Ashcroft has in leading an inquiry against his boss President Bush. But thus far the White House has resisted demands from congressional Democrats to appoint a special counsel to conduct the probe. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with retired 27-year veteran CIA analyst Ray McGovern, who assesses the unfolding scandal surrounding the White House, which he says presents the nation with a serious constitutional crisis.

CIA analyst Ray McGovern led one of two CIA teams conducting the most secret daily intelligence briefings at the White House until his retirement in 1990. His recent article, "Conscience Before Career," can be read online at http://www.tompaine.com

Related links:

Staffers under previous administrations speak out on CIA leak and criticize the George W. Bush administration's pre-emptive war doctrine:

*"The Bush Administration Adopts a Worse-than-Nixonian Tactic: The Deadly Serious Crime Of Naming CIA Operatives," by John W. Dean, Aug. 15, 2003

*"The Iraq War and The Bush Administration's Pursuit of Global Domination," Between The Lines' Scott Harris original interview (56 minutes in RealAudio) with former U.N. weapons inspector and U.S. Marine Scott Ritter, Sept. 15, 2003. Ritter, who had voted for George W. Bush in 2000, is now openly critical of the president and this administration's policies. For more information on how to obtain a CD recording of this interview, call (203) 268-8446.

*"The Crazies Are Back": Bush Sr.'s CIA Briefer Discusses How Wolfowitz & Allies Falsely Led the U.S. To War, Democracy Now! interview transcript with former CIA analysts Ray McGovern and David McMichael, by Amy Goodman, Sept. 17, 2003

Other News Reports, Background and Analysis

*"Fair Game," by William Rivers Pitt, http://www.truthout.org, Oct. 6, 2003

*"Leak of Agent's Name Causes Exposure of CIA Front Firm," by Walter Pincus and Mike Allen, Washington Post, Oct. 4, 2003

*"Bush's Pre-Emptive War Doctrine Condemned as Related Scandals Erupt in White House," Between The Lines interview with Ian Williams, week ending 10/10/03

*"Conyers Calls For Rove's Resignation," Letter from Rep. John Conyers Jr., D-Michigan to Bush adviser Karl Rove, http://www.truthout.org, Oct. 7, 2003

*"Leaking With a Vengeance," by Michael Duffy, TIME Magazine, Oct. 5, 2003

*"Secrets and Leaks,"by Evan Thomas and Michael Isikoff, Newsweek, Oct. 13, 2003 issue

*"Dispute Over Source Unfolds Amid Probe," by Ken Fireman, Newsday, Oct. 1, 2003

*"Does a Felon Rove the White House?" by Jeremy Scahill and Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!, Sept. 30, 2003

Cuba's Foreign Minister Condemns U.S.-Iraq War, Economic Inequality While Declaring a "Better World is Possible"
LISTEN to this week's half-hour program of Between The Lines by clicking on one of the links below:

http://www.btlonline.org
*
"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: http://www.btlonline.org
*
"Between the Lines," WPKN 89.5 FM's weekly radio news magazine can be heard Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. ET; Wednesdays at 8 a.m. ET and Saturdays at 2 p.m. ET (Wednesday's show airs at 7:30 a.m. ET during fundraising months of April and October).
*
For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Weekly Summary" which features a RealAudio link to the week's program for Between The Lines, send an email to btlsummary-subscribe [at] lists.riseup.net
*
For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Q&A" which features a RealAudio link and weekly transcript to one of the interviews featured on Between The Lines, send an email to btlqa-subscribe [at] lists.riseup.net
*
betweenthelines [at] snet.net
*
Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions
*
©2003 Between The Lines. All Rights Reserved.
**