Probe Into John Kiriakou

Former CIA officer John Kiriakou went public about supervising the waterboarding of detainee Abu Zabaydah. The CIA is now asking for a leak probe into Kiriakou.

"It is a routine act that the CIA undertakes even when they know no violation has occurred," said attorney Mark Zaid, who represents former CIA official John Kiriakou.

Zaid could legally argue that Kiriakou is a whistleblower and use the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act to defend his client. No employer is allowed to break the law. CIA employees sign agreements not to release classified information. The Justice Department could argue Kiriakou endangered national security. The courts lean heavily towards the federal government on national security matters.

The question that bothers me is why did Kiriakou go public? He supports waterboarding. I heard some people theorize that the CIA put him out as an unofficial spokesman. I don't see how that helps the CIA or the White House. Maybe Kiriakou wants to bag a book deal. Anyone have any ideas why he went public?