Novak: The abuse of my integrity provokes this response

Houston Chronicle ^ | July 31, 2005 | Robert Novak

[Cincinatus' Wife]

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 Ambassador 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.

My column of July 14, 2003, asked why the CIA in 2002 sent Wilson, a critic of President Bush, to Niger to investigate an Italian intelligence report of attempted Iraqi uranium purchases. All the subsequent furor was caused by three sentences in the sixth paragraph:

"Wilson never worked for the CIA, but his wife, Valerie Plame, is an Agency operative on weapons of mass destruction. Two senior administration officials told me that Wilson's wife suggested sending him to Niger to investigate the Italian report. The CIA (Harlow) says its counter-proliferation officials selected Wilson and asked his wife to contact him."

There never was any question of me talking about Mrs. Wilson "authorizing." I was told she "suggested" the mission, and that is what I asked Harlow. His denial was contradicted in July 2004 by a unanimous Senate Intelligence Committee report. The report said Wilson's wife "suggested his name for the trip." It cited an internal CIA memo from her saying "my husband has good relations" with officials in Niger and "lots of French contacts," adding they "could possibly shed light on this sort of activity." A State Department analyst told the committee that Mrs. Wilson "had the idea" of sending Wilson to Africa.

So, what was "wrong" with my column as Harlow claimed? There was nothing incorrect. He told the Post reporters he had "warned" me that if I "did write about it, her name should not be revealed." That is meaningless. Once it was determined that Wilson's wife suggested the mission, she could be identified as "Valerie Plame" by reading her husband's entry in "Who's Who in America."

Harlow said to the Post that he did not tell me Mrs. Wilson "was undercover because that was classified." What he did say was, as I reported in a previous column, "she probably never again would be given a foreign assignment but that exposure of her name might cause 'difficulties.' " According to CIA sources, she was brought home from foreign assignments in 1997, when Agency officials feared she had been "outed" by the traitor Aldrich Ames.

I have previously said that I never would have written those sentences if Harlow, then-CIA Director George Tenet or anybody else from the Agency had told me that Valerie Plame Wilson's disclosure would endanger herself or anybody.

The recent first disclosure of secret grand jury testimony set off a news media feeding frenzy centered on this obscure case. Joseph Wilson was discarded a year ago by the Kerry presidential campaign after the Senate committee reported much of what he said "had no basis in fact."

The re-emerged Wilson is now accusing the senators of "smearing" him. I eagerly await the end of this investigation when I may be able to correct other misinformation about me and the case.

Novak is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington.

[slowhand520]

"The recent first disclosure of secret grand jury testimony set off a news media feeding frenzy centered on this obscure case. Joseph Wilson was discarded a year ago by the Kerry presidential campaign after the Senate committee reported much of what he said "had no basis in fact."

The re-emerged Wilson is now accusing the senators of "smearing" him. I eagerly await the end of this investigation when I may be able to correct other misinformation about me and the case"



These last two paragraphs are interesting. Maybe Novak is trying to tell us Fitzgerald is going after Wilson/Plame?

[Gypssy]

I'm sure I'd succeed. I can succeed at anything I put my mind to. My style? Think Dennis Miller.

I bet you would :-)

[Pukin Dog]

There are so many pieces to this puzzle .. I honestly have no idea how it will turn out

It will turn out with Democrats in jail for perjury. This was a CIA plot to remove Bush from office through this phony scandal. Democrats never expected Bush to appoint an independent counsel; they expected to give Kerry ammunition to claim there was a 'cover-up' in the White House. They knew that Bush was famously loyal to his friends, and hoped to use that against him.

I keep repeating this message over and over to Freepers: The Democrats NEVER THOUGHT THEY WOULD LOSE THIS ELECTION. Now, as you can see, the wheels are coming off the Democrat party. The AFL-CIO thing is HUGE. Look at what Jesse Jackson is saying. The Democrats are in a panic, nothing is working, and now the Supreme Court is getting away from them too.

[FreeAtlanta]

Michael Savage (aka. pageonetoo), we are on to you. Turn off your computer. Take some pills. Get therapy.

[section9]

If I was to guess .. Novak is sending a warning shot across the bow to those of concern that he knows the scoop ... and he ain't liking what is being said about him.

Bingo!

Novak has been the eminence grise in this whole affair. I'm not even sure he's been called to testify before the GJ. He's telling everyone that he knows what actually happened in this whole contretemps, including Fitzgerald, and that Joe Wilson lied his pants off.

Novak is about ready to blow this thing wide open.

Rove and Libby are in the clear, methinks. When all is said and done, however, you'll see that, quite by accident, Powell and Armitage let slip that Valerie Plame suggested that her husband, Joe, who both of them knew from the party cirucuit, go to Niger. That's how this entire bullshit story came to be.

The internet suspicions were true: Judy Miller was taking the fall to protect Colin Powell. She'll be rewarded later on.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Mo1]

Oh I agree .. the question I don't know is .. who all will be indicted

[Miss Marple]

This is stuff they bought BEFORE the book deal. They bought the house right after they were married. The granite counter tops and oriental rugs were mentioned in the Vanity Fair column, as well as the Jag. The Rollex watch and Mercedes were bragged about by Wilson while in the green room at a TV station. to Victor Davis Hanson. They attended the cocktail parties and White House events and made the political donations before this "scandal" broke.

He only got the book deal in 2004, I believe. Even if it was in 2003, it didn't pay for any of this stuff.

[Just mythoughts]

You are so correct about the protectorate, I put them down backwards and thank you for the correction.

I thought the same about jerking the rug with old Saddam, however, these days not as confident as I once was.

[jammer]

Oh, don't I know what you're talking about. In my case, I find myself making an error about once per hour, average, so my confidence isn't too high either.

[txrangerette]

mark

[pageonetoo]

He makes people laugh at vacuous mentalities and refuses to carry the water for religious kooks and other negative, paranoid goof-balls that bombard him with emails. Isn't that the REAL reason you have a problem with him?....I thought so.

You don't seem to think very well! You postulate as if you know something, but shoot that down, by typing!

He used to make me laugh, but that was in 1994... I listened to him from when he started on WRAL in NC, with a two hour show. I still tune in, but usually when WW, or some other good sub, is on the golden microphone...

It does takes a pretty vacuous mentality to listen to him these days, though... and I think you might fit! He says things repeatedly so those that have trouble understanding can finally get it.

I love to read these responses, from you, with undying loyalty, though. I just wish it were better placed. Why not spend some time working to elect a gum't that truly is conservative, not the Bush/Clinton type, which believes that throwing money into a pot makes a good stew....

Rush Limbaugh has contributed to the Republican revolution, but he is not the revolutionary. He is an entertainer, who came onto the scene at the right time. I think he should have a gold framed photo of the Snapple people.

I have also given up donating to the Republicans. They speak with forked tongues. I am a conservative, and believe the Constitution is set in stone, not a living document. I don't appreciate this gum'ts willingness to ignore it. Rush is their cheerleader.

Am I jealous of Rush. Maybe a little, but not of his wealth, or popularity, and certainly not enough to be my cause for posting. I am more jealous of his ability to sell himself (and ties, coffee cups, etc)... He does it as well, or better, than anyone, and there seem to be a lot of buyers.

Sorry, but I had buyer's remorse, after I got to use the product more... I can tune into him for five minutes, these days, and get the whole jist of the show. He continues to beat those dead horses, ad nauseum...

FreeRepublic is far more entertaining, and informative, and I can pay to subscribe if I wish, or not. There is no difference in access...(thank you JimRob, and the "crew")

It isn't rocket science, it is entertainment. You don't need to walk on water, to see that Rushbo is taking full advantage of his 15 minutes. He is just another guy, trying to make a buck, like all of us. He also has abused drugs, and been given a pass... by you, apparently.

I am not sorry I stepped on your toes. Some of us don't think the sun rises for him, nor sets for him... he just enjoys the sunshine...

I do, too! But, I don't need Rush to tell me what, or how, I should think!

I guess you don't think well enough, on your own, by the tone of your post!

(Sorry I mispelled a word in my previous posting. I obviously was not using my mind well enough...flogs himself repeatedly to satiate the readers animosity, NOT!)

[syriacus]

There's detailed instructions on how to use your inkjet printer to MAKE these bumperstickers on your 'puter.

I love the instructions. Thanks.

[razorback-bert]

You would think a CIA operative living above their means would draw attention after Ames, wouldn't you?

[Red Badger]

I am no fan of Rush and don't hang on his every word. I also don't presume to be a judge of character. I know how easy it is to be addicted to drugs and how hard it is to get them out of your life. I will not condone his behavior nor excuse it. I can relate to his situation regardless of his wealth or lack thereof. So what if he sells his stuff on his website? It's his stuff, his website. But to call Rush a lying druggie is going too far. I can't enuciate concervatism as well as he can nor debate the libs around me on the points of policy as well as he. Of that I am jealous. I use my whole brain just to keep up and he uses only half of his. I will not criticize him even after walking a mile in his moccassins.......

[Toadman]

Ditto

[Jenya]

Innnnteresting. If there's a ping list about this, I'd love to be added. Thanks. :)

[Pukin Dog]

What I find interesting about all these Limbaugh posts, is that you folks seem to think that somehow your opinion on Limbaugh matters.

They don't.

In fact, Limbaugh is laughing at all of you.

[prairiebreeze]

The Art of War....did that have Donald Sutherland in it? I saw a few minutes of a Sutherland movie over the weekend with VERY pro-UN rhetoric. But I didn't get the title.

[ex-snook]

"My column of July 14, 2003, asked why the CIA in 2002 sent Wilson, a critic of President Bush, to Niger to investigate an Italian intelligence report of attempted Iraqi uranium purchases."

Mr Novak you have been a critic of President Bush so are you to be trusted to tell the truth?

The story is not Wilson, his wife, press agents or other diversions. The story is his Niger report.

[pageonetoo]

I'm a formerly-lying recovering druggie. Would you be as judgemental about me?

Do you have nothing in your life that you are ashamed of? Are you spotless, and can throw the first stone?

Sorry I missed that post.

I am judgemental about his attitude. You don't have that, evident by your openiing statement, and your posting history.

As for my life, I can stand before the Throne of God, and I believe He will say to me "well done". Not because I am spotless, but because of His Grace! I have done too many things to write about, but thank God, for His Lamb!

My criticism of Mr. Limbaugh is pointed at his lack of contrition, and the absurd arguments supporting his drug abuse, while he was golfing away!

(I have used illegal drugs myself, but have not needed to lie! That's another story!

(BTW, I would contribute my $.02 (or more) to a start-up for your radio show, if you're interested! I have continually been entertained by your wit. How about a webcast?)

When you get to heaven what do you want God to say to you when you're before Him?

"Pretty funny, Laz. Pretty funny." G-d addressed people by their screen names, you know, so you'd best never call yourself "RagingHotHardMeat4You". G-d will not be amused.