So what is the big deal? Why is the chairman of the RNC out there working the Sunday talk show circuit in order to defend Karl Rove? They keep maintaining that even if it was a leak, Valerie Plame was not protected by the covert status, there for no crime has been committed.

Ken Mehlman, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, is the protégé of Karl Rove. If it was not for Karl, Ken would not be where he is at today. I guess Karl figures this gave him a little more “clout” to go out there and do whatever he damn well felt without any consequence. This is something that is starting to appear further from the truth.

Now the leaking of Valerie Plames identity is an issue that is more than it appears. Yes it is a horrible crime to identify a covert operative in the CIA. It not only puts their career at risk, but also their lives, the lives of the people they have worked with and the lives of sources they have contacted in other countries. It is, to say the least, something that needs punished severely.

There is more to this leak than just that though. While that grand jury is listening to testimony and arguments by both the defense and prosecution, we have already seen proof given on a far more serious issue. The Downing Street Memo, which celebrates its two year anniversary next Saturday, has been a heated debate amongst opponents of the Iraq war. While we went through the last two years hearing reports hear and there discrediting every reason we were sent to war, this memo’s revelation in May provided what seems to be the absolute truth.

So what do the Downing Street Memo and Valerie Plame have in common? One key statement in the Downing Street Memo has been the focus of attention. That statement is regarding the Bush administration “fixing” the intelligence to support their reasons for war. What did Valeria Plame’s husband do? He went to Niger and discredited one of the main reasons – that Saddam was seeking to purchase uranium yellow cake from Niger.

The ousting of Valerie Plame by a White House official is just more proof of what the administration was willing to do to support its bogus reasons for this war. That is the reasoning behind the attacks they are now launching on Democrats and even Joe Wilson. They are trying to distract our attention from a key issue.

This administration has lied repeatedly to the people of this country, and citizens of the world. It has deceived and twisted facts to further its agenda and it has to stop. Hopefully the attention the Valeria Plame issue is getting will be the extra motivation needed for the Downing Street Memos.