Post by Z on Jul 17, 2004 22:03:40 GMT -5
or maybe not so strangely, there doesn't seem to be a lot of focus on the statutory definition of "covert agent" amongst the conservative punditry of america. i guess because its a lot easier to call joe wilson a liar and guffaw that VP couldnt have been "covert" as a mother with two kids than confront the definition below (from the IIPA, the pertinent law):
The term ''covert agent'' means -
(A)
a present or retired officer or employee of an intelligence agency or a present or retired member of the Armed Forces assigned to duty with an intelligence agency -
(i)
whose identity as such an officer, employee, or member is classified information, and
(ii)
who is serving outside the United States or has within the last five years served outside the United States; or
(B)
a United States citizen whose intelligence relationship to the United States is classified information, and -
(i)
who resides and acts outside the United States as an agent of, or informant or source of operational assistance to, an intelligence agency, or
(ii)
who is at the time of the disclosure acting as an agent of, or informant to, the foreign counterintelligence or foreign counterterrorism components of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; or
(C)
an individual, other than a United States citizen, whose past or present intelligence relationship to the United States is classified information and who is a present or former agent of, or a present or former informant or source of operational assistance to, an intelligence agency.
The term ''covert agent'' means -
(A)
a present or retired officer or employee of an intelligence agency or a present or retired member of the Armed Forces assigned to duty with an intelligence agency -
(i)
whose identity as such an officer, employee, or member is classified information, and
(ii)
who is serving outside the United States or has within the last five years served outside the United States; or
(B)
a United States citizen whose intelligence relationship to the United States is classified information, and -
(i)
who resides and acts outside the United States as an agent of, or informant or source of operational assistance to, an intelligence agency, or
(ii)
who is at the time of the disclosure acting as an agent of, or informant to, the foreign counterintelligence or foreign counterterrorism components of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; or
(C)
an individual, other than a United States citizen, whose past or present intelligence relationship to the United States is classified information and who is a present or former agent of, or a present or former informant or source of operational assistance to, an intelligence agency.