Reply #6: A Similar Take from Mickey KAUS [View All]

[UTUSN]

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http://slate.msn.com/id/2123825/#running

.... Novak escaped just in time. ... ....

.... **(Why wouldn't Novak want to say whether he in fact got Plame's name from Who's Who?--ed) He might not want to get pinned down on that point, because the truthful answer would be "no." ....

.... ...use of the maiden names seems more career-damaging to Plame since more of Plame's overseas contacts as a CIA agent would have known her by that name). Intentional use of that name, then, could be seen as vindictive--evidence that either Novak's source (a) wanted to punish Plame and/or her husband or Novak himself (b) wanted to punish Plame and/or her husband (perhaps in pursuit of a pro-Bush agenda, perhaps because Novak just thinks Wilson's an "ass---"). None of these seem like lines of speculation Novak would want to encourage.

Novak wasn't especially provoked. ... And he didn't look that mad when he got up. ... More like he was slipping out! ...

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