The Republicans have been spreading the story that Karl Rove didn't give Valerie Plame's name to Bob Novak. He merely confirmed that she was a CIA asset when Novak asked. While they simultaneously smear Joe Wilson, they are throwing this up as a defense of what Karl Rove did.
Tim Russert just held up the guideline book that tells how a person with a security classification is required to act if asked to confirm information. The person with the classification has an affirmative responsibility to ensure that the information is is being asked to confirm is not classified - no matter what the source he learned it from before confirming it. Even assuming that all Karl did was to confirm what he was asked, and even assuming that he got it from other reporters, Karl was required to verify that it was not classified before he confirmed it to Bob Novak.
Failure to take affirmative information to verify that the information on Valerie Plame's status was not classified means that by confirming her affiliation with the CIA Karl illegally leaked classified information. Karl is screwed!
I can recall when I was on the staff of V Corps Support Command in Germany in the late 60's I would read classified information about various things the Army did. Much of that same information also appeared in US News & World Report and Newsweek. I could not legally talk about it even though it had been published because for me to talk about it would be illegally releasing classified information.
Karl Rove is busted. That regulation explained by Tim Russert nails him. Rove committed treason. Ken Mehlman is supporting his treason by defending him. The entire Republican Party is now guilty of supporting a traitor.
That makes the Republicans the Party of treason against America.
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