Novak disputes Armitage's explanation

Robert Novak tells us his version of Richard Armitage's outing of Valerie Plame:

When Richard Armitage finally acknowledged last week he was my source three years ago in revealing Valerie Plame Wilson as a CIA employee, the former deputy secretary of state’s interviews obscured what he really did. I want to set the record straight based on firsthand knowledge.

First, Armitage did not, as he now indicates, merely pass on something he had heard and that he ‘‘thought’’ might be so. Rather, he identified to me the CIA division where Mrs. Wilson worked, and said flatly that she recommended the mission to Niger by her husband, former Amb. Joseph Wilson.

Second, Armitage did not slip me this information as idle chitchat, as he now suggests. He made clear he considered it especially suited for my column.

…

A peculiar convergence had joined Armitage and me on the same historical path. During his quarter of a century in Washington, I had no contact with Armitage before our fateful interview. I tried to see him in the first 2 years of the Bush administration, but he rebuffed me — summarily and with disdain, I thought.

Then, without explanation, in June 2003, Armitage’s office said the deputy secretary would see me. This was two weeks before Joe Wilson surfaced himself as author of a 2002 report for the CIA debunking Iraqi interest in buying uranium in Africa.

Novak seems to feel that this proves that no one was deliberately trying to seek vengance for Joe Wilson's going public about the Niger uranium claims. I beg to differ. It sure seems to me to support the claim that the outing was a deliberate pay back. It does leave somewhat unexplained why one of the more dovish members of the Bush team would take the point position on this, but who knows what pressures Cheney, Rove and company were bringing to bear on him?

I mean, jeese, why else would Armitage seek Novak out when he had never done so before? And, from Novak's explanation, this wasn't just a casual slip of the tongue. It was the very reason for the meeting.

It sure looks to me like Armitage was right in the thick of the retribution exercise. What other explanation is there?

Of course, there's always the possibility that Novak is just blowing hot air here. Wouldn't be the first time.

One thing is for sure; the trial of the civil suit brought by Plame and Wilson (which has now added Armitage as a defendant) is going to be very juicy.