Why was any of this an issue at all?

Because the Bu(ll)sh(it) bozo bunch went to war to get oil (or possibly because they were looking for some old power sources they hoped or thought might be in Iraq that could maybe help save their asses from the GF) by manufacturing justification out of thin air.

The Plame/Wilson affair was to send a signal to anyone who crossed purposes with the bozo bunch that they would get hurt.

I hope that Fitzgerald meant what he said about sending a signal to the world that the United States is very serious about prosecuting those who break the law, because so far, we are talking about putting a bandaid on a small cut while the patient is bleeding to death from a lacerated juglar.