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When Arthur Sulzberger Jr., the fifth-generation scion of arguably America's greatest newspaper family, moved into top Times management, he made a conscious decision to cut off the friendships with rank-and-file Timesmen he'd made during his years of seasoning at the paper. Two employees with whom he's remained friendly, however, are a former housemate from his Washburo days, Miss "Run Amok" Miller, and his star Washington columnist, Maureen Dowd.

So when Saturday's paper arrived, with Dowd's characteristically unsubtle column, "Woman of Mass Destruction," it didn't seem to us entirely far-fetched, in a Timesiology sort of way, to assume that this evisceration telegraphed a change in Arthur's allegiances. Which raises the question of whether Dowd was speaking for more than just herself when she closed with:

Judy told The Times that she plans to write a book and intends to return to the newsroom, hoping to cover "the same thing I've always covered — threats to our country." If that were to happen, the institution most in danger would be the newspaper in your hands.

Indeed, as we flipped further through the Saturday paper, we came across Kit Seelye's "Times Editor Expresses Regret Over Handling of Plame Case," and it became clear that Miller and the Times were now at war with each other.

Ms. Miller said in an interview that Mr. Keller's statements were "seriously inaccurate." She also provided The Times with a copy of a memorandum she had sent to Mr. Keller in response.

"I certainly never meant to mislead Phil, nor did I mislead him," she wrote to Mr. Keller, referring to Mr. Taubman.

So now Judy's calling the executive editor and the Washington bureau chief, Phil Taubman, liars.

Which would seem to ensure Maureen's got nothing to worry about.

Miller's full reply memo to Keller after the jump. And, next: Sunday!

Woman of Mass Destruction [NYT Select]
Times Editor Expresses Regret Over Handling of Plame Case
Earlier: Weekend at Judy's: Part One, in Which Bill Keller Gives Warm Fuzzies

Bill, I wish you had spoken to me before accusing me of misleading Phil Taubman and of being entangled with Libby in your message to the staff.

Here is what I told Don Van Natta about what I remember telling Phil in the fall of 2003. I told him, as our story on Sunday reported, that I had discussed Wilson and his wife with government officials. But I also told him that I was unaware that there was a deliberate, concerted disinformation campaign to discredit Wilson, and that if there had been, I did not think I was a target of it. After all, Libby and I had talked about many things, as you well know, and he had placed no special emphasis on the Wilson matter.

A special prosecutor has been investigating the existence of such a campaign for two years. Since I could be witness at a future trial, I am reluctant to say more on this subject now.

But I certainly never meant to mislead Phil, nor did I mislead him.

As for your reference to my "entanglement" with Mr. Libby, I had no personal, social, or other relationship with him except as a source, one among many to whom I had pledged confidentiality as a reporter for The New York Times.

I know how important it is for the paper to protect its reputation, but I have my reputation to protect also.