THE TIGHT-LIPPED MR. NOVAK?

In his column in your Chicago Sun-Times, Robert Novak, takes note of the Bush bashing that occurred among the attendees at the annual Aspen conference sponsored by the New York investment firm Forstmann Little & Co.

I will leave it to Kevin Drum to ponder the substance of the column -- whether the monied elites have really turned against Bush or if they are just letting off steam -- but I was stuck by this Novak remark:

"All discussions are off the record," admonished the conference's printed schedule. Consequently, I will refrain from specifically quoting panelists and audience members.

Robert Novak is keeping secrets now?

What happened to the Robert Novak we all came to know and love?

The Robert Novak who disclosed that Valerie Plame, wife of former United States Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson, was, quoting Novak, "an [CIA] operative on weapons of mass destruction," in his July 14, 2003 column.

The Robert Novak who, because Plame's official cover was that she was working for a private company, revealed both Plame's cover and the cover of all of the other covert operatives associated with that company.

The Robert Novak who compromised potentially every individual overseas who had been in contact with that company or with her.

I guess Robert Novak must hold the confidentiality statement on the Aspen conference schedule in higher esteem than either the Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982 (PL97-200, 50 U.S. Code Secs. 421–426) or Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.

Robert Novak, you have once again earned your hard-won title.