Emptywheel has an excellent
diary on the July 7 redacted version of the INR memo (scanned version available
here).
Here is the paragraph from page 1 of the July 7 INR memo that raises the question in my title:
Put aside for a second the "(S//NF)" which means "Secret, NoForn" (i.e., don't even let our allies see this, it's so secret).
Let's focus on the phrase: "Valerie Wilson, a CIA WMD manager[...]" below the fold...
A quick
Google search of the term "CIA WMD manager" turns up exactly
zero hits. Hmmm. Zero hits on Google! Must be secret! :)
How about "CIA manager" - again, via Google Search. 634 hits. Still not overwhelming. Take a look at the results. The stories referring to current "CIA managers" refer to unnamed individuals -- i.e., persons who are covert. For example, this AP News tag from FOXNews.com:
WASHINGTON -- A top CIA manager who remains undercover will soon oversee the traditional human spying activities for the entire intelligence community, a new position created in the post-Sept. 11 intelligence reforms.
Publicly, he is referred to simply as "Jose," said U.S. officials[...]
The only time CIA managers are mentioned by name seems to be when they are
former CIA managers (i.e., no longer active).
Let me see if I get this. The whole document is marked "Secret / ORCON, NOFORN", the paragraph identifying Valerie Wilson as Joe Wilson's wife is marked "(S//NF)" and she is identified as a "CIA WMD Manager" -- and the New York Sun still has the balls to claim: No Hint Seen in Memo that Plame's Role Was Secret?
Now, my question to the DKos community. Does the term "manager" have special meaning within the world of the CIA? A meaning that directly implies a covert status? If so, this would seem to be another nail in the coffin of Libby/Rove's defense that they didn't know Valerie Plame was covert. Any intelligence folks (current or former) care to comment?