It was actually published, once, early on in this sordid affair. Ari had a lunch with Scooter Libby in which Libby told him about Wilson's wife working for the CIA and recommending Wilson for his 2nd bogus Niger trip.
Bad timing. Ari had a scheduled lunch in the days that followed with Woodward.
Then Ari stepped down.
So it's not much of a stretch to conclude that Ari is "Offical A" (get it), and that he stepped down so that his one mistake wouldn't reflect badly upon his boss.
Do you have a link to that conversation... this is the first I have heard of it.
If true it would answer many questions.
<< Woodward permitted 60 Minutes to listen to tapes he recorded of his most important interviews, to read the transcripts, and to verify that the quotes he uses are based on recollections from participants in the key meetings.>>
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/11/17/60minutes/main529657.shtml
Woodward kept records and recordings of many people he interviewed for the book, but not regarding who told him about Plame. Obviously he did not believe it mattered enough to document, or even recall.
Was he Novak's source, too?
Hi Southack. "Official A" may or may not be Ari, but he stepped down because he got married and wanted to accept a higher paying opportunity in the private sector. Being a newlywed, he also didn't want to travel as much as the press secretary has to travel.