[mattdono]

But this is a bit inconsistent with the CIA requesting the investigation.

Not at all. The CIA requests investigations like this 50 times per year. Considering the high-profile aspects of this situation, regardless of its veracity, it has to be investigated.

As I have noted, the CIA is not only following the typical and established protocol, they also will be investigated. The CIA itself confirmed the involvement of Mrs. Wilson in the trip to Niger and when doing so didn't insist on NOT publishing the name. So, they may be responsible as well.

I would add that the media will typical censor itself, if they understand there to be a legitimate and expressed concern over national security. They aren't likely to squash the story, rather they will usually allude to "a government official" or "a CIA operative".

What's telling is that they didn't insist on this with Mr. Novak. As noted on this thread (though with misdirected use), the CIA surely knew her employment status and the fact that they didn't assert the national security concern to Mr. Novak is a near tacit admission that national security was NOT a concern. Period.

[lugsoul]

You are living and dying with Novak and his confidential CIA source. The "CIA" didn't tacitly give the go-ahead to use the name. One guy at the CIA who was talking to Novak on the sly did, if you believe Novak's version. And the CIA has officially denied that "Mrs. Wilson" set up the trip - she was the conduit for contacting him after the decision to use him was made. You should use a little more caution in buying the most favorable spin. For example, I've heard Wilson (Mr.) referred to as a "Clinton appointee" several times. It is true that he worked under the Clinton admin. But we know who first appointed him to the diplomatic corps, don't we? 41.