Despite Earlier Denials, Presidential Adviser Karl Rove Played Key Role in Illegal Disclosure of CIA Agent's Identity

Interview with Robert Jensen, professor of journalism at the University of Texas, conducted by Scott Harris

The investigation into who in the White House leaked information to the press about the identity of a covert CIA agent has yielded dramatic new information about the role of President Bush's deputy chief of staff Karl Rove. Time magazine's release of emails indicating that Rove had discussed the CIA career of former U.S. ambassador Joseph Wilson's wife Valerie Plame with Time reporter Matt Cooper contradicted White House statements denying Rove had any role in the affair. According to Rove's attorney, conversations between Rove and Cooper had taken place -- without identifying Plame by name -- and before the CIA officer's identity was first made public in an article written by conservative columnist Robert Novak on July 14, 2003. It is against the law under certain circumstances to reveal a CIA covert operative's identity.

The New York Times' Judith Miller has been jailed on contempt of court charges for her refusal to reveal to federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald the source of information she received about Valerie Plame -- although Miller never published a story on the topic.

Ambassador Wilson had earned the enmity of of the Bush administration after he published an opinion editorial refuting the Bush administration's pre-war claim that Iraq had sought uranium for its nuclear program in the African nation of Niger. Wilson, who believes that the leak of his wife's identity was inteded to punish him and undermine his credibility, had been sent to Africa by the CIA in 2002 to investigate the Iraq-nuclear connection. The White House ignored his findings that the allegations were false. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Robert Jensen, professor of journalism at the University of Texas at Austin, who discusses the Valerie Plame-Karl Rove scandal and the role of journalists in covering the story.

Robert Jensen is author of "Citizens of the Empire: The Struggle to Claim Our Humanity." Read his articles online at www.nowarcollective.com

Related links:

"Critics Question Credibility of FBI Investigation into White House Leak Exposing CIA Operative,"Oct. 17, 2003 interview conducted by Scott Harris.

LISTEN to this week's half-hour program of Between The Lines by clicking on one of the links below:

http://www.btlonline.org

*

"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: http://www.btlonline.org

*

"Between the Lines," WPKN 89.5 FM's weekly radio news magazine can be heard Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. ET; Wednesdays at 8 a.m. ET and Saturdays at 2 p.m. ET (Wednesday's show airs at 7:30 a.m. ET during fundraising months of April and October).

*

For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Weekly Summary" which features a RealAudio link to the week's program for Between The Lines, send an email to btlsummary-subscribe@lists.riseup.net

*

For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Q&A" which features a RealAudio link and weekly transcript to one of the interviews featured on Between The Lines, send an email to btlqa-subscribe@lists.riseup.net

*

betweenthelines@snet.net

*

http://www.squeakywheel.net/

*

Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions

©2005 Between The Lines. All Rights Reserved.