Remarkable lack of curiosity

Neither the Washington Post nor the New York Times have picked up on the story of retired General Paul Vallely, who now claims that former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson outed his own "CIA wife", Valerie Plame.  The story was first published by WorldNetDaily then picked up in the blogosphere.

Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely told WorldNetDaily that Wilson mentioned Plame's status as a CIA employee over the course of at least three, possibly five, conversations in 2002 in the Fox News Channel's "green room" in Washington, D.C., as they waited to appear on air as analysts.

The General repeated the charge on talk radio on the John Batchelor Show.  Since then Joe Wilson has threatened to sue, but General Vallely refuses to back down.  In fact, Vallely has demanded an apology from Wilson.  It's a fascinating story that's attracted no curiosity whatever on the part of our dysfunctional mainstream press. 

Meanwhile back on the John Batchelor Show, curiosity abounds. 

Tom McInerney called for the whole story from the CIA: why was Wilson sent to Niger in February 2002 despite his lack of WMD knowledge, despite the fact he had not been there in 20 years, despite his lack of training in intelligence gathering?  Why didn't Wilson have to make a written report to the CIA when he returned?  Why wasn't Wilson required to sign a confidentially agreement?  Why didn't the CIA make an effort to conceal the fact that Wilson's wife worked at the CIA?  Why didn't the CIA object when Wilson spoke about his Niger trip to Kristoff of the New York Times, who published a reference?  Why didn't the CIA require Wilson to submit his op-ed to the review board for vetting and approval?  Why didn't the CIA investigate other reports of Wilson speaking of his Niger trip, his wife's job, his own political interpretations of CIA business to the media?

To these questions let me add my own curiosity:  What in hell was Fitzgerald investigating for 22 months at a cost that's counted in the millions?  Where was his curiosity on any of this?  As it appears right now, Libby has been indicted for impeding the investigation of absolutely nothing.  Oh that's right, Fitzgerald did go ask the neighbors if they knew anything.

We search for the silver lining in the post below.

Update:  More on this topic at Just One Minute.  Lot's in the comments, too.

Comments

[ny patriot]

Was this General in that same riverboat with John Kerry because it sure does sound like the same ploy the Republicans used last October before the election... but let me guess - you also question John Kerry's

That;s why the press isn't picking up on the General's story - if the guy had any credibility don't you think he would have come forward some time in the past three years to make this claim?

But oh right - it's the press' fault for not picking up on bogus stories.

[ny patriot]

BTW

You forgot to offer up any spin on that most-productive of trips to Latin America El Presidente just took. Isn't this the same Jorge Bush who, while campaigning 5 years ago, spoke of hiw warm relationships with Mexico and the rest of Latin America and how his ability to speak Spanish would help the U.S. carve out a greater sphere of influence throughout the Western Hemisphere?

What exactly did he accomplish while he was down there, other than providing Chavez with a global media stage to preach his own leftist propaganda? Less than a decade ago the rest of Latin America had been clamoring for their own "NAFTA" with the U.S. Now it seems like they couldn't run away from their fast enough.

Your guy sure is on a heck of a roll lately.

[Tom Bowler]

Let's try to focus here Pat. We'll talk about economics and the benefits of free trade in due course. Back to the topic of our incurious press. Couldn't they at least come up with a headline like, "Crackpot General Impugns Character of Heroic Ambassador"?

[Demolisher]

Despite the fact that we all know that the MSM is hopelessly left wing, I am still constantly flabbergasted that they still cast the entire Wilson affair as "..the administration urgently sought to discredit Joe Wilson..." while completely ignoring Wilson's lies as shown in the 9/11 report.

I hate to say it, but I'm afraid "News" is largely a sham.

-demolisher (antivenom blog)

[Tom Bowler]

Fitzgerald is the one who surprised me. When he requested that his investigation be broadened I was convinced he was going after the Wilson's for the unauthorized disclosure of classified information -- Joe's trip, the forgeries. Silly me.