They just can't be THAT stupid. They must be reckless.

I was watching part of Valerie Plame Wilson's testimony to the House Oversight and Reform Committee today. Drawing largely on information gleaned from the various testimonies at the "Scooter" Libby perjury trial, the Democratic congressmen had a lot of questions.

One point of contention, explored by the Republican members, was whether or not Valerie Plame was a covert operative, and whether or not those in the White House who "outed" her would know. There seems to be some impression that she was working for the CIA but not covert. This is important, because if she was not covert, no crime was committed.

I took away these things:

Valerie Plame was covert. Exposing her position put her, and the people she came in contact with, into danger. Not only was she immediately removed from her position when the news was released, but the status was confirmed by the CIA for the committee.

The people in the White House who discussed her identity and leaked it to the press were either reckless or stupid. If they at least one person knew she was covert, then it was reckless and unpatriotic to out her, showing a disregard for all the lives endangered by her identity being revealed. It also shows a disregard for the men and women who spend their lives working for an organization dedicated for defending our freedom.

And if no one genuinely knew, then they were just plain stupid. Common sense dictates that someone working for the CIA is, at a minimum, likely to be covert. Surely with all the high security clearances floating around the White House, someone there should have been able to ask the question, "Is Valerie Plame covert, and will we be endangering lives by revealing her identity?"

Up until now, Ms. Plame has been quiet, allowing her husband, the former ambassador, to speak. But, before Congress, she was articulate, thoughtful, patriotic, and critical without being disrespectful. Which brings me to the final thing I took away:

The country lost an intelligent, highly-trained, valuable CIA operative because of petty politics. Lest we forget, Ms. Plame was a government employee. All those taxpayer dollars that went into her specialized training and allowed her to develop her knowledge and experience in other ways, were wasted.

The White House and the Republicans love to give lip service to patriotism. It has become apparent in the past few years that their definition of patriotism is, in reality, agreeing with the president. Members of this Administration are fond of using the phrase made well-known by its use on "The West Wing": "I serve at the pleasure of the President."

I just wonder -- how much pleasure did the President find in seeing Joseph Wilson and his wife derailed?