Posted on 08/01/2005 1:48:56 AM PDT by 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.
So don't listen! You are fortunate to live in a country that 1) allows many views to be broadcast and 2) grants you the freedom to choose among all or none of them.
But don't come on here and criticize those who chose differently than you. Or else we'll conclude various things about you such as that you really have an alternative agenda you're trying to push.
An alternative theory is that the CIA set up the yellowcake deals in the 80's to empower Saddam and set up more yellowcake deals recently to help provide evidence against Saddam. In that case Wilson is alone in defending Saddam against the charges. Maybe he feels bad about the way Saddam was stung with a nod and wink to go into Kuwait which he was part of (although which side is he was on is in question).
HELLO??? Patrick Fitzgerald please pick up the white courtesy phone.
a $765,000 house in DC
a Jaguar convertible
a Mercedes sedan
a $14,000 Rollex watch
a kitchen remodel with granite countertops
Oriental rugs in every public room of his home
maxed out donations to Gore, Kerry, and assorted Rat politicians
attendance in expensive clothes at many DC cocktail parties, including White House dinners
support for two children from a previous marriage
nanny or pricey day care for the twins born in his current marriage
start-up money for his "consulting" company
All of this on the retirement pay of a mid-level bureaucrat with his wife's salary at the same level. Neither Plame nor Wilson comes from a moneyed background. WHERE did the money come from?
Uh oh, Wilson's head is going to roll! LOLOL....
Could not agree more. Limbaugh's show is basically a 3-hour advertisement for his "Rush 24/7" service, t-shirts, PodCast, blah blah blah. It has been years since he had anything original to add or scooped the media or even Drudge.
Sadly enough, the CIA, State, and just about every other critical institution in the US is riddled with traitors.
Maybe you should get a radio program.
Some people, usually those who lack originality or talent feel the need to run those who are successful down in order to make themselves feel better.
"Chickens cackling in a barn."
Sorry, that was meant for PageOneTwo! I am such a novice! :-)
I hope so too. I have to admit my motives aren't totally pure. While I'd love to see justice done, I have to admit I would thoroughly enjoy witnessing the mass hysteria this would bring about among the lefties (including most members of the MSM)
He didn't say that he talked to Tenet. He said he didn't hear from him.
Then he should avise her to spill her guts so she can go free.
That is a great question. Inquiring minds want to know. Love your tag line by the way.
That's largely how I read it. Or maybe I would have called it a warning "shout". But I don't think it's just about him.
He's obviously p.o.'d at Harlow and, I think, others who have been spreading their version of events.
But previous experience with how the MSM develops stories tells me there's something else he's mad about. I'd bet he's been seeing "anonymous sources" quoted in articles...and he recognizes them and what kind of pre-spin they are trying to insert into the story.
He's letting them know he's keeping track . He's put them (and any others who might try it) on notice: lie to the public or to the grand jury and Novak will hang you out to dry.
Are you having a bad day already?
Joe went to Niger regarding uranium twice...in 1999 AND 2002. Both times at the suggestion of his wife.
The democrats, as usual, got their panties in a wad over nothing.
I can understand Novak's desire to set the story straight, but Wilson is so thoroughly discredited, as well as those around him, that I'm surprised anyone takes him seriously at all.
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