.......Justice Department officials said yesterday they have begun a preliminary probe into whether an administration official violated the law by telling journalists that the wife of former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, a prominent critic of Bush's use of intelligence related to Iraq, worked for the CIA. Wilson has drawn attention for his report on a trip he took to Niger for the CIA that, he said, did not confirm an administration charge that Iraq's Saddam Hussein was seeking nuclear materiel in that country.

Story: http://story.news.yahoo.com/fc?cid=34&tmpl=fc&in=US&cat=Bush_Administration

It sounds like someone in the administration wanted to get revenge on Wilson for criticizing Bush. Hopefully they can find those responsible for leaking the info, actions like this should not be tolerated :nono:

Even though it is a serious felony offense and a threat to national security, Robert Novak, the talkshow host who first gave out her identity, refuses to reveal his source of information. I want to beat this conservative jack-ass down with a bat. He intentionally ruins a CIA operative's career and puts her life in danger, all in the name of defaming a former US diplomat for serving his country like a true patriot. And now that it is made public, he has the audacity to deny the justice department the name of his partner in crime? This kind of stuff gets my blood boiling. If Novak refuses the source, then put him away in a federal penitentiary instead and have him serve out both of their terms! :mad:

Attorney General Is Closely Linked to Inquiry Figures:

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/02/politics/02ASHC.html?th

How can we pursue justice here when the leader of the justice department is intricately involved with the accused?

the president has voiced strong public support for Mr. Ashcroft in recent months, the two meet almost daily, and the ties between their political aides go back a decade or more.

"Karl Rove was once part of John Ashcroft's political strategic team. You have both the actual conflict, and the appearance of conflict. It doesn't matter what's in the deep, dark recesses of their hearts. It stinks."

Mr. Bush himself salvaged Mr. Ashcroft's political career by selecting him as attorney general after Mr. Ashcroft lost his Senate race in 2000 to Mr. Carnahan, who was killed in a plane crash just before the election.


"On Wednesday the administration worked to ensure that no Republicans in Congress broke ranks and called for an independent inquiry, and it sought to portray the former diplomat at the center of the case as a partisan Democrat."


And the associate of Mr. Rove said of the attorney general, "He's going to have to recuse himself, don't you think?"

This is how distorted the process is getting. :thumbdn:

The thing is that Novak is not getting any serious heat for it. Other reporters kept their mouths shut and he just ran out stuff to write so he used the info. On CNN sometimes I see reporters asking why the editor didn't do his job (edit the story). I would think a man, as smart as Novak, does have the smarts and experience to know what should be kept quiet. I think Novak should get some serious heat for it along with whoever leaked it out. He did nothing in that article other than trash the wife of someone with close ties to the republican party (along with the democratic) and also endanger his wife and threaten the US national security. Nothing less than irresponsible. Maybe the source made him comfortable by saing Mr. Ashcrof would head the investigation so he would be safe. That would explain why I haven't seen him on Crossfire recently, the kitchen got too hot. Just my canadian $.02.

EDIT: ok Novak is on today at Crossfire but they're talking about Arnie... so no flames plz lol

Novak said what he said because he wanted to punish any American that stood up for the truth. Whether or not the Bush Administration is involved really is irrelevant. Hardline conservatives, in general, are known for dishing out punishment for disloyalty to the party and their agendas.