[Peach]

Jane, I didn't pick up on the fact that Harlow is now an advisor to NBC. I'll have to remember that in the future.

Good points about the timing of Novak's column on Powell.

Here's my guess:

I still think it's Powell who Novak is protecting. To a lot of leftists, Powell is not a political gunslinger, and I can easily see Novak describing Novak that way.

Also, Novak had previously twice said that the primary source told him Plame's name. Now he says he misspoke and should have said that his source said "Wilson's wife".

That's a pretty big mistake to make. Twice. And I don't see Novak changing his story and looking rather foolish for Armitage. But since Powell is so highly regarded by so many people (I know, I know), I can see Novak protecting Powell.

[Freedom is eternally right]

I still think it's Powell who Novak is protecting.

If it is Powell (or Armitage), the press will give the "inadvertent leak" a pass. My bet is on either Alan Foley (if you have read his testimony from the Bolton confirmation hearings, he gets side tracked a lot. He might actually have said it in passing without realizing what he said) or James Pavitt. I also don't think Novak is trying to protect his source, but rather trying to get back into the good graces of his fellow journalists. (My opinion of Novak is right up there with my opinion of Fitz).

[Phsstpok]

I'm betting (as others in the DBM have suggested) that Armitage was Novak's source. If he were acting on an agenda he would be doing so at Powell's behest. Powell and Armitage had their own agenda throughout their tenure at State. IMHO that is why they are no longer at State.

Novak would be telling the truth about not having talked to his source even with the Powell interview. I do not think he'd be telling the truth to characterize Armitage as not being a "partisan gunslinger" accept in the narrowest bilateral interpretation of that phrase.

His partisanship wasn't Republican nor Democrat. It was Powellian.