Presidential Advisor Karl Rove wrote: “On Monday [July 14, 2003], Robert Novak’s column appeared [in The Washington Post]. He wrote that the CIA’s decision to send [former Ambassador Joe] Wilson to Niger [to investigate sales of uranium to Iraq] ‘was made routinely at a low level without Director George Tenet’s knowledge’ and Wilson’s report ‘was regarded by the CIA as less than definitive, and it is doubtful Tenet ever saw it.’ …Almost in passing, Novak reported, ‘Two senior [Bush] administration officials told me that Wilson’s wife [Valerie Plame] suggested sending him to Niger.’ [Deputy Secretary of State] Richard Armitage was the first senior administration official. Apparently, Novak considered me the second, based on four or five words.”
– Karl Rove, Courage and Consequence, Page 331