The law concerns revealing the identity of a CIA agent. There is no difference between saying Valerie Plame, Joe Wilson's wife, or pointing her out on the street. The name nuance comes straight from Rove's lawyer.
actually it is not such a big nuance. You can discuss generally without identifying specifically by word or deed.
They would have to show that rove make a specific action of some kind. We don't know what was said and who said what.
ON TOP of all that uncertainty is the NYT history of intentionally LYING to justify its personal agendas. Have we forgotten Jason Blair? The recent NYT effort with the KNOWN fake Guard memos?
The NYT does not care about truth or facts. The NYT only cares about hatred.