[Just mythoughts]

"...During a long conversation with a senior administration official,....."

Novak sure is an old sly fox if his intent was to out a "covered" agent, and pretend to not know that is what he did.

Why isn't he being charge with the outing since it was via his print that the name was outted????


I do not know who did the talking to Novak, but Clarke in his appearance and manner does not fit the type to quietly out someone in an offhanded manner.

[Shermy]

The idea that Clarke was the leaker to Novak during a "long (boozy?) conversation is plausible since Clarke could have been fairly described, then, as both a "senior administration" and "no partisan gunslinger."

And how about the often overlooked leak to Newsday?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/950676/posts

"Intelligence officials confirmed to Newsday yesterday that Valerie Plame, wife of retired Ambassador Joseph Wilson, works at the agency on weapons of mass destruction issues in an undercover capacity - at least she was undercover until last week when she was named by columnist Robert Novak..."

Clarke could have also been fairly described as an "intelligence official". Though Newsday implies there was more than lone that leaked to them.

And we know Clarke is Gabby and self-important....

Just a theory...thanks Piasa!

[Shermy]

"...During a long conversation with a senior administration official,....."

When he made this statement he was, in his way, trying to cover himself, and protect his viability as a confidant. That is, the fear no one would talk to him any more...damage control, just like his lame statement that the CIA official who confirmed that Plame was an agent should have urged him more strongly not to reveal the name.