re: Top Bush adviser revealed as Plame source (Financial Times, 7/10/05)
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/4e68d3ae-f190-11d9-9c3e-00000e2511c8.html

Sir,

The revelation that Karl Rove was Matthew Cooper’s source in the Valerie Plame incident is sure to be great political tinder inside the Beltway, and maybe even outside for a time.

Given the text of what he actually said, it appears that he knew neither Ms. Plame’s name nor that she was working undercover. But, don’t be surprised to see the many anti-Bush forces discuss this issue without ever using an actual quote of Mr. Rove’s communications with reporters.

It will not be demonstrated that Mr. Rove did anything illegal or even particularly close to illegal. And if there were ever a President of the United States who valued loyalty above all else, it is George W. Bush. The chance that he even scolds Mr. Rove harshly must be less than even-money.

The likely outcome of this episode is a Democratic party acting even more irate than they act now…and nothing else.

This could even turn against the anti-Bush groups, particularly those who look for opportunities to find fault with going into Iraq, if it shows that Ambassador Wilson’s report (in which he dismissed claims that Saddam was trying to buy “yellow cake” uranium) was poorly researched at best, and was primarily the basis for an all-expense paid vacation to Africa.