1. The evil empire (EE) knew they couldn't legally leak Plame's identity.
2. So the EE secretly leaks the INR report (forged?) about Plame/husband connection. (hell, they could have mailed it anonymously). They wait.
3. They very, very carefully, for fear of self-incrimination, prod Novak. He jumps.
4. Once Novak is published, they spread the word (it was legal then). (This is where Rove almost fucks up, since he jumped too quick, but gets around it by claiming he forgot who in the press told him before (good lie - can't prove)
5. They enlist Gannon to spread the word as well in freeper land.(see below)
6. By now, every reporter in town probably knows. Most of their sources (besides the ones who got called by Rover and friends) are probably each other.
Bottom line, they use the press, and they will get away with this.
Background:
GANNON'S ARTICLE:
He writes," The classified document that slipped out sometime after the meeting put her name before the public, albeit a small group of inside-the-beltway types, but effectively ended the notion that she was still covert."
"Since I was aware of the INR report, I confronted him (Wilson)about it. What is difficult to understand is the reason that the CIA would want to discredit this report. The first clue came when the agents from the FBI came to my home in March 2003 to question me in connection to the leak probe. I was flattered to think that I was important enough to be included among the luminaries like Andrea Mitchell, Tim Russert and Chris Matthews who were also named in a Justice Department subpoena of records from the White House. But most of the questions were about the INR report. They wanted to know where I got it and what I knew about it. Of course, as a journalist there wasn't much I could say without revealing my sources. I'm sure they were not satisfied, but it made me wonder why they were so interested in a document the CIA said was false."
GANNON'S interchange on freerepublic:....
To: Peach
You are kind. What is interesting about this is that I have become ensnared in this matter because I asked questions of my government.
This may a chilling effect on freedom of the press.
All this commotion, but the central question has yet to be answered: At the time that Robert Novak's column was published, was Valerie Plame a "covert operative"?
The CIA has refused to comment on this very important point.
If she was not, then no crime has been committed and all communications between the administration and reporters is just gossip. ---Jeff Gannon
To: Jeff Gannon
That is simply not true, Jeff.
You are ensnared because you made reference to a government document, which appears to have been a forgery. You need to tell the Grand Jury who made you privy to that document. ---JohnGalt
To: Jeff Gannon
What was the document you referred to in the interview with Wilson? ---JohnGalt
To: JohnGalt
I disagree with your characterization of the document itself, but that aside, I maintain that I am under no obligation whatsoever to reveal my sources. That is a fundamental element of maintaining a free press. ---Jeff Gannon
Oops. Now that was a sloppy mistake Jeff. How can you disagree with the characterization of a classified document that you hadn't seen? Looks like you were leaked it after all... or you really trust your source...
Edit to add link:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/5/212837/3714
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