Robert Novak: Correcting the CIA

[Naturalized-Texan]

Correcting the CIA (http://www.townhall.com/columnists/robertnovak/rn20050801.shtml)

WASHINGTON -- A statement attributed to the former CIA spokesman indicating that I deliberately disregarded what he told me in writing my 2003 column about Joseph Wilson's wife is just plain wrong.

Though frustrated, I have followed the advice of my attorneys and written almost nothing about the CIA leak over two years because of a criminal investigation by a federal special prosecutor. The lawyers also urged me not to write this. But the allegation against me is so patently incorrect and so abuses my integrity as a journalist that I feel constrained to reply.

In the course of a front-page story in last Wednesday's Washington Post, Walter Pincus and Jim VandeHei quoted ex-CIA spokesman Bill Harlow describing his testimony to the grand jury. In response to my question about Valerie Plame Wilson's role in former Amb. Wilson's trip to Niger, Harlow told me she "had not authorized the mission." Harlow was quoted as later saying to me "the story Novak had related to him was wrong."

This gave the impression I ignored an official's statement that I had the facts wrong but wrote it anyway for the sake of publishing the story. That would be inexcusable for any journalist and particularly a veteran of 48 years in Washington. The truth is otherwise, and that is why I feel compelled to write this column.

{More at the link above.}

[Warlady]

I recall that when Novak wrote his article and the shit storm errupted shortly thereafter that he swore that his information did NOT come from anyone in the Bush administration. Now it looks like he's backing off of that claim. Can't anyone just tell the truth anymore? I still do not understand why Judith Miller is in jail. She didn't even write or contribute to an article on this subject. Whatsupwiththat??? Also, since Plame's own husband claims she has not been undercover for 9 years why is this even an issue? Don't we have more pressing things to spend tax funds on? Answer: YES!!

[Naturalized-Texan]

I recall that when Novak wrote his article and the shit storm errupted shortly thereafter that he swore that his information did NOT come from anyone in the Bush administration. Now it looks like he's backing off of that claim. Can't anyone just tell the truth anymore? I still do not understand why Judith Miller is in jail. She didn't even write or contribute to an article on this subject. Whatsupwiththat??? Also, since Plame's own husband claims she has not been undercover for 9 years why is this even an issue? Don't we have more pressing things to spend tax funds on? Answer: YES!!
As I showed in another thread (http://www.freeconservatives.com/vb/showthread.php?p=300510#post300510), Novak definitely DID state that he received the information from administration officials. He's not backing off anything.

[Webruary]

As I showed in another thread (http://www.freeconservatives.com/vb/showthread.php?p=300510#post300510), Novak definitely DID state that he received the information from administration officials.


1) Who are administration officials ? Surely that does not limit it to the White House ? Are CIA Senior officials under the umbrella of the term -- Administration Officials ?

2) Why don't we have any official pronouncement regarding Valerie Plame's "covert" status ? Is she or isn't she ? I'm hearing different stories from different places and can't make head or tail out of this. This question is CRUCIAL to the case because if she isn't covert as defined by law, then all these stink is much ado about nothing. The word "outing" does not even apply here.

3) Is her involvement in the Wilson trip to Niger classified information ?

As I see it, the only way this case amounts to a crime is for either #2 or #3 or both to be true. Otherwise, the entire investigation is a waste of money.

[Naturalized-Texan]

#1) In that other thread, the 2nd administration official mentioned in Novak's column was Karl Rove and that confirms Rove's testimony that he learned Plame's name from Novak.

Web, questions #2 and #3 have been answered elsewhere in this forum.

#2) She was removed from covert status in 1997 after her name had been inadvertantly disclosed by the CIA and by a Russian agent.

#3) Her involvement could not have been classified because it was too widely known.

[Webruary]

#1) In that other thread, the 2nd administration official mentioned in Novak's column was Karl Rove and that confirms Rove's testimony that he learned Plame's name from Novak.


This does not tie with the statement : Novak definitely DID state that he received the information from administration officials.

Rove was NOT Novak's information source. His role was simply CONFIRMATORY in nature ( e.g., "I heard that too" ). Therefore, Rove could not have been one of the two that Novak is refering to when he said he received the information from administration officials. The word --- received -- tells me that someone told him something he did not know before.

As for :


#2) She was removed from covert status in 1997 after her name had been inadvertantly disclosed by the CIA and by a Russian agent.

#3) Her involvement could not have been classified because it was too widely known.


If all true, then NO CRIME WAS COMMITTED. I don't know what the heck this investigation is all about.

[Naturalized-Texan]

If all true, then NO CRIME WAS COMMITTED. I don't know what the heck this investigation is all about.
You got it! The investigation was started for political reasons, not because a crime had been committed. It's a sure bet that the result of the investigation will be that NO CRIME WAS COMMITTED. Of course, the left will scream: Whitewash! Whitewash!

[Venus de Smilo]

Anything new on this? I notice Karl Rove is still at the WH. I think Fitzpatrick is due to make his moves, if he has any, by October.

[Warlady]

Is Judith Miller still in jail?