This is what a true American Hero looks like

[Sydnie]

Don't ever let anyone forget it.

[n2doc]

1. Joe Wilson is one lucky guy!

Even with all of the crap they have been through- Smart, beautiful and patriotic.

[AndyA]

2. She is beautiful.

We are all fortunate to have her among us.

[NightWatcher]

3. yep

[Sapere aude]

4. And she said she was a Democrat!

[Uncle Joe]

5. Dayum!

Pretty, smart, courageous and truly patriotic all wrapped in one package.

[Balderdash]

6. A hero and a hottie

It's good to be a Democrat.

:kick:

[xiamiam]

7. and another hero..Ambassador Joe Wilson...both make me proud...

I took these photos last spring when Ambassador Joe wilson gave an impassioned, intelligent, and meticulously informative speech to a handful of students and community members at UCSC...Santa Cruz..

I love this man..and I was curious to listen to Valerie today...what a couple...

[lutefisk]

8. "...what a couple..." More than a little inspiring, aren't they!

There are plenty of good people in this country, but they really are amazing. Nice photos...

[xiamiam]

13. inspiring..thats the word...where would we be as a nation without them?

courage and conviction in the ideal of America...of human decency..

I will never forget the patience and care with which Ambassador Wilson shared his insight with the students..and the earnestness with which he asked each of us to accept responsility for our community and our country..

this nation will forever be indepted to them...

[MLFerrell]

9. DAMN!

I never knew that she was so hot! And extremely intelligent too. Where are the hot, smart women in their mid-20s? :shrug:

[ms liberty]

10. She and her husband are gorgeous AND smart AND heroic patriots! n/t

[librechik]

11. I am so proud of our country that such people represent us

a real straight arrow and a lovely person.

I defy any evil-minded Freeper to look and listen to Valerie Wilson Plame and not know in their heart of hearts that she is telling the truth and THEIR PRESIDENT wronged her callously and profoundly.

[EFerrari]

12. BushCo's PR gaffe of the Century.

They tried to silence Wilson via his wife because they are cowards

Now this beautiful, smart, accomplished woman is the best witness against them.

Someone at the WH is wishing she was an older, bald guy.

:rofl:

[SalmonChantedEvening]

14. The power of Character is not easily forgotten.

Mrs. Wilson, you have it in abundance.

:patriot:

[bluedog]

15. They look like a very powerful couple

move over..... tom cruise........the real life couple of "mission Impossible" has come to DC

[ShortnFiery]

16. An American Patriot too!

:patriot:

[Xithras]

17. Uh, no. Plame is doing some good at the moment, but she's still an evil person.

Keep in mind that most of what's wrong in the world today is the result of CIA meddling in the foreign affairs of other countries. Spying, assassinations, power plays, the CIA does it all and does it without any concern for the ramifications of their actions. If it benefits America, it's "good" as far as they're concerned...even if it kills 10,000 non-Americans.

Plame was a willing, voluntary agent who made this type of work her career. She is not only unapologetic about her actions within the CIA, she's PROUD of them. By her own admission, she was a NOC, and NOC's are generally responsible for some of the dirtiest work the CIA handles. While we'll never know exactly what she did, her position as a NOC is like someone being part of the SS...it doesn't matter what her actual position was, her membership in the organization makes her just as guilty as the rest.

If Plame is a hero, she's a hero of the Oliver North variety. A scummy, vile human being who happened to tell the truth one day and revealed some serious corruption. While that action may be admirable, the person still is not. Am I glad she testified today? Of course. But all of the cheerleading for her is nauseating :puke:

[DrDan]

18. not sure I agree with you

her job is to gather intelligence - not decide policy or take other actions. Do you know if she was involved otherwise?

There is a place for her in any administration. Just like the pentagon - there is a place.

This does not include invading a sovereign nation or otherwise tampering with a government.

But we need intelligence - real and complete intelligence. How to deal with that intelligence is another matter.

[Xithras]

19. I guess I fundamentally disagree. The CIA should be disbanded.

The CIA is the source of more suffering than ANY other institution in ANY country. I remind you that it was the CIA who presented the evidence that CONVINCED the Democrats to support the invasion. It was the CIA who supported Pinochet, various dictators in Africa, the Shah of Iran, and countless other heartless bastards who quashed human life. It was the CIA who drove the School of America's, which trained armies and terrorists to kill any leftist they found.

The CIA should be disbanded and EVERY employee should be tried in an international court for crimes against humanity. Those who did nothing will get off. Those who did evil acts should be tossed into a dark hole somewhere for the rest of their lives.

Is there a genuine need for an intelligence agency in the U.S.? Of course. But the CIA hasn't been about "intelligence" since the 1960's. The CIA is a tool to push U.S. interests in secret. It's a way for administrations to take actions that would generate a huge public uproar, and keep them quiet. Disband the CIA and replace it with a genuine intelligence agency.

We don't know what Plame actually did, but we know she was a NOC agent. Light duty intelligence gatherers had official cover. Deeper cover agents who do more shadowy work are called NOC's, and Plame is a NOC specializing in nonconventional weapons. That's enough for me to not simply distrust her, but to actively dislike her. Plame is a symbol of what is WRONG with the way America interacts with the rest of the world. I respect what she did today, but I don't respect her one bit as a person.

[DrDan]

20. well it seems to me that the problem is that CIA is run by political appointees

We agree that there is a legitimate need for an intelligence gathering org - one run by professionals - not appointees.

But how to use that intelligence is the issue.

I spent a couple of years in Ethiopia and four years in the middle-east. I have known, first-hand, CIA agents. They were focussed on intelligence gathering. Policy came from elsewhere. I see her similarly. I do not think she was determining policy and taking actions based on her personal views.

It is not unlike the role of the pentagon. Their role is to support the mission and goals of the administration - not determine policy. The CIA should gather intelligence abroad - then turn the results over to those who determine policy. It has always bugged me when a reich-winger supports the felonious Iraq policy by stating they have personally spoken to military members - and they support what we are doing - therefore it is a legitimate and righteous act.