Spouse of outed CIA officer signs on with Kerry

Washington Times ^ | 2/14/04 | Joseph Curl

[kattracks]

Joseph C. Wilson, a former Clinton appointee whose unsubstantiated charge that senior White House officials leaked the identity of his CIA officer wife and prompted a grand jury probe, has taken a prominent role in the presidential campaign of Sen. John Kerry.

[Just mythoughts]

Well Ritter's sex arrest was strange, cause he should have been given the public label of "sex offender". The guy supposedly did it two times and not a day in jail and no press.

I am not saying he did not do what is claimed. I just do not believe that is the whole story. Mainly because of how secret the whole thing was until someone leaked it. That is just not typical for "sex offenders". Except for liberal elected officials, bjclinton etc....

Because of vagueness of that whole thing and not being given the label of "sex offender" allowed him to keep credibilty in some circles. That just does not add up.

Yes I believe he was turned, maybe even set up.

Because of the Ritter story and his unexplained turn, "Joe Wilson's" own words made him suspect in my mind. Yes I remember his website, and wife's name on it. Sure looks like a cover for someone.

I would like the whole story but not holding my breath it will come out.

[swilhelm73]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/994666/posts
--

So we all know Joe Wilson is a former Ambassador. We all, at least here at Free Republic, know he is a left wing war opponent with ties to a number of high ranking Democrats.

Some people in reference to the public revelation of his wife's name have pointed out that she is mentioned in his biography for the Middle East Institute.

http://www.mideasti.org/html/bio-wilson.html

I think a far more important point is being missed here in reference to the MEI, however. They are, at least in part, a Saudi Arabian funded front group;

http://216.239.37.104/search?q=cache:IRKdQ1Ptv7sJ:www.iht.com/articles/56717.htm+%22Middle+East+Institute%22+saudi+arabia+espionage&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

The institute also receives funds from Saudi Arabia, which opposes the INC specifically and Bush's approach to regime change in Iraq in general.

The Saudis, for their part, have even admitted to trying to keep former diplomats on their payroll to keep said officials' "friendship"

http://www.la.utexas.edu/chenry/oil/press02/Oil%20for%20Security%20Fueled%20Close%20Ties%20(washingtonpost_com).htm

Walker, the former assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, is president of the Middle East Institute in Washington, which promotes understanding with the Arab world. Its board chairman is former senator Wyche Fowler, ambassador to Riyadh in the second Clinton administration. Saudi contributions covered $200,000 of the institute's $1.5 million budget last year, Walker said.

[Saudia Arabian Prince] Bandar has told associates that he makes a point of staying close to officials who have worked with Saudi Arabia after they leave government service. "If the reputation then builds that the Saudis take care of friends when they leave office," Bandar once observed, according to a knowledgeable source, "you'd be surprised how much better friends you have who are just coming into office."

I think with this information it is high time to see what role the Saudis have played in this whole affair. And it is time for the media to consider the far bigger scandal here.

There have been numerous demands outside of beltway and the mainstream media for just how the seemingly unqualified diplomat was chosen for an important investigative mission. Some have windered what role his wife played exactly in choosing Wilson.

The far more important question now before us, though, is what if any role a foreign government may have played in choosing Wilson, or in coloring Wilson flawed investigation. Certainly, the choice and results of this trip could not have worked out better for the government of Saudi Arabia.

[Gothmog]

Just FYI for those interested in Plamegate. From an on-line discussion with WPost rumor reporter Richard Leiby on Friday afternoon:

Excerpt

"Socialite in Recovery: Just to give us a flavor of your town, and off the top of your head -- what were the top three 'hot ticket' parties/events during the past week in D.C.?

"Richard Leiby: Dear Socialite. Okay, let's a assume for a moment that I if get invited, it's a 'hot ticket.' So here's how the week went for Quidnunc:

"1. Monday. Attended quiet private dinner that included the Ambassador of Jordan, his wife, some important charitable types, a couple media people, and Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame Wilson."

Excerpt

[gaspar]

The article states that his wife, "originally proposed him for the Niger mission." Now the person inside the CIA who then authorized the mission should be fired.

I have never understood the Bush (father and son) love affair with Tenet. Shortly after 9/11 Rudi Giuliani was rumored to be ready to lead the CIA. Had the change been made, the Bush administration would be far better served than it is now.

[Fedora]

> Don't you think it's rather interesting that Joe Wilson's trip to Niger (Jan. of 2002) coicides with the Italian's alleged possession of these documents.


Good observation. Any other Italian angles to this that have come up?

> Maybe Mr. Wilson was brewing more than just green tea during his Niger visit. Do you by chance know who that four-star General was who preceded Wilson on the Niger investigation?

Just found it: Carlton W. Fulford, Jr.

http://blogs.salon.com/0002551/2003/07/15.html

It's Not Just Joe Wilson's Word Anymore


Four-star general Carlton W. Fulford, Jr., went to Niger to check up on the country's uranium supply. And guess what? "Fulford's impressions, while not conclusive, were similar to those of former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson, who traveled to Niger for the CIA in February 2002 to interview Niger officials about the uranium claim and came away convinced it was not true."

I wonder if he's the same 4-star general referenced here?

http://www.youvebeenleft.com/journal.html

Novak said his sources were 2 members of the administration. Doesn't this REEK of Karl Rove's underhanded revenge tactics? Well, the CIA isn't playing Bush's little game and is looking for an investigation of the White House. Finally, maybe we can get some of these people under oath... so they'll either be forced to TELL THE TRUTH, or they'll LIE and we can lock them up. I bet an investigation will turn up more than just blow jobs in the Oval Office.

# posted by max : 1:15 PM
Even a FOUR STAR GENERAL is critical of Bush's Iraq "plan".

There's an embedded link there, but unfortunately it leads nowhere. At any rate, here's some more on Fulford:

http://www.usmc.mil/genbios2.nsf/0/9d5b147b7e874ef98525680b000df4d7?OpenDocument&Click=

United States Marine Corps (Ret.)

General
Carlton W. Fulford Jr.
Deputy Commander in Chief, United States European Command





General Fulford received his commission in June 1966, following graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy. He also holds an M.S. degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1973). Following completion of The Basic School, Quantico, Va., and the Vietnamese Language School, he was assigned as a platoon commander with Company D, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines in the Republic of Vietnam. He was promoted to first lieutenant in October 1967, and subsequently reassigned as Commanding Officer, Company F, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines until his return from Vietnam
in June 1968.

His other FMF assignments include: Commanding Officer, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines (1971-1972); Executive Officer, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines (1979-1980); G-3 Training Officer for the 2nd Marine Division (1980-1981); Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines (1981-1982); Assistant Chief of Staff G-3 for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade (1987-1989); Commanding Officer, 7th Marines (1989-1991); Commanding Officer,Task Force Ripper during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm; Commanding General,4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (1991-1992), Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force (1994-1995), and Commanding General,I Marine Expeditionary Force (1996-1998); Commander,U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific /Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific/Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Bases, Pacific headquartered at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii (1998-1999).

His non-FMF assignments include: Company Commander, Naval Academy Preparatory School (1968-1969); Management Engineer, MCAS Yuma, Ariz.(1973-1976); Economics Instructor, U.S. Naval Academy (1977-1978); Branch Head, Training Department, HQMC (1982-1984); Strategy Planner, Forces and Strategy Branch, U.S. Pacific Command (1985-1987); Commanding General, Landing Force Training Command, Atlantic (1991-1992); Director, Training and Education Division, Marine Corps Combat Development Command (1992-1994); Commanding General Marine Corps Bases, Japan (1994-1995); Vice Director, The Joint Staff (1995-1996); Director, The Joint Staff (1999-2000); and Deputy Commander in Chief, United States European Command (2000-2002).

In addition to The Basic School, General Fulford graduated from the Infantry Officers Advanced Course; Command and Staff College; and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

His personal decorations include: the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster in lieu of a second award, Silver Star Medal; Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and gold star in lieu of a second award; Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"; Purple Heart Medal with gold star in lieu of a second award; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal; Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star in lieu of a second award; Combat Action Ribbon with gold star in lieu of a second award; and the Presidential Unit Citation.

(Updated 23 January 2003, HQMC)

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May1996/b052896_bt308-96.html

May 28, 1996

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

---

GENERAL OFFICER ANNOUNCEMENT
Secretary of Defense William J. Perry announced today that the President has nominated Major General Carlton W. Fulford, Jr., United States Marine Corps, for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general and assignment as Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force. Since June 1995, he has served as the Vice Director, Joint Staff.

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May1999/b05141999_bt236-99.html

May 14, 1999

GENERAL OFFICER ANNOUNCEMENT
Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen announced today that the President has nominated Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Carlton W. Fulford Jr., for reappointment to the grade of lieutenant general with assignment as the director, Joint Staff. Fulford is currently serving as the commander, U.S. Marine Forces Pacific; commanding general, Fleet Marine Forces Pacific and commander, Marine Corps bases Pacific.

http://www.africanfront.com/2003-b.php

Almost a year ago, in July 2002, another four-star US General, Carlton Fulford, Deputy Commander of the United States European Command, made a controversial visit to Sao Tome. Following the visit Fulford said that the US would be training the armed forces of Soa Tome. Later the Pentagon played-down his remarks and their implications. However, the new president of Sao Tome, Fradique de Menezes made capital of the fact that General Carlton Fulford had proposed to turn Sao Tome into a US naval base.


http://www.usembkigali.net/pas/press/2002/oct_Gen.html

OCTOBER 28, 2002


Travel of General Carlton Fulford, Deputy Commander in Chief. U.S. European Command


General Carlton Fulford, Deputy Commander in Chief of the U.S. European Command, will be visiting the Great Lakes region and South Africa between October 27-31.


General Fulford will have meetings with heads of state and senior defense representatives in Dar-Es-Salaam and Dodoma, Tanzania; Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Kampala, Uganda; Kigali, Rwanda; Bujumbura, Burundi; and Pretoria, South Africa.


During this trip, General Fulford will be assessing regional security relationships in light of the recent withdrawal of foreign forces from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He will also raise U.S. concerns about the Burundi cease-fire negotiations and reassure the regional states of U.S. support for efforts to bring peace to Burundi.

http://www.allaboutliberia.com/june2003/230628n1.htm

With War Crimes Charges Removed:
Taylor Might Yield Power
-EX US Marine General
By T. Lawrence Randall
June 28, 2003


An Ex US Marine General says President Charles Taylor might step down when pressed by West African leaders and guarantee immunity from prosecution for the war crimes charges he faces.

Retired US General Carlton Fulford, a recently retired former deputy commander of US European Command, told The Boston Globe it was unlikely that the Liberian President could step down with war crimes charges looming.

Also see:

http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/marine/marn_ref/n06en007/hearing1.htm

armed-services.senate.gov/statemnt/1999/990421cf.pdf

[Fedora]

> Oh, and though the press refuses to mention it, Wilson works for a Saudi front organization. I wrote up an article about it on FR a while back. Wilson even lists his wife's name on their website.

I'd like to read that. Do you have the link/title?

[Fedora]

Doh!--should've scrolled farther before my last post :) Your article is the one in Post #42, right? Interesting. . .

[Fedora]

I read this a while back but I'm just now connecting it with what we're discussing here:

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2003/10/11/230706.shtml

"The C.I.A. suspected that Aldrich Ames had given Mrs. Wilson's name (along with those of other spies) to the Russians before his espionage arrest in 1994," revealed the New York Times on Saturday.

In a column revealing the critical information for the first time since the Leakgate scandal exploded two weeks ago, Times columnist Nicholas Kristof explained that the Ames tip compromised Valerie Plame's undercover secrecy so thoroughly that "she was brought back to Washington for safety reasons."

At the time, he noted, Mrs. Wilson "was already in transition away from undercover work to management, and to liaison roles with other intelligence agencies. So this year, even before she was outed, she was moving away from 'noc' – which means non-official cover."

[Just mythoughts]

Got to get back to you about the "sending" of "Mr. Wilson".

I have read he doesn't know who sent him, VP Cheney sent him, his wife sent him. However, it is what "Mr. Wilson" did upon his return, no report submitted to VP Cheney or CIA or WIFE but NYTimes.

So maybe the NYTimes sent him.

[Fedora]

> So maybe the NYTimes sent him.

If so, that might connect with the Seymour Hersh question I raise above, as well as Jayson Blair. When Hersh was at the "Times" he cultivated a lot of contacts in the CIA, one of which, Bill Colby, played a role in dismantling the Counterintelligence department by removing James Angleton. Colby was part of a faction in the CIA that wanted to move the Agency away from Angelton's anti-Communist emphasis towards a more "liberal" approach in keeping with the new detente policy and the post-60s spirit of "diversity". To accomplish this he would leak info to Hersh about sensitive CIA operations, then use the resulting controversy as a pretext to replace Angleton's staff with his own personnel. (There's some info on this in Mark Riebling, "Wedge", Chapter 16.) As I'm working through this I'm starting to suspect some of Hersh's allies at the NYT are using Plame and Wilson for similar purposes.

[swilhelm73]

Yes.

The information is all out there, so it is surprising this attracted no one's interest. Organizations such as the one Wilson belongs to exist, basically, for the primary purpose of allowing the Saudis to bribe American government officials in a manner that while still immoral is certainly legal.

[Fedora]

Have you read Yossef Bodansky's "Bin Laden: The Man Who Declared War on America"? There's quite a bit of stuff there on how Bin Laden's terrorist activities related to a three-way power struggle between different factions of the Saudi government that was going on in 1995-1996 between 1) Prince Abdullah; 2) younger-generation Sauairis led by Prince Bandar and supported by Prince Sultan; and 3) the Salman-Nayif group led by two brothers of King Fahd (for more on this see Chapter 6, page 160). I'm wondering if that plays into one of the pieces of information you mention:

> Walker, the former assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, is president of the Middle East Institute in Washington, which promotes understanding with the Arab world. Its board chairman is former senator Wyche Fowler, ambassador to Riyadh in the second Clinton administration. Saudi contributions covered $200,000 of the institute's $1.5 million budget last year, Walker said.

[Fedora]

PS: Meant to also include the next paragraph from the same quotation of your article:

> [Saudia Arabian Prince] Bandar has told associates that he makes a point of staying close to officials who have worked with Saudi Arabia after they leave government service. "If the reputation then builds that the Saudis take care of friends when they leave office," Bandar once observed, according to a knowledgeable source, "you'd be surprised how much better friends you have who are just coming into office."

[Thom Pain]

Kerry is going to make the Dims remember Dukakis fondly...

[js1138]

all that will make my day is one more "don't vote for Bush" thread....

Try this:

[okie01]

"We went to war under false pretenses and that is becoming abundantly clear to the American people," he told hundreds of students during a foreign policy forum at the University of Washington. "I don't care who you vote for, but get out there and caucus. Don't leave it to the neoconservatives and evangelical Christians," Mr. Wilson said.

With that gratuitous slur, we now know exactly where Wilson is coming from. It confirms his previous outburst.

The prominent Saudi consultant is a Christian-hater. He's signed on for the Jihad.

[okie01]

WILSON, JOSEPH C IV
WASHINGTON,DC 20007
SELF/CONSULTANT
9/25/2002
$250
Rahall, Nick

Nick Rahall is a Democrat Congresscritter from WV who is:

a. An Arab sympathizer

b. One of the Hussein supporters who visited Iraq in advance of the war.

How interesting that, of all the liberal Congresscritters Wilson might contribute to, Rahall is singled out -- along with Charlie Rangel (no explanation needed) and Ed Royce (a super-lib California Congressman).

For a guy who "used to be a Republican", Wilson certainly has developed some strange tastes.

[okie01]

"The new imperialists will not rest until governments that ape our world view are implanted throughout the region, a breathtakingly ambitious undertaking, smacking of hubris in the extreme."
Joseph C. Wilson IV, The Nation

Who is speaking here? Is this former diplomat, Joseph C. Wilson IV? Or is it his Saudi paymasters?

[okie01]

"The far more important question now before us, though, is what if any role a foreign government may have played in choosing Wilson, or in coloring Wilson flawed investigation. Certainly, the choice and results of this trip could not have worked out better for the government of Saudi Arabia."

You wouldn't be suggesting that a prominent advisor to the Kerry campaign, and key political operative in his behalf, might be a "Saudi mole"?

Would you?

[okie01]

Joseph C. Wilson IV ping.

This guy is getting really obnoxious.

Could it be that the Kerry campaign has a "Saudi mole" on board?