Novak was dead against the Iraqi war. Why would he try to carry water for the White House in leaking this story? Logically, he would want to not weaken Wilson, because Wilson was on Novak's side on this one.
Novak knew that the blowback would be bad on this one. If I was Karl Rove, I would have the White House do the following.
Attack Robert Novak. Say he was being duplicitous in leaking the CIA agents name. Give up the junior staffers who did this. Say that Novak did a disservice to his country for manipulating young go getters, and he should be ashamed of himself.
The White House does not want/need to be linked to Novak here. Novak is running his own agenda.
The White House does not want/need to be linked to Novak here. Novak is running his own agenda.
The WH had nothing to do with this, 28 year old junior staffer there or senior, they had nothing to do with it. Even Novak said today it did not come from the WH.