Ex-CIA Agent Tells The Story Of Spy Career, Government Outing
This story was written by Andrew Kase, Daily Orange
The terms "treason" and "traitor" are not used lightly in today's flammable political climate, but ex-CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson uses them freely in her tell-all memoir, "Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House."
By now, most people know Plame's story: how she was ousted as a CIA agent in 2003 in conservative columnist Robert Novak's syndicated column in The Washington Post. However, as it was later investigated, the leak was a part of a partisan revenge scheme hatched by high-ranking officials in the White House, allegedly by former political adviser Karl Rove and Vice President Dick Cheney.
Plame writes a no-holds-barred account of how she was unfairly exposed. She claims Novak's actions were reprehensible and unforgivable.
One of the most startling points of her book is that portions of her writing are literally blacked out. Before the book headed to print, the CIA combed through it, omitting parts that could be potential threats to national security because they contain sensitive and classified information.
Plame is no longer employed by the CIA and has testified in her case against the United States government.
However, Plame also writes in a deeply personal tone, referring to the secret life she hid from friends about working for the federal government. Her spouse, former U.S. ambassador Joseph Wilson, was privy to such information.
The controversial memoir was subjected to scrutiny for misinforming the public about the entire CIA leak scandal, but as is with politics, there are two sides to debate the facts.
Plame's account of the past four years of her life are written with contempt as she forges ahead with a civil lawsuit against several White House officials, including the aforementioned Cheney and Rove.
The book is as insightful as any memoir can be: Plame surrenders her story for all to read, and she does so with conviction.
"Fair Game" is written by a scorned former employee of the government, but not only that, Plame believes herself to be a patriot. She says so herself throughout the book, shutting those down who claim she was only a "pencil pusher."
In fact, she was the head of a division that tracked loose nuclear weapons around the world, actual "weapons of mass destruction."
Plame's husband, Wilson, stood by her every move during the past few years, and Plame writes about his support and how he helped her to cope with such a private and public betrayal.
Plame's memoir is a testament to how far some federal officials will go to cover up the truth and resort to lies, deceit and revenge to execute their agendas, no matter who loses credibility or livelihood.
© 2007 Daily Orange via U-WIRE