If you get the chance to go hear Ms. Plame tell her story, don't miss it. Even though I knew most of the story, it was still a great evening, and she is an American hero who desrves our support. Anyone who listens to her recount her career in person will know that all of the attacks against her are nonsense. Whe is brilliant, articulate, and charming. She understands the isues surrounding the run-up to the Iraq war better than anybody I have heard talk about them. She understands how the CIA works and how it relates to other parts of the government and can offer a unique perspective on the intelligence related to the selling of the war.
One thing I did not know about was her other lawsuit, not the one against Cheney, Rove, etc. but the one against the CIA concerning the bizarre censorship of her book. There is a website providing the details of this lawsuit here
The suit alleges
With the government’s demand that Ms. Wilson and Simon & Schuster delete and censor what they strongly believed to be constitutionally protected information that was irretrievably in the public domain, and the executive branch defendants’ refusal to cure the prior restraint, plaintiffs had no recourse but to seek judicial relief. Accordingly, on May 31, 2007, plaintiffs Valerie Wilson and Simon & Schuster commenced an action against J. Michael McConnell, Director of National Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency and Gen Michael V. Hayden, Director CIA, seeking a declaratory judgment and injunction, pursuant to the Federal Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201 and the Constitution.
Specifically, Valerie Plame Wilson and Simon & Schuster, Inc., the publisher of Ms. Wilson’s memoir entitled "Fair Game" sought declaratory judgment that the Executive Branch of government cannot restrain publication of previously unclassified or currently unclassifiable information documenting Ms. Wilson’s dates of federal service disclosed in unclassified form in 2006 by the Central Intelligence Agency ("CIA") and now in the Congressional Record and available world-wide on the Library of Congress website.
Plaintiffs asked the Court to declare that plaintiffs possess a First Amendment right to publish information in FAIR GAME that references or is consistent with the same information contained in a letter sent in unclassified form for the purpose of her retirement planning and which Congress subsequently published in connection with proposed legislation to provide Ms. Wilson with immediate access to her deferred retirement benefits.
Of course, most of those present, probably 300-400 here in Nashville, were supporters who knew her story well, but the turnout was important, though. The event was big enough to get good coverage on the local news, where a lot of people who do not know about her saw it.
I am continually suprised by the number of people, even those who I think lean Democratic, who really don't know much about her. This story is the most damning evidence of all against the current administration, and we all need to do everyting we can to keep it in public view.
The only other event Simon and Schuster currently lists on its calendar is December 6 in Washington D. C.