The Army’s reliance on recruits who score in the lowest third on the armed forces aptitude test “is starting to skyrocket,” just as “a new study compellingly demonstrates that, in all realms of military activity, intelligence does matter. Smarter soldiers and units perform their tasks better; dumber ones do theirs worse.”
Novak Lies: “The CIA Never Told Me It Would Cause Any Damage”
Appearing last night on Fox News’ “Hannity and Colmes”, Robert Novak denied that the CIA ever warned him that revealing Valerie Plame’s identity in his column would “cause any damage.” Therefore, he doesn’t believe he “did anything wrong.” Watch it:
Actually, he was warned. Washington Post, 7/27/05:
Harlow, the former CIA spokesman, said in an interview yesterday that he testified last year before a grand jury about conversations he had with Novak at least three days before the column was published. He said he warned Novak, in the strongest terms he was permitted to use without revealing classified information, that Wilson’s wife had not authorized the mission and that if he did write about it, her name should not be revealed.
Harlow said that after Novak’s call, he checked Plame’s status and confirmed that she was an undercover operative. He said he called Novak back to repeat that the story Novak had related to him was wrong and that Plame’s name should not be used.
Now, Novak wants to pretend like the warnings never happened. (In a subsequent column, Novak didn’t dispute Harlow on the facts but argued his warnings weren’t important.) Even moving to Fox News doesn’t insulate you completely from the truth.
(HT: Newshounds)
Transcript: Read more
Arctic cold shoulder:
Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) says he has “written off” Senate friends who spoke out against drilling in the Arctic wildlife refuge last month. “I’m not traveling with them anymore, and I’m not going to play tennis or swim or do various things with them.”
‘DeLay Inc.’ lobbying firm closes.
The Alexander Strategy Group, a firm with “links to no fewer than three of the scandals” hitting Washington, will shut its doors at month’s end.
28.
The number of U.S. troops killed in the last four days.
