From Yahoo News:
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.I suspect this is much ado about nothing, but then again so was Plame... However, let's see if the lefty blogosphere blasts John Kerry like they did an unnamed Bush official... My best guess: don't hold your breath.
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.
Mark's Remarks
This is disgraceful! It is one thing for an unscrupulous reporter to out an operative AFTER BEING ASKED REPEATEDLY BY THE CIA AND ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS not to; but for two US Senators to thumb their noses in the way that they did at security protocols is a disgrace. If this person is an intelligence operative in the way that has been reported, this is not just an oversight, it is misconduct and needs to be investigated. It is very irresponsible of the Senators to do this, but what do you expect from Kerry, he hates the CIA because the magic hat didn't get him the Presidency; and Lugar is a snivelling RINO.
