Original sentence: Because the Justice Department is a part of the executive branch, some critics of the Bush administration contend that the absense of rapid and effective action has been deliberate.In this scenario the interpretation by Wilson and others that the "leak" was designed to hurt Wilson or subvert Wilson's repeated denials that his wife recommended him for his trip would be erroneous.Novak has claimed that the CIA made "a very weak request" that he not name Plame publicly.Several ex-CIA operatives who knew Plame have disputed this and indicated that she was at one time a NOC (nonofficial cover) covert operative.The CIA has disputed Novak's claim and indicated that he was told revealing the information could cost agents their lives.The officials who revealed Plame's name would theoretically have done so without ill intent and with the assumption their warnings would be heeded.com columnist James Taranto suggests that this would indicate the absence of "affirmative measures to conceal" necessary for a violation of the law
Edited sentence: Because the Justice Department is a part of the executive branch, some critics of the Bush administration believe that rapid and effective action is unlikely.In this scenario the interpretation by Wilson and others that the "leak" was designed hurt Wilson or subvert Wilson's repeated denials that his wife recommended him for his trip is erroneous.Indeed, Novak would be an unusual person for the Bush Administration to plant a leak working in favor of the Iraq War since Novak was anti-war.Novak has stated that the CIA made "a very weak request" that he not name Plame publicly.Several ex-CIA operatives who knew Plame have indicated she was at one time a NOC (nonofficial cover) covert operative.The officials who revealed Plame's name did so with out ill intent and with the assumption their warnings would be heeded.com columnist James Taranto suggests that this indicates the absence of "affirmative measures to conceal" necessary for a violation of the law