"In CIA-talk "operative" could infer that she was employed by the "Operations" branch and those are the real spy-guys at the Agency."
Except Lexis demonstrates that Novak has ONLY used the word "operative" when he is describing people he KNOWS are intelligence agents. He has NEVER used the phrase "political operative." He knew exactly who and what Plame was.
There's a reason that at least five other journalists contacted by Rove (or whoever) all DECLINED to publish the information: because publication was legally, morally, and ethically WRONG. But Novak published...
Novak burned a NOC. He also exposed her cover firm as a front - endangering any other agents who ever used that cover.
Damn traitor.
Then why didn't they tell him that when he called the CIA before printing the article? And why isn't he in jail?