If Rove did set this up, he does deserve the (evil) genius status they give him, but I have to doubt it. My guess is that Rove was as surprised as anybody that he was called on this, but I don't doubt that he and his team had a carefully crafted 'strategery' very quickly thereafter. Notice the silence...He's just giving them rope. I am sure they're working hard in the background and cooperating all they can to make sure this sticks to the people who deserve it.
Speaking of silence, and Goss...Goss is a smart, silent one too. Having the SP lets GJ do the heavy lifting without airing all the dirty laundry in the agency while still scaring some people straight. The CIA has a terribly important job. We don't want to know all the finger-pointing in the background. We need to have confidence in their integrity and capability. If the SP identifies a few bad eggs, as I suspect it will, PG won't see too much resistance in getting them out the door. We've already seen 3 resignations that very well may be related...He hasn't even had to open his mouth yet.
When the other shoe drop...Look out.
Seems to me the whole Bush team is pretty good about security and leaks and "problems." They keep lengthening the rope and the Dems and media keep putting it around their neck.
I think Rove was talking off-the-record to his friendlies (at least not unfriendlies) and in the process of warning them about Wilson's lies he let the connection out of the bag to Novak and/or Cooper.
I think Goss was a master-stroke, as have been most appointments.
BTW, like your views. Well done.