Bob Novak: Coward at Large

PhxNews ^ | Paul Heller

[Catspaw]

It's my opinion that Robert Novak wouldn't mind smearing some stink on Dubya and his administration.

Novak is anti-Israel as hell and he was against the Iraq war, probably because any enemy of Israel isn't all bad in his eyes.

I couldn't agree with your more. I think there's more going on here with Novak than meets the eye, and his dislike of Bush and his foreign policy, especially concerning Iraq, has long been apparent.

His statement on CNN yesterday about "Bush-bashing" bordered on the absurd. He was trying hard to be sincere about the delivery, but I actually snorted.

[Catspaw]

Read the transcript. If he was speaking about a previous administration, he would've qualified the "senior administration official" with "former." he didn't.

http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/cf.html

[DoktorLaw]

I am waiting for some super-Rovian political jujitsu. If the facts, as alleged, are basically true, I can't believe that there isn't a deeper strategy. On the surface, there just isn't enough gain for the White House. The revelation that Wilson's wife is a CIA agent involved in WMD investigations just doesn't do much to impeach Wilson's credibility. The more effective counterattacks are all independent of how Wilson's wife may or may not be employed.

So, I'm waiting for the libs to get all deeply invested in this before the White House springs its trap. Maybe the Wilsons will be revealed as modern day Rosenbergs or something.

[ladtx]

"...the corpses of Saddam's kids..."

Saddam's KIDS!
That's like calling Jeffrey Dahmer a "foodie" at Central Market.

[Reb Raider]

You wonder why nobody but Novak wrote the story when so many were "leaked" to. It is because what was probably told was the fact his wife, a member of the CIA, arranged to have him sent over. The liberal press didn't want to call this man's creditials into question or whether he had a political ax to grind as someone who once worked for Al Gore and Thomas Foley and is an active member of moveon.org. We know he wasn't over there but a week and he said that was because there were no flights out before then (he said this on cspan yesterday morning). How in depth was his "investigation" and what training did he have to do it? If the officials were trying to get the journalists to question this man's motives and qualifications to do such an investigation--one that has been used politically by the dems ad nauseum, then perhaps the story should be why would Novak be the only one to write an article about Wilson's wife's involvement? Also,why was the impression given that he was chosen by Cheney or the Bush administration to do the investigation which lent it more credibility?

[slimer]

It's the same reason he will refuse to name the source he says came from the White House;

Wrong nimrod, Novak said the source did not come from the White House.

[DoktorLaw]

"Wrong nimrod, Novak said the source did not come from the White House."

Well, not exactly. What he said was:

"Nobody in the Bush administration called me to leak this. In July, I was interviewing a senior administration official on Ambassador Wilson's report when he told me the trip was inspired by his wife, a CIA employee working on weapons of mass destruction. Another senior official told me the same thing."

So, technically, he may have called them. Or the discussion could have taken place face-to-face or in some manner other than a telephone call. Admittedly, Novak is in for a world of criticism if he is parsing his language that finely. But it's possible.

[colorado tanker]

[No, she isn't a classified agent, if you're wondering. Her husband is a liar and a stooge.]

What EXACTLY does this woman do for the CIA and for what time period has she been doing it?

A Google of her refers to her as an "operative," "agent," "employee," "consultant" and "analyst." An Ambassor's wife a field agent or case manager? Almost certainly not. How could she be an analyst at Langely while her husband is living all over Africa and the Middle East as a career foreign service officer? "Operative" could mean most anything.

Several posts said she works for a private energy consulting firm. Is she really not a CIA employee, but someone who occaisionally provides information or analysis - a "consultant"? And if so, how could making that public possibly endanger her?

[#3Fan]

Good points. Yeah, if he was only there a week and is involved with all these radical liberal organizations, then it looks like his trip had some other purpose.

[Catspaw]

A Google of her refers to her as an "operative," "agent," "employee," "consultant" and "analyst." An Ambassor's wife a field agent or case manager? Almost certainly not. How could she be an analyst at Langely while her husband is living all over Africa and the Middle East as a career foreign service officer? "Operative" could mean most anything.

Several posts said she works for a private energy consulting firm. Is she really not a CIA employee, but someone who occaisionally provides information or analysis - a "consultant"? And if so, how could making that public possibly endanger her?

Oh, my, are you naive.

[Pagey]

Novak indeed said his informant was not from this Administration nor the White House. Couple that with the admission from Ambassador Wilson,that he got "caught up in the moment" when he alluded to Mr.Rove as being the leaker, and you have a very NON STORY.

You are entirely correct. What is important to remember also,is that DemoncRATic party presently offers no ideas – other than to preserve and protect the welfare-regulatory state status quo at all costs.The mere mention of "...merits Impeachment..." is imbecilic at best. It’s the oldest philosophical and psychological trick there is: distract someone from your own obvious flaws by putting them on the defensive with an outrageous, unfounded and prejudiced claim, which is what the entire MEDIA has been doing since that SOB "admitted he lied" on National TV/ Good Morning America yesterday! Every Conservative should rise up and give a liberal that you know "grief" regarding this present situation. I did last night and it felt great!

[colorado tanker]

Then, spread illumination.

[Ditto]

Walter Cronkite, okay, is a journalist. Robert Novak is a conservative shill, which is why he leaked Wilson's wife's name and relationship to the U.S. intelligence apparatus, in order to help the Bush administration quell criticism of their dastardly "sixteen words".

Someone needs to inform this guy that Novak is against the war, not for it.

[Catspaw]

There's no information that Wilson's wife stayed in Langley while he was ambassador. Diplomats/ambassadors take their families with them when stationed in other countries unless it's too dangerous to go.

And, although I haven't seen any information about her being employed at a company outside The Company, the CIA has been known to run "companies" to provide cover for their operatives.

You didn't know that?

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

For reasons of expediency I'm going to repost what I wrote on another thread. If Wilsons wife is indeed an undercover CIA agent..and her information was "classified", whoever leaked it should "FRY".

Someone on another thread was upset Ashcroft was going to investigate. I'm not!! I have no doubt this administration will do the right thing! Here was my response, if you will allow me to re-post it here.

FRegards!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I think Ashcroft SHOULD investigate!! Wilson is probably in a HEAP of trouble. Considering all I've heard, he probably leaked his OWN wife. He is a bitter man who tried to undermine our own nations efforts, all because he hates this President. (He is a Clinton appointee). Which shows one of the few/rare mistakes this President has made, in keeping leftovers from the Clinton administration.

He made public statements against our policies on Iraq even AFTER President Bush took his counsel and PUBLICLY admitted the error. He has tried to make a stink about it ever since. He couldn't get the press to raise a huge stink.. until he outted his wife, so now he got it..and we have this!!

I'm going to BET he is the one who leaked the "classified information" on HIS OWN WIFE!! That was illegal..and "should" be EXPOSED.

He is a DIE HARD Clinton-ite. He has already admitted he made erroneous statements (LIES) about Karl Rove. In fact.. I heard them on tv!!

So I'm going to believe this President and the Whitehouse as to them not being the source.

Besides.. Novak HAS SAID REPEATEDLY that his information DID NOT COME FROM THE WHITEHOUSE ~OR~ THIS ADMINISTRATION!!! So, once again.. I think it was WILSON himself could have been the culprit!

Regardless.. whoever did it.. should be caught and punished. I don't care WHO did it. "R", "D", or GREEN, PURPLE, PINK!!!

I hope whoever did it burns in jail.

[Jack Black]

Here is what I don't get. Every article states this: "Leaking the classified identities of CIA operatives is a felony that can result in a ten year prison sentence, not to mention a $50,000 fine". OK, great.

Novak is the person who leaked this to the world. Yes, someone leaked it to him, but it was still a secret at that point. He put it out there for every islamoterrorist to read an know. Isn't he clearly guilty, by his own admission. Why is he not being prosecuted, along with the papers that printed his article?

[colorado tanker]

Diplomats/ambassadors take their families with them when stationed in other countries unless it's too dangerous to go.

I agree. So how did a mother of four following her career foreign service officer around the world become a CIA "agent" or "analyst"? It doesn't compute.

the CIA has been known to run "companies" to provide cover for their operatives

Again, I agree. But does it make sense that the CIA did that so that the wife of an Ambassador retiring to the Beltway could start a new career as a CIA agent?

Or is this a lady who returning to the US and with her children grown has decided to cash in on a lifetime of social contacts in the oil regions of the Middle East and Africa by becoming a Beltway energy consultant?

It seems to have been an open secret in the Beltway that this lady was working for the CIA. The absence of security would indicate to me she was more of a consultant than an agent or operative. The CIA consults with all manner of experts in many different fields where information would help understand a country or problem.

None of these scenarios make complete sense, which indicates to me there is important information that has not been made public.

[veronica]

It's my opinion that Robert Novak wouldn't mind smearing some stink on Dubya and his administration. Novak is anti-Israel as hell and he was against the Iraq war, probably because any enemy of Israel isn't all bad in his eyes.

100% correct. Novak = Buchanan.

[Catspaw]

It seems to have been an open secret in the Beltway that this lady was working for the CIA.

It may have been "an open secret" inside the Beltway that she was working for the CIA--at least in certain circles--but it's another thing to publish her name in a column.

The info shouldn't have been leaked. And Novak shouldn't have published the information once he had it.

[Light Speed]

Ariel Sharon openly commented that the removal from power of Saddam Hussein would benefit Israel.

Now comes Novak....a quote from him:

"On balance, war with Iraq may not be inevitable but is highly probable. That it looks like Sharon's war disturbs Americans."[CNN syndicate carry Dec 26 2002]

This guy would give Julias Stryker...Hitler media spin artist a run for his money.

How messed is Novak....When Pat Buchannan laughs at his comments on Mclaughlin group past.