> I stopped reading at "covert CIA operative Valerie Plame." She is not, nor was she ever, a field officer.
Did it say "covert CIA field operative Valerie Plame"? Her identity was classified as a CIA operations officer.
> Outing a "CIA member"
Why would you put that in quotes?
> trendy leftoid cocktail parties
Oh, that's why. I stopped reading here.
> § 421. Protection of identities of certain United States undercover intelligence officers, agents, informants, and sources
> Whoever, having or having had authorized access to classified information that identifies a covert agent, intentionally discloses any information identifying such covert agent to any individual not authorized to receive classified information, knowing that the information disclosed so identifies such covert agent and that the United States is taking affirmative measures to conceal such covert agent’s intelligence relationship to the United States, shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
It didn't jeopardize her life, but it effectively destroyed her career. Although she got a nice book deal out of it.
As usual, the cover up is far worse than the crime.