"It means that clearly information was circulating around Washington about the identity of Wilson's CIA operative wife Valerie Plame."
Identity, but her role in the Niger trip too?
I think there's multiple leaks. Novak's was related to the White House. Miller might have been telling other reporters what she learned from Tenet or other prior souce for her in her WMD stories. As for Rove/White House, how did they find out?
I think through Colin Powell or assistant Lawrence Wilkerson. They ordered up the INR (State Department) memos about the meeting hiring Wilson. Press reports said Powell was quizzed on this. One analyst wrote Plame "convened" the meeting. That is closer to Rove's word "authorized" than came out in the CIA memo, Plame's own, in which she was clearly recommending hubby for the trip, not appointing him.
BTW, the State Department memo said Plame said Wilson would be travelling to the region soon on business. One source reportedly said the trip was a "boondoggle." That description probably comes from the implication Wilson got a free ride for a trip he was already planning. Perhaps that trip involved the Niger gold interests the Vanity Fair article mentioned.
I think there's multiple leaks. Novak's was NOT related to the White House.
Good article.
I'm leaning towards multiple leaks as well. It also seems logical to conclude the reporters who actualy wrote articles related to this were only a subset of the full number of reporters who were aware of Plame's CIA background, which unfortunately would further complicate things.
The possibility of information passing through a Wilkerson-Powell channel is interesting. That could've down up or down the chain, too.
I sleep well at night with the confidence that these folks can know just about anything they want, when they want.
When Miller found out that Fitzgerald was on the verge of indicting Holy Land, she called the Foundation for comment -- and right after her call the Foundation commenced a shredding party that ensured prosecutors would find little paperwork to go on when they raided the Holy Land offices.
Who is the mole that is leaking national security information ?