Reply #15: Well, I had a thought a minute ago...

[Kagemusha]

Novak called the CIA and asked about Plame apparently, and he was told they weren't talking about her, and they didn't want him talking about her, either, or suggesting things about her.

Could Novak have simply decided, "Ok, I know she works at the CIA, they won't admit it, ergo, she's covert - great, I'll put that in my column!"

Maybe he called a couple of other sources like Rove or Libby (or both) to get a wink, wink, nod, nod, confirmation that she worked at the CIA without their saying she was a NOC. So he decides she's a NOC (non-official cover = covert) based on the CIA refusal to discuss her, which they wouldn't do if she was NOT a NOC, and prints she's a NOC with the CIA spokesman as his unwitting "source" by process of elimination.

And Fitz can't know for sure if the confirmation to Novak, taking advantage of Armitage's f-up, was a conspiracy or not with Libby throwing sand in his eyes.