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Reports: Richard Armitage Was Valerie Plame Leaker

From Drudge, via Vanity Fair: Former Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee names Richard Armitage as Bob Woodward's source for the Valerie Plame leak. Question: Does this also make him Bob Novak's source?

THE WASHINGTON POST's famous Watergate editor Ben Bradlee claims that it was former State Department Deputy Secretary Richard Armitage who was the individual who leaked the identity of CIA official Valerie Plame.

In the latest issue of VANITY FAIR: "Woodward was in a tricky position. People close to him believe that he had learned about Plame from his friend Richard Armitage, Colin Powell's former deputy, who has been known to be critical of the administration and who has a blunt way of speaking. 'That Armitage is the likely source is a fair assumption,' former WASHINGTON POST editor Ben Bradlee said." 'I had heard about an e-mail that was sent that had a lot of unprintable language in it.'" Developing...

This makes eminent sense to me as Fitz has implied Woodward's source was an innocent who would not be charged, hence, his refusal to name him in pleadings in the Libby case. As I wrote here,

Another reason I'm going to go with Armitage is that Fitz in the affidavit (pdf) and other pleadings has said he wants to keep the source secret so he doesn't become an "innocent accused." Hadley would not be described that way since he was a member of the White House Iraq Group. He may not have committed a crime, but he was in the thick of it. Armitage is far more likely to be a person Fitz would want to protect from being smeared.

Michael Isikoff of Newsweek also has speculated on Armitage. A compilation of Armitage news articles on his role is here.

Update: The Washington Post reports on the Vanity Fair article and says:

In an interview yesterday, Bradlee said he does know the identity of Woodward's source and does not recall making that precise statement to a Vanity Fair reporter. He said he has no interest in unmasking the official who first told Woodward about Plame in June 2003.

"I don't think I said it," Bradlee said. "I know who his source is, and I don't want to get into it. . . . I have not told a soul who it is."

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    Re: Reports: Richard Armitage Was Valerie Plame Le (none / 0) (#1)
    by jondee on Mon Mar 13, 2006 at 03:32:27 PM EST
    Another Iran Contra weasal with no good reason whatsoever for being allowed to work in higher govt again other than the reps insatiable need for these types.

    All that's true and yet he still looks like an honorable man next to the Lavrenti Beria clones favored by shooter and shrub. What does that tell you?

    Re: Reports: Richard Armitage Was Valerie Plame Le (none / 0) (#3)
    by Edger on Mon Mar 13, 2006 at 06:46:43 PM EST
    Wasn't there a commenter here who used to keep saying something like "leakers should be summarily hung or shot"?

    Re: Reports: Richard Armitage Was Valerie Plame Le (none / 0) (#4)
    by Che's Lounge on Mon Mar 13, 2006 at 08:05:08 PM EST
    My lord girl you must be frikkin SHERLOCK FRIKKIN HOLMES! Nice work.

    Posted by edger March 13, 2006 07:46 PM
    Wasn't there a commenter here who used to keep saying something like "leakers should be summarily hung or shot"?
    That was when they looked to be all Democrats. Things have changed.