LOYALTY AND BETRAYAL

The Rev. Dana Prom Smith, S.T.D., Ph.D. (4/11/06)

Each new revelation about the White House and the Bush Administration seems worse than what’s gone before. Now, the worst, an undenied allegation that Bush and Cheney leaked the name of a covert CIA agent for political advantage. They betrayed a secret agent in time of war.

This is the behavior of a rat. It undercuts any sense of security other agents might have about the loyalty of their government. It wastes the career of an agent and any good that agent might do for the country in the future. It is one more example of the moral tawdriness of the Bush Administration.

While leaking the name of a covert CIA agent may not be treason, it is certainly a betrayal. First of all, George W. Bush betrayed himself. He claimed to be a man of his word, and now his word is no good. He said he was against leaks, and then he leaked the name of a secret agent.

He certainly betrayed Valerie Plame, the covert agent, and along with her everyone in the intelligence community. Now, everyone in that community cannot trust Bush’s loyalty. As a former Sgt/Maj, Special Troops, I would’ve certainly feared for my back if Bush were my captain.

All of which means George W. Bush betrayed all of us. Before, we knew him to lie, but all politicians lie. Now, the core of the man, not his mouth, has been exposed. As a man, he can’t be trusted. He’s a betrayer.