Finally Telling My Story

I'm Valerie Plame Wilson and I'm excited to be here and blog about my book Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House, which goes on sale Monday, Oct 22. When my publisher sent me the finished copy earlier this week, it was thrilling. It felt like a new chapter (forgive the pun) has begun on the journey that has taken some incredible twists and turns since July 14, 2003, when my covert identity was exposed and ended a career that I loved. I've written honestly about my life: why I went to work for the CIA, my paramilitary training, the sort of operations we developed and ran to find intelligence on Iraq's alleged WMD programs in the run up to the war, as well as personal information, such as my battle with postpartum depression and the difficulties I had going from a private to a public persona literally overnight. My publisher, Simon and Schuster, decided to print the blacked out redactions demanded by the CIA and hopefully those passages (or lack thereof) speak for themselves and the extent to which the CIA thought the material in the book was classified.

Watching myself on 60 Minutes was surreal -- who can ever get used to seeing themselves on TV? I guess the book tour has really started and it will be a crazy week ahead. After four and a half years and everyone else in world talking about me, it feels good to finally be able to tell my story myself. It's a story about the consequences of speaking truth to power and the critical importance of holding our government to account for its words and deeds. I'm off to bed, because I have an early wakeup call tomorrow to do the Today Show. I look forward to sharing my reactions and stories with you from the road over the next few days. I will be posting throughout the week and appreciate your comments and support.

Comments

[DanC]

First let me say that I am very proud of you and your husband. Both true and loyal Americans. I wish the rest of our government were even 1/10 th. as loyal.
God bless you both in everything you do.
as a vet. (many moons ago) I thank you for your service to our country. I salute you both.
You are true heros.

[bigmomc]

You go girl!! My good wishes are with you.

[smuodp]

Thank you for standing up to these cowards in the shrub administration. You and your husband served the country honorably and you have my respect.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Dear Ms. Plame,

I applaud your integrity, service, and courage.

Truth to power, accountability for those who outed you, and IMPEACHMENT to despots.




BTW, who's going to play you in the movie?

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Cate Blanchett?

[naturesway]

Perhaps you were outed, not for revenge re: your husband' Niger insights, but because the answers you were seeking in regard to WMD, were not the answers this administration wanted to hear. For their purposes, they didn't want your research to continue. Look at the results... WMB led us into Iraq, and now, seemingly toward Iran.
No, Valerie, your job was ended because they wanted your job ended.

[naturesway]

WMD not WMB....(we­apons of mass baloney)

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

I like that theory.

Cheney was looking for an excuse to out Plame and cripple the anti-WMD operation of which she was a part.

Let's not forget the administration also closed the Bin Laden desk at the CIA. Stunning.

[JusttheFax]

I'm pretty sure the President stated that British Intelligence found the possibillity that Saddam was seeking Yellow Cake; not US intelligence, thus making all of this irrelevant. Don't let the facts get in the way of this part though, carry on losers,
The Man

[SaskiaStars]

Yes JustheFax: Don't let the facts get in the way of your ignorance troll. The issue insn't whether it was US intelligence or British intelligence - the VPOTUS OUTED AN UNDER COVER CIA AGENT WHO WAS WORKING ON WMDs SPECIFICALLY IN THE MIDDLE EAST - they did this in an act of revenge against Jow Wilson- it was treason.

[Horst]

Richard Armitage (State Department) "outed Mrs. Wilson. He was and is an avowed critic of Bush foreign policy.

[scifiwriter]

Aren't the real losers the Republicans, who will see the presidency go to Hillary and Bill for the next 8 years? It will be 'hard work' to clean up Bush's mess, but I'm sure they will get this country out of the ditch that Bush and company have put us in.

[Nyland8]

Yes ... the forged memo came into our hands via British Intelligence - and even they said they didn't believe it. There were a lot of reasons on its face that the memo was considered spurious, but when you're constructing a pretext for a war of agression when there is none, you use every advantage you can, no matter how hollow, and the administration has many examples.

Watch Powell's dog and pony show at the UN.
Read what the LATimes wrote about "curveball".
Listen to Rice and Bush plant visions of smoking guns becoming "mushroom clouds".

The content of Joe Wilson's NYTimes Op/Ed piece has never been successfully challenged by the White House ... and you can easily find it on-line and read it.
Take the time.

You might learn something.

8

.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Speaking of memos, re-read the Downing Street Memo.

Bush and Cheney were hell-bent on Iraq PRIOR to 9/11.

"The Downing Street "Memo" is actually the minutes of a meeting, transcribed during a gathering of many of the British Prime Minister's senior ministers on July 23, 2002. Published by The Sunday Times on May 1, 2005 this document was the first hard evidence from within the UK or US governments that exposed the truth about how the Iraq war began."
http://www.downingstreetmemo.com/

"After Downing Street is a nonpartisan coalition working to expose the lies that launched the war (and the one that keeps it going) and to hold accountable its architects through impeachmen­t."
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/

[justfacefacts]

There is no justification-no matter who spins it or what excuse is used--to defend the smashing of lives for power and political advantage. We know it happens and yet we are sickened that the powerful continue to do it.

Whistleblowers of all kinds have been abandoned, blamed, demeaned and left twisting in the wind after speaking up. Yet, while recognizing devastating consequences will be wrought upon them, they still do what they must.

To all who have courageously stood up told and the truth, you are the MOST HONORABLE among us. YOU are AMERICA at its BEST.

[libs = kooks]

Nevertheless, it now appears that the person most responsible for the end of Ms. Plame's CIA career is Mr. Wilson. Mr. Wilson chose to go public with an explosive charge, claiming -- falsely, as it turned out -- that he had debunked reports of Iraqi uranium-shopping in Niger and that his report had circulated to senior administration officials. He ought to have expected that both those officials and journalists such as Mr. Novak would ask why a retired ambassador would have been sent on such a mission and that the answer would point to his wife. He diverted responsibility from himself and his false charges by claiming that President Bush's closest aides had engaged in an illegal conspiracy. It's unfortunate that so many people took him seriously.

[underdog]

While you're busy dancing the liar's dance, tell us how much of a hero Scooter is.

[leggs67]

I almost wish we were at war so the people that outed her could be shot.

[BreadandRoses]

You regurgitate the newest rightwing talking point with more skill than is usually associated with a single-digit IQ.

But that doesn't change the fact that you are lying through your teeth.

But then, you always lie through your teeth.

It's what makes you a Republican.

[Libsrule]

Just amazes me how the rightwing talking points trollz STILL regurgitate the lies of the Anti American VP Darth Cheney(who HATES the constitution of the U.S.) and those who support them.

Wilson's story has NEVER been debunked or the VP Darth Cheney would have immediately debunked it, BUT they couldn't and as a result the went after his wife.

Typical cowards in the republican party. Can't fight a real man so they go after the women; which blew up in their faces because Valerie refused to go down and stood up to the bullies in the WH.

[wolfgirl]

well said well said!!!the hate that comes from the right is more than a bit scary!how they spin through the truth to conclude with lies..wors­e they believe their own spin

[Gonzalez]

You should be in the army fighting the so called terrorists. Why are you not there?

[flatus]

libs=kooks,

When your point of view is only supported by 24% of the citizenry, don't you think it may be time to re-evaluate your position?

A good start can be had by cutting the Limbaugh/O­'Reily/Han­nity umbilical.

[rearnheart]

GERONIMO was more than restaurant on Canyon Road, he was an Apache revolutionary, and just as he was the bain of a government in another century, so, too, could you and Joe be as well.
Here's the deal: I know that you guys are new residents of Santa Fe (I still miss it in my guy having lived there for 12 years)and I don't know the constitutional requirements for duration of residency but I would love for you and Joe to consider the obvious.
Domenici is gone, Heather Wilson (hopefully no relation) and Steve Pearce are in the running to take the seat. There are no Dems with enough street cred or name recognition to take the seat. So the proposal is this (and I'm on my knees here, skin on the Berber): would you and Joe consider a run for the senate for Domenici's seat?
I know it hurts to think about spending more time in DC and I know that you've done way more than duty has called for, but please think about it.
That view you get, just north of the opera, those morning colors on Atalaya, aren't they worth fighting for in the Senate?
And forget Inn of the Anasazi on the plaza, get in your car and drive south on Highway 14 (Cerrillos Road) for about 25 minutes until you come to the San Marcos Cafe and Feed Store. Breakfast with peacocks. You can't go wrong. Bienvenidos a Nuevo Mexico.
Richard Earnheart/Silver City/NM

[keyman12]

I'm jealous, I am your neighbor next door in Sahuarita, AZ south of Tucson. Would love to have the Wilson's here to run against either of our Repug Senators especially Sen McAss-kiss­ing-Bush-c­ain.

Love Silver City too, been there several times. I think the Wilson's will find a lot of company of decent people anywhere in the West and Southwest. I moved here 6 years ago and love it.

[bigbear]

All americans have suffered great loss due to Bush and his criminal fascist regime,some more than others. Thank you for the truth-It is important!

[GrandmaM]

Valerie,

Thank you for being the incredible lady you are.
In all honesty, If I had the "field skills" that you, and the other intelligence officials who support you have, I do not think I'd be as patient with our broken governement and legal system as you guys are. I'd definitely be tempted to form a group to "hone" a composite of my extra legal skills.

This all says o much about your deep patriotism, love of country and that before this "Orwelian Decade", there were poeple who could be highly trusted watching and taking care of the backs of the American People.

Kudos to you and all the intelligence officials. Hopefully the well deserved Karma and Justice will be meted out to those who so richly deserve it.

As a grandmother, your ability to shield your kids is astonishing and admirable. Hoepfully those little boys will have a somewhat "near" normal life - so that they can blossom. With parents like you and Joe they will be dynamite and definitely the leaders we so badly need for our tomorrows.

Thank you seems so trite - but what others words can we use for all you have done for each of us, collectively?

[metsfan1]

Not that it really matters, but their children are girls, twin daughters, not boys, hon.

[lotusflowersusan]

actually, one boy, one girl, same as Mr. Wilson's first set of twins

[Potfry]

Valerie:

I'm hoping that your struggles against injustice will continue to include the Washington and Hollywood dinner circuit. I so enjoy you and Joe all dressed to the nines-- you are quite the dashing couple! It so reminds me of Camelot.

Will you or Joe consider running for President? Your qualifications are unquestionable! And think of the grace, dignity, and fashion-sense you could restore to the White House!

Well, I hope you are able to keep some sense of the privacy that's so important to you. It must be tremendously hard with people dragging you to dinners and events, and then insisting you write a book! Everyone wants a piece of the Plame-ster, eh?

Best of luck to you and that hunky ambassador of yours! And remember-- don't eat the yellow cake!

[Kirby]

Let Bush and Cheney eat cake! And Wolfowitz, and Feith, and all the neocons, along with AIPAC.
LET THEM ALL EAT CAKE1

[ibsteve2u]

I had a fistful of security clearances and lived encumbered by their weight and responsibility for years.

The people I associated with impressed upon me certain standards and expections for myself, my peers, and my chain of command; so much so that, when the time came that I felt myself to be unfit to hold those clearances, I rejected them to the stupefaction of my superiors.

The actions of this Administration in "the Plame affair" shocked me far, far worse than those of Philip Hanssen did.

Credit where credit is due:

The day the damage inflicted on Ms. Plame and the people she worked with was revealed was the moment in time when I determined to my own satisfaction that the people in this Administration were nothing but treacherous, treasonous liars and so were absolutely unfit to lead this nation.

[only1Demvoter]

ibsteve2u : Hear ! Hear !! So very well put my friend... So VERY well put. -ralph

[alexcharner]

Thank you so much for the risks you took on our behalf. You and your husband have shown tremendous courage and conviction against an administration and media bent on taking you down.

Coming through this situation with such grace is admirable and heroic, traits I imagine you lived by in your former profession. I wish the best to you and hope your contacts and colleagues are safe.

[moemoe]

Your intelligence and clarity came through so strongly on 60 minutes that katy couric needed not be there. Good luck to you and hopefully this will never happen to any one else. Impeach Bush & Cheney. ESP. before they invade Iran!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[OckhamsElectricRazor]

Another appalling and salient fact is that these shenanigans are taking place in a context of extreme disaffection with government by the populace. The era of negative campaigning and sound-bite jingoism have produced an eletorate that believes the negatives of BOTH sides--or simply rejects politics as non-participartory sport.

Political leadership has been transformed from championing causes to demeaning opponents: I win if you lose. Media leadership has completely abandoned any standards of good taste and fair play, to air anything that generates an audience. The new media ethic is that 'noise is good', regardless of the source. Eloquence is just as good as a fart if the masses tune in to hear it.

To aggravate this situation is the historic ignorance about civic affairs and government on the part of the population. Failure of our education system is translating to failure of our democracy. Too many citizens cannot DISCERN the difference between eloquence and a fart.

I look forward to an edition of your book that contain no redacted text. However, I fear that when that day comes, it will be old news, drowned out about the noices of 'cackle analysis', attack ad jingoism, and celebrity faux news.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Huzzah.

Another eloquent non-fart from OER.