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COTD: One of the world’s most famous spies.
Fmr. CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson is one of the world’s most famous spies.
The glamorous blonde spent most of her career working undercover – until, in 2003, she was outed by columnist Robert Novak in the Washington Post.
The revelation set off a fully-fledged political scandal.
Members of the Bush administration were accused of blowing Plame's cover as retaliation for an op-ed written by her husband, Joe Wilson, in the New York Times. His article disputed claims that Saddam Hussein's Iraqi government was trying to buy material in Niger to make weapons of mass destruction.
The “Plame affair” and subsequent investigation into the source of the leak eventually led to the indictment of US Vice President Dick Cheney’s chief of staff, Lewis “Scooter” Libby. He was convicted on four counts of perjury, obstruction of justice and lying to federal investigators in March 2007.
To this day, Wilson insists former Vice President Dick Cheney was involved in the disclosure – although Cheney told a special prosecutor in 2004 that he had no idea who leaked Plame's identity.
Plame Wilson has published an autobiography about her experiences – Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House, and the couple’s story has been made into a major motion picture.
Please post your questions for her below.
On Twitter
How did you get into the spy business, was this something you always wanted to do?
How and why did you get involved in becoming a spy, and did you go further in this lifestyle than you had originally anticipated?
Considering that you had to live with the people you were spying on, what impact did it have on your personal and family life?
Obvious question...how does espionage in the modern day compare to what the general public understands of espionage during the earlier part of the 20th century? Also, how does modern espionage compare to the way it is portrayed in movies / television shows?
Thanks!
were you engaged in very dangerous operations?
is this a recent pic of you? U look cute!
Does she believe anything positive came of the "outing" experience now that a few years have passed? I'm from Boston.
I want to be a spy,and i want to change my identity.
Hello Ms. Plame,
At the time of your outing as covert operations officer, you had several delicate operations still underway, notably the one that involved the physicists/scientists and the information they could provide regarding information about the building of nuclear weapons in Iraq. I was wondering what happened to them once you were forced to leave the agency because in the movie they the physicist and his family were last seen waiting on their doorsteps and others were killed?
Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for this country!
If its any consolation, the people who revealed your identity did not betray you, they betrayed the United States. I read your book and liked it. I did suggest that Iraq war would change the balance of the region and it did. Today Iran and Iraq have diplomatic relationship that would have been impossible under Saddam Hussein. Shame on the people that play politics and in the process compromise values, ethics and trust. You and your family can be proud of the service that was rendered during your professional career. You are not first victim of dirty politics and you certainly won't be the last, if you know what I mean! Being a international business consultant, I take a keen interest in global events and from time to time make information predictions similar to my effort to stop the Iraq war! My business details and contact information can be found on http://www.joelkrose.net.
How did you relate with your husband as a spy?
Are professional spies patriots or rather people who care more about money?
Valerie, during the entire revelation scandal, did you and Joe ever worried not only for your own safety but that of your children? I would imagine that must have been your primary concern.
Did you ever expect the political backlash and scandal throughout your career?
I'd like to know, what was her most dangerous/difficult assignment? Also, what is the biggest obstacle for women who work undercover?
Thanks!
Keira
NY
do you feel betrayed by the same people you worked for, and if you are called again to do the same job all over again will you take it up.
Did u enjoy it n hw did ur family handle it
How would you react if your children wanted to join the CIA? Also, did you ever encounter Anna Chapman?
Ms Plame...
I seriously doubt your ability as a "real" intelligence officer. You are faintly attractive and your husband is a crybaby, the media has blown you two into undeserved "fame"
How much of the "dirty work" we are led to believe spies participate is based on reality. How isolated would situations like this be from normal operations?
What do you miss the most about your former career?
Hey people!trust u guys r gud!u may not b able to pronouce my name but what I want to know is What can I do to become a SPY?
which spy movie / tv do you consider closely resemble to the life of a spy?
Hi, based on your experience,will you advise a young teenage girl to dream of becoming a spy? Is it worth the risk (considering separation from family, etc)?
How were you able to separate your personal life from your business life and how were you able to make alibi's and background checks stick.
What sort of training you have to go through? and how is your life different now as compared to the one you had during previously?
I watched 'fair game' n from the above article it is likely there is politically related in CIA and FBI intelligent service. The operation of spy like her only be operated and is secretly classified and only high profile officials may have access. If the her identity is leaked, her security will be at risk. However, i doubts if FBI and CIA have no capacity to find out who leaked the classified info??? Or they just think that those who leaks the info are/is the person too important to be disclosed???
Did you ever have ops in countries where if you have been caught you would have been hanged? Were you ever approached to work as a double agent? Femi Adefemiwa, Lagos Nigeria
Even though you obviously loved your work at the CIA and accepted the secrecy that went with it, is it somewhat of a relief to be able to talk about it now?
2 Questions:
were you recruited/approached to be a CIA operative or seek out this career?
On a different note, did you ever have operations that coordinated with some of the US Army's Special Operations Forces?
thank you,
SOF personnel
Given your exceptionally broad range of experience, what would you say is most useful for the American public to understand about the Intelligence community and operations? How can ordinary Americans best support the effective (and ethical) function of our Intelligence services?
Thank you for your service and integrity.
Hello!
Your story was an incredible one. My question to you is this:
Was your exposure 'worth' the results they yielded and why?
Was Peter Wright right about the high level Soviet penetration of MI-5 in the 1970's and Sir Roger Hollis being the mole?
Did do special training and what do you need to become a spy personality ways?
Why is no US 'news' outlet talking about the flood of Nebraska that almost took out the nuclear plant and caused a Fukishima event? youtube search for 'We almost lost nebraska'
Being so well known as a world famous spy, my question is does it take time to ajust back to a normal life ?
Have you seen the movie about your and your husband's life and the political scandal following your outing? If yes, did you like it?
In the course of your work operations, did you encounter or work with many others in your field and did you know at the time who they were? Did anyone ever know who you were? ..when they weren't supposed to? How did you handle that? I'd also like to know if you'd always dreamed of this career, and how you got into it.
How much is the CIA paying you to do this charade?
A real CIA agent would never get caught. Just Sayin..
but where are the answers for the questions asked by the people who came before me?....
Do the ends (obtaining sensitive information) justify the means (lying and being deceitful)?
was never a fan of the Bush jr administartion. read the book, saw the movie, wow i am so grateful you 2 had the you know whats to tell it like it was! Do you make any public appearences, would love to meet you and your husband.?
Very nice movie. 3 Questions:
1. How do you mitigate risks of black-on-black and green-on-black scenarios?
2. How do you maintain (as needed) interface with HOER (without shortening lifespan)?
3. What might you advise for controlling gatekeepers?
Percentage wise, how correct are the writers of BURN NOTICE when it comes to the information that "Michael Weston" gives the audience in his "When you're a spy..." dialogue?
Have you read "The Human Factor" By Ismael Jones? If you have, what are your thoughts on it?
Is the job like how they portray it in the spy thrillers or is it largely administrative and routine?
do you still trust people around you?do spies fell paranoid under pressure?
simple questions:
1. how much does a spy make?
2. which weighs in more with you – the 'official' responsibility or the 'emotive' adrenaline rush of the job?
3.would you do it all over again knowing what you know now?
cheers!
Suresh Keith
How much work did you do with the military and were you ever in the military ?
Thanks
Has feeling betrayed by our government diminished your patriotism or pride in having served in the name of America?
http://articles.cnn.com/2006-09-08/politics/leak.armitage_1_novak-and-other-journalists-cia-officer-valerie-plame-patrick-fitzgerald?_s=PM:POLITICS
The above CNN link says Richard Armitage admitted to revealing Plame's identity. How would she comment on that?
What is the remedy for a victim of a government psyops on an individual?
Valaire
Having worked for a non-mainstream organisation like yourself in the past, I am fascinated by your courage!
1. Considering Lewis "Scooter" Libby’s conviction was an absolute and subsequent pardon by his friend W.Bush, how did you first take the news when you first heard he was going to be released ?
2. What would you say to Libby if you ever meet him face to face?
3. Are you still in touch with the family (the informants) in Iraq whose cover got blown-out at the same time of your inquiry? What would say to them?
Valaire
Having worked for a non-mainstream organisation like yourself in the past, I am fascinated by your courage!
1. Considering Lewis "Scooter" Libby’s conviction was an absolute and subsequent pardon by his friend W.Bush, how did you first take the news when you first heard he was going to be released ?
2. What would you say to Scooter if you ever meet him face to face?
3. Are you still in touch with the family (the informants) in Iraq whose cover got blown-out at the same time of your inquiry? What would you say to them?
Around the world I think there is this perception that women seem to be more responsible in positions of power. Many women, like Hillary Clinton or Angela Merkel, to cite two examples, have given a more human, caring, and perhaps effective face to these positions. From your point of view, if a woman were to be chosen to run macho institutions such as the CIA and the FBI, how do you think would these two institutions would change?What could a woman bring? What would be the focus?
Due to nondisclosure agreements, I know the DoD has to approve anything you may write. Have you had any issues/experience with this process, and if so, how long does it take?
Dear Plame! How do you balance your scorecard as a former spy more so considering the fact that you were betrayed by people you thought you dearly worked for hence expected to protect and defend you in any eventuality?
you appear so gentle ..i doubt how you were suited thisspy work...anyway my greetings
Alagarsamy
http://www.mgrbiodiesel.com
India
Did you and Joe ever have an argument that started with something like "why didnt you say anything nice about my new hairstyle?" and drifted to something like "Oh yeah? well YOU also nearly got ME imprisoned under the patriot act!"
Anonymous: She wasn't caught; she was burned.
Small Rhino: What?
Does anyone here REALLY THINK that this woman will respond to these comments?!?!?!?
Valerie, are you capable of “cheating” polygraph (lie detector) instruments?
Sayan.
What would have happened to your next door neighbor if they had outed you?
You're hot!
What is the role of a beautiful blonde in the spy business?
If you could change anything about what you did/didn't do–with regard to the information you knew about Iraq to be accurate or inaccurate as obtained during your operations–what would it be?
Hi,
1. do you feel safe by being a spy or ever afraid to get blackmail which would threaten to your career, your country, and your beloved people?
2. What factors brought you chose this spy career?
3. Have you ever involved in fight, etc?
How much do you know about me?
http://www.eddy.nu
Hi,
My name is vince. Couple questions here,
What do you expect to be happend after the reveal of your news? Are you afraid?
What is the method or protocol you and your boss exchange the messages or command?