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I'm not arguing with you that a CIA official asked him not to ID Plame. Let me try explaining my thoughts a different way.

Option 1 -- Novak is told by 2 admin sources (not at the level of Cheney, Rove, etc, because if they told him, he would not have to call the CIA to confirm) that Plame works for the CIA. So Novak calls the CIA to confirm.

Novak [on the phone with a CIA communications dept. bureaucrat]: "Hello, my name is Bob Novak and I'm working on a story and my sources tell me a certain person, Valerie Wilson or Valerie Plame, works for the CIA. Can you confirm that?"

CIA flunky: "You mean the the nationally syndicated reporter Bob Novak? The one who regularly appears on TV?"

Novak: "Yes, are you able to confirm that Valerie Plame or Valerie Wilson works for the CIA."

CIA dunderhead: "Well, as you know, the CIA does not confirm or deny whether any person works for the CIA. Certainly not to a reporter who reaches millions of readers a day!"

Novak: "Yes, I know that. I've been an investigative reporter who knows all the rules since before you were born and does not want to risk my career, but is this something you can confirm?"

CIA simpleton: "Well, hold on a moment."

[Slight delay as the CIA poltroon checks the list of intel assets which should under no circumstances be revealed in the press by a nationally syndicated reporter.)

CIA dullard: "Uhm, Mr. Novak, as you know, the CIA does not confirm or deny whether any persons works for the CIA."

Novak: "Yes, but I've got two other sources who tell me she does. Is there a problem with that?"

CIA picklebrain: "Uh, I just must repeat Mr. Novak, the CIA does not officially confirm or deny whether any person or persons work for the CIA."

Novak: "OK, bye." Novak hangs up.

CIA muddlehead: "Uh, OK, bye Mr. Novak. Be seeing you around, or maybe not, tee hee hee, we are the CIA you know, (giggle). Hello, Mr. Novak? Can I call you Bob? Hello?

Option 2 -- Novak is told by 2 admin sources that Plame works for the CIA. So Novak calls the CIA to confirm.

Novak: "Hello, my name is Bob Novak and I'm working on a story and my sources tell me a certain person, Valerie Wilson or Valerie Plame, works for the CIA. Can you confirm that?"

CIA flunky: "You mean the the nationally syndicated reporter Bob Novak? The one who regularly appears on TV?"

Novak: "Yes, are you able to confirm that Valerie Plame or Valerie Wilson works for the CIA."

CIA buggleswarm: "Hold on let me check."

[Slight delay]

CIA snoozecatcher: "Uhm, Mr. Novak, we can not confirm that and we would caution you that information on CIA personnel is considered highly classified. That information might endanger CIA lives. The CIA would be strongly, at the highest level, opposed to any such disclosure. I can not express to you how strongly the CIA would be opposed to having any such information published on this topic."

Novak: "OK, can I talk to your boss?"

CIA buttermunch: "Yes, sir, please hold."

CIA official #2: "Hello, Mr. Novak? I've been told you have a question regarding the identification of a person in relation to the CIA. As you know, the CIA does not confirm nor deny whether any person works for the CIA.

"As you know, this information is kept secret for very good reasons as CIA empoloyees lives may be put in danger. Without saying that this is such a case, I must inform you that the CIA would be strongly opposed, and perhaps take legal action, if any person the CIA might consider to be a valued assett was identified in the press.

Novak: "OK, I know the rules, it's nothing to jeopardize my career over. Thanks for your time, bye."

The short version. Novak found out that Plame worked for the CIA from sources other than the WH. It's worth noting that Novak is not under any legal obligation not to reveal she is a CIA agent unless she is a 'NOC' class agent.

So, he checked with the CIA to make sure she was not covered. The CIA 'didn't bark,' so he proceeded.

The rest is just Wilson lieing his butt off and CIA bureaucrats covering theirs.