A very good question. Novak's column was published on July 14. It has since been determined that a routine request for investigation was filed by the CIA within a week (evidently this is common practice, the DOJ receives about fifty such requests a year).
However, the request was not "publicized" (read "leaked") until a week ago Friday (Sept 26) -- by which time Ashcroft had appointed an investigative team and an orderly investigation was already underway.
Too orderly for some, evidently...
JULY 2003 : (WILSON SEEKS A BOOK AGENT) - "Novak: The Wilsons for Gore ," by Robert Novak, Townhall.com, 10/05/03
AUGUST 21, 2003 : (WASHINGTON : WILSON ATTENDS PUBLIC FORUM IN SEATTLE, ATTACKS BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S KARL ROVE) "At the end of the day, it's of keen interest to me to see whether or not we can get Karl Rove frog-marched out of the White House in handcuffs. And trust me, when I use that name, I measure my words." -- Joseph Wilson Aug 21, 2003
AUGUST 29, 2003 : (ALAN FOLEY, HEAD OF THE WEAPONS INTELLIGENCE, NONPROLIFERATION, AND ARMS CONTROL CENTER ANNOUNCES HIS PLANS TO LEAVE THE CIA) A top CIA expert on weapons of mass destruction, who became embroiled in controversy over whether the White House stretched evidence about Iraq's programs, said he planned to leave the agency in October. Alan Foley, who heads the Weapons Intelligence, Nonproliferation, and Arms Control Center, told colleagues in a note dated Aug. 29 that he had been "thinking about life after the agency for some time" and decided to leave after 26 years to enter the private sector. ...While I can't prevent the inevitable speculation that will be generated by the timing of my decision, I want you to know that this is something that I decided entirely on my own," Foley said in the note, obtained by Reuters on Wednesday. "I can't deny that the pressures of the past few months have not weighed heavily in my mind, but there are many other aspects to my decision, not the least of which is that I'm intrigued by the prospect of trying my hand at a second career in the private sector," he said. - "Head of CIA Weapons Analysis Program Leaving," Reuters , 09-10-03
* Remember Joseph Wilson......this is his wife Valerie Plame's boss.2 posted on 09/10/2003 5:39 PM PDT by Dog
* Isn't it fascinating that we would have a new poster today talking about intelligence blunders and such? On the same day that Mr. Foley's resignation is made known. Quite a coincidence, isn't it?10 posted on 09/10/2003 6:21 PM PDT by Miss Marple
* Thanks for the ping, I believe Foley want's out before any investigation gets underway about Joseph Wilson & his wife's involvement in this whole Niger smear attempt 14 posted on 09/10/2003 6:35 PM PDT by MJY1288
SEPTEMBER 11, 2003 : (NY "PROGRESSIVES'" CONFERENCE INCLUDES RAY MCGOVERN, WILLIAM RIVERS PITT, OTHERS) On September 11, 2003, a conference was held in New York. "World's Leading Progressives Gather to Rethink 9/11" was the title of the press release, dubbed the "Largest Forum Ever on 9/11 Questions and Alternatives to Corporate Rule, Repression and War". What are "9/11 Questions"? Well, such phrases as "What Did Bush Know?", "Who Really Piloted the Planes?" and so on. The partial list of participants is telling:
Medea Benjamin, Kelly Campbell, Mike Ferner, Catherine Austin Fitts, Amy Goodman, John Judge, Rev. Peter Laarman, Wayne Madsen, Rania Masri, Cynthia McKinney, Hibaaq Osman, Ray McGovern, Greg Palast, William Rivers Pitt, Virginia Rasmussen, Michael Ratner, Michael Ruppert, Danny Schechter, Dr. Vandana Shiva, Steve Staples, Susan Witt…
SEPTEMBER 2003 mid : (NIGER FLAP/WILSON AFFAIR : CIA SENDS STANDARD 11- QUESTION FOLLOWUP QUESTIONAIRE TO THE DOJ) The CIA follows up such referrals [as the one sent to the DOJ in late July] with a second letter to Justice answering 11 standard questions, such as what damage was [d]one to national security and who in government knew of the information. The CIA sent this letter in mid-September. - "Wilson, wife have tight ties to Democrats. " By Rowan Scarborough, THE WASHINGTON TIMES, 2 Oct 03
SEPTEMBER 21, 2003 : (UK SAYS TWO FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SERVICES CONFIRM THAT IRAQ WAS TRYING TO BUY URANIUM IN NIGER) Britain's Foreign Office still maintains Iraq was trying to buy uranium in Niger, saying at least two foreign intelligence services confirm a sale was under discussion. The Foreign Office refuses to identify the two spy services. - "A look at the U.S.-British claims that Iraq tried to acquire uranium in Africa," AP, SEPT 21, 2003
SEPTEMBER 26, 2003 : (REPORTS THAT CIA WANTS THE DOJ TO INVESTIGATE WHO LEAKED VALERIE PLUME'S "COVER" TO PRESS - FUNNY HOW NO ONE ASKS WHY AN ANALYST IS CONSIDERED "UNDERCOVER") See "CIA seeks probe of White House; Agency asks Justice to investigate leak of employee’s identity, " MSNBC-NBC News , Sept. 26, 2003
SEPTEMBER 29, 2003 : (RAY MCGOVERN OF THE GROUP "VETERAN INTELLIGENCE PROFESSIONS FOR SANITY" CONFIRMS PLAME'S STATUS, ADMITS KNOWING WILSON) Mon Sep-29-03 05:49 PM Ray McGovern, who was for 27-years a senior analyst for the CIA, further confirms the status of Plame within the CIA. “I know Joseph Wilson well enough to know,” said McGovern in a telephone conversation we had today, “that his wife was in fact a deep cover operative running a network of informants on what is supposedly this administration’s first-priority issue: Weapons of mass destruction.” - "VANITY: Wilson Outed His Wife's Status.," Vanity , assembled by seamole w/unsycophant, October 2, 2003, Posted on 10/02/2003 11:49 PM PDT by seamole
OCTOBER 2, 2003 : (WILSON MEETING WITH HOUSE DEMOCRAT CAUCUS) Wilson is expected to meet with members of the House Democratic Caucus today, but he denies he is doing it out of partisanship. Democratic lawmakers have called for the appointment of an independent counsel to investigate the leak. "I'm meeting with the Democratic Caucus because they invited me," he said. "If the Republican Caucus were to invite me, I would go up and meet with them as well." Wilson said he would be asked about his views on Bush's $87 billion budget request for reconstructing Iraq and Afghanistan, but said he expected to be asked about the investigation as well. Wilson said he believed his views concerning the way ahead are "nonpartisan, are the best way ahead for our country — not for one political party or another." The investigation concerning his wife should not be viewed as a partisan matter either, he said. "We're talking about a crime against the national security of the United States. That is not a partisan activity. That is a crime against the country." - "Ambassador Says White House Adviser Told Press His Wife Was ‘Fair Game’ ," abcnews.com , Octo. 2, 2003
OCTOBER 2003 : (WILSON FINDS A BOOK AGENT) In July when he revealed himself as author of a report commissioned by the CIA, Wilson sought a book agent. After being turned down by a prominent agent, he has now found one. - "Novak: The Wilsons for Gore ," by Robert Novak, Townhall.com, 10/05/03