Remember Novak said the first "administration" official who told him about Plame's job was "not a partisan gunslinger" and with whom he had a long conversation when this came up? I thought it could be Ari Fleischer but it didn't jump out at me that a spokesman for a president would be described as other than "partisan."
During this Gannon Affair Fleischer spoke up and perhaps he does see himself in a way that would fit Novak's description.
"I found out that he worked for a GOP site, and I didn't think it was my place to call on him because he worked for something that was related to the party," Fleischer said in a phone interview. "He had the editor call me and made the case that they were not related to the Republican Party. He said they used the GOP name for marketing purposes only."
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ep/20050217/en_bpiep/arifleischertellsephespoketogannonguckertsboss
Fleischer would have no idea about Wilson or why he was sent to Niger.
In addition, Fleischer was in Africa when the NY Times Wilson hit piece was published and all during the next week when the so-called leak occurred.
It is most assuredly NOT Ari Fleischer for a few reasons. Plus, as WH press secretary, he'd never ever be classified as a non-partisan gun slinger. Another operative or Tenet himself would be categorized such. It has to be someone that KNEW about the trip.
(BTW, another freeper noted to me the other day that last Sunday's NY Times "secret tapes" story that fizzled but was clearly hoped to be a Bush hit was another instance where they timed the piece for once Bush was out of the country...)