We already knew that Robert Novak is a discredited moron, but his latest column raises serious questions about the competence of CIA Director Michael Hayden. First to Novak. He now removes any doubt that he is a complete imbecile or maybe in the early stages of Alzheimers disease. Novak writes:
The confusion deepened
when I obtained Waxman’s talking points for the hearing. The draft
typed after the Hayden-Waxman conversation said, “Ms. Wilson had a
career as an undercover agent of the CIA.” This was crossed out, the
hand-printed change saying she “was a covert employee of the CIA.”
Got it? Novak insists that there is a big difference between being “covert” and being “undercover”. Well, what does the American Heritage Dictionary at answers.com have to say? Undercover means:
Existing or operating in a way so as to ensure complete concealment and confidentiality: clandestine, cloak-and-dagger, covert, huggermugger, secret, sub rosa. Informalhush-hush. Idioms: under wraps. Seeshow/hide.
Unless you are mentally disabled or have a serious reading disability it is beyond dispute that the term “covert” and “undercover” are interchangeable. They mean the same thing.
Why do you go undercover? Because you are trying to hide your true identity and convince the people you meet and work with that you are something you are not. Apparently this is a concept that many supporters of President Bush have trouble grasping.
Which brings me to CIA Director Hayden. Novak claims that Hayden told him at the Girdiron Dinner in late March that:
he had not authorized
Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman to say Mrs. Wilson had been a “covert” CIA
employee, as he claimed Hayden did, but only that she was “undercover.”
If General Hayden is really that stupid we have bigger problems than clowns like Novak and Victoria Toensing not understanding the basics of cover. If the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency believes that there is a difference between being undercover and being covert then he should be fired immediately. The last thing a CIA officer needs is a boss who does not understand that an undercover officer’s identity is classified information and that they are acting covertly. Folks confused about terms like “undercover” and “covert” should not be allowed anyway near the CIA.
I have a call in to Paul Gimigliano, who works in the press office at CIA, requesting a clarification on this issue. Maybe General Hayden was misquouted. I sure hope so.
.
WILSON: Congressman, thank you for the opportunity. I know I’m here under oath, and I am here to say I was a covert officer of the Central Intelligence Agency. Just like a general is a general whether he is in the field in Iraq or Afghanistan, when he comes back to the Pentagon, he is still a general. In the same way, covert operations officers who are serving in the field, when they rotate back to a temporary assignment in Washington, they, too, are still covert.
CUMMINGS: Is it possible that Ms. Toensing had more information than you do about your work or had access to secret document that you don’t?
WILSON: I would find that highly unlikely, congressman, because much of that information about my career is still classified.
CUMMINGS: On Wednesday night, I know that Mr. Waxman, our chair, and Congressman Reyes, the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, spoke personally with General Hayden, the head of the CIA. And Mr. Waxman told me that Gen. Hayden said clearly and directly, “Ms. Wilson was covert.” There was no doubt about it. By the way, the CIA has authorized us to be able to say that. In addition, I understand that Chairman Waxman sent his opening statement over to the CIA to be cleared and to make sure that it was accurate. In it, he said, “Ms. Wilson was a covert employee of the CIA.” “Ms. Wilson was undercover.” The CIA cleared these statements. I emphasize all of this because I know that there are people who are still trying to suggest that what seems absolutely clear isn’t really true and that you weren’t covert. And I think one of the things we need to do in this hearing is make sure there isn’t any ambiguity on this point. Just three more questions, did you hold this covert status at the time of the leak? Did you — the covert status at the time of the leak?
WILSON: Yes I did, congressman. Yes.
CUMMINGS: Number two, the Identities Protection Act refers to travel outside the United States within the last five years. Let me ask you this question. Again, we don’t want classified information, dates, locations, or any other details. During the past five years, Ms. Plame, from today, did you conduct secret missions overseas?
WILSON: Yes I did, congressman.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."