More Thoughts on Woodward

From Fitzgerald’s press conference:

…in early June, Mr. Libby learned about Valerie Wilson and the role she was believed to play in having sent Mr. Wilson on a trip overseas from a senior CIA officer on or around June 11th, from an undersecretary of state on or around June 11th, and from the vice president on or about June 12th.

On June 12th, Walter Pincus published his article CIA Did Not Share Doubt on Iraq Data. From dkosopedia:

  • After the June 12 article by Pincus, “there was general discussion with the National Security Council and the White House and State Department and others” regarding Wilson and his trip, says a former intelligence officer. Source: Time Magazine, “When They Knew”

In ‘mid-June’ Woodward learned about Valerie Wilson. Sounds to me like the National Security Council didn’t like Pincus’s story and tried to get Woodward to redirect the coverage. But contrary to Woodward’s assertions, Pincus doesn’t recall being told about Wilson’s wife by Woodward.

Let’s look at another thing from Woodward’s statement (no longer a .pdf):

I was first contacted by Fitzgerald’s office on Nov. 3 after one of these officials went to Fitzgerald to discuss an interview with me in mid-June 2003 during which the person told me Wilson’s wife worked for the CIA on weapons of mass destruction as a WMD analyst.

I have not been released to disclose the source’s name publicly.

Wow, is that a pregnant statement. A current or former White House official ‘went to Fitzgerald’ and divulged that they leaked about Wilson’s wife in mid-June to Bob Woodward. Does that mean that this official confessed voluntarily? They just walked into Fitzgerald’s office and said, “Pat, my conscience is bothering me and I want to confess that I was the first person to leak this information and I did it long before Scooter Libby dished to Judy Miller”?

I don’t think so. This information must be part of a deal. Apparently the official volunteered this information to Fitzgerald on November 3rd, one week after Libby was indicted. That is very intriguing. For what it’s worth, Rove’s spokesman says that Rove is not the official that spoke with Woodward. Who could it be?

I think this is big news. This unnamed official must have been informed that they were going down for something and then decided to spill some serious beans. How else can we explain their sudden cooperation? Whoever it is, my money is on someone in the National Security Council.

Author: BooMan

Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly. He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.