NY Sun obtains State Dep't Plame memo

The New York Sun obtained has obtained a declassified copy of a State Department memo, dated July 7, 2003, which plays a central role in the Valerie Plame leak case. The document has been cited in a number of articles as providing details about who knew that Plame's identity was secret, and when they knew it. The Sun's interpretation of the memo's classification markings is that it would not have been clear to readers of the document that Plame's identity was secret.

Not noted in the previous press reports was the fact that six of the seven paragraphs in the memo are marked "secret," while only one appears to mention Ms. Plame. In addition, virtually every paragraph in the attached supporting documents from the State Department about alleged Iraqi uranium procurement in Niger carries the "secret" designation.

With most, if not all, of the Niger-related documents marked "secret" in a host of places, there is no particular reason a reader would think the classification was derived from Ms. Plame's status or involvement. [NY Sun]

The argument the Sun is making, essentially, is that the fact that most of the document was marked "secret" somehow makes the part that discusses Valerie Plame less secret. This logic is questionable, because the issue is not whether the document's classification was derived from Plame's involvement, but instead, whether it made it clear that Plame's status is secret. It would appear that there is some room for debate on this issue, but at least under a literal reading, the part of the document which discusses Plame is clearly designated as "secret."

State Department Memo: "Niger/Iraq Uranium Story and Joe Wilson" [NY Sun]
"No Hint Seen in Memo that Plame's Role Was Secret" [NY Sun]

UPDATED 4/18/06:

Talking Points Memo's Muckraker blog came to roughly the same conclusion I did about the Sun's coverage of the State Department's Plame Memo. They spoke with a former senior intelligence official who said that "[s]ince the memo's classified secret, that's hard to understand," he said. "The paragraph [Valerie Plame] is mentioned in is classified secret."

"Plame Wasn't Covert? NY Sun Gives It One Last Try" [TPM Muckraker]