1. Note Woodward's emphasis on "a former high official" of the Bush administration.
2. It's been reported that Woodward and Powell are good friends, and have spent a lot of time together.
3. Woodward feels some extraordinary loyalty to his "Deeper Throat."
3a. Woodward says he understood it as "gossip" rather than any intentional damage exercise.
Political bonus for Republicans:
All the Democratic-party garbage directed at the "nefarious leaker" will, of necessity, have to be connected to Powell. Whatever else you may think of him, Powell would not have done this, and so there is is serious blowback for the accusers, many of whom already have a record of racist attiudes toward blacks who disagree with Democrats.
"2. It's been reported that Woodward and Powell are good friends, and have spent a lot of time together."
Hmm.. Maybe Bush can fire Powell. Oh wait, Powell is no longer in the administration. Well Bush should then resign for it and take Cheney, Rumsfeld and Rice with them.
Then the Senate can return the true President, Al Gore to his rightful place as President of the United States.