Valerie Plame: Fair Game
This picture was taken back in mid-February at the University of South Florida, at an event held as part of the universities’ lecture series. And there’s me doing a Colbert while wearing a shirt that says “Relief Pitcher” and Valerie Plame being an excellent sport. I didn’t put my arm around her for the photo as I thought that a bit much for a former CIA operative who has also donned the cover of Vanity Fair. But honestly, considering what a pleasant mannered lady she is, she probably would have been cool.
During the event, Plame spoke for about 1 hour and took questions for about 45 minutes, answering most of them in fairly in depth manner, including one from myself. I asked Plame “given the intelligence found by your husband Joe Wilson, what do you think are the reasons that the Bush administration manipulated intelligence to go to war with Iraq?”
She answered the question with a several minute response, and it was nothing surprising-basically saying that the administration was looking for whatever intelligence, however credible it was, to have a reason to invade Iraq and remove Saddam from power. She noted the influence and beliefs of the neo-cons and said that Collin Powell’s argument to the UN over invading Iraq was shameful for a man of his stature. But she said she wouldn’t go into conspiracy theories like daddy’s vendetta or wanting to occupy an oil rich nation.
Most of her speech detailed the personal events that unfolded before and after she was outed as a CIA operative, which can be read in her book Fair Game. She also touched some on the beginning of her career in the CIA, talking about all the rigorous training and studying, getting huge binders on the demographics and political landscapes of various countries, shooting practice, etc. Nothing that is classified information.
She blasted George Bush for pardoning Louis “Scooter” Libby of jail time and blasted Dick Cheney for not having to testify in the Libby trial.
As to claims that she has profited off her new celebrity status and the possibility that this has been a positive thing for her, she noted what a nightmare the past several years have been and wishes she could go back to the job she loved.
Afterwards she signed autographs and posed for some pictures, she was even nice enough to thank me for coming and after I thanked her she said “I hope I didn’t talk for too long.” Nope, definitely not.
The female 007 and I from my personal collection.
Related Stories
POSTED IN: Celebrities, Jackass, Politics, War on Terror
1 opinion for Valerie Plame: Fair Game
McClellan Testifies to Congress on Plame Affair
Jun 20, 2008 at 3:24 pm
[…] Whatever, I figured this little charade was a good excuse to show my jackass picture with the female James Bond once again. To read my take on seeing and meeting the very classy Valerie Plame, go here. […]
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: