ZOT!!! (Blumenthal + advice to "true conservatives" = smoldering heap)

...according to a study by the University of Maryland: 57 % of those surveyed "believe that before the war Iraq was providing substantial support to al-Qaida", and 45% "believe that evidence that Iraq was supporting al-Qaida has been found". Moreover, 65% believe that "experts" have confirmed that Iraq had WMD.

secondary 1990s timeline :

1990 : (SICK PUPPY- WILSON TELLS LA TIMES HE HAS BEEN DREAMING OF 'COVERING' WAR) During the 1990 crisis leading up the Gulf war, he [Wilson] told the Los Angeles Times: "This is what I spent all those years clinging to the vines of small African countries learning, studying, preparing and waiting for. I've always dreamed of covering a war as a diplomat, and now that I'm here in the middle of it, it's absolutely fascinating." - "Wilson, wife have tight ties to Democrats. " By Rowan Scarborough, THE WASHINGTON TIMES, 2 Oct 03

(* My note: since when do diplomats "cover" war- isn't that the job of a war correspondant?)

1990 - 1991 : (IRAQ : WILSON REPORTEDLY SAVES THE DAY FOR HOSTAGES - NO MENTION OF JESSIE JACKSON) As charge d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad during the buildup to the 1991 Gulf war, he [Wilson] acted heroically to protect American citizens and keep Saddam's thugs at bay. The first President Bush rewarded the cigar-chomping Wilson with his first ambassadorship: the tiny African country of Gabon. - "Wilson, wife have tight ties to Democrats. " By Rowan Scarborough, THE WASHINGTON TIMES, 2 Oct 03

1991 : (NIGER : NATIONAL CONFERENCE FINDS THAT NIGER'S FORMER PRESIDENT KOUNTCHE HAD EMBEZZLED PROFITS FROM NIGER'S URANIUM SALES) - "Uranium-Gate? Some context," by James S Robbins, NRO, JULY 9, 2003

1991 : (IAEA SAFEGUARDS INSPECTOR PERRICOS WORKS IN IRAQ) The Greek native joined the International Atomic Energy Agency in 1972 as a safeguards inspector and led the team that certified the dissolution of South Africa's nuclear weapons program. He [Perricos] also worked in Iraq after the 1991 Gulf War - "Interim UNMOVIC Chief Named ," U.N. release, June 10, 2003.

OCTOBER 1991 : (SOUTH AFRICA'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF AEC DENIES THAT SOUTH AFRICA HAD EVER COOPERATED WITH ISRAEL, IRAQ, OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN NUCLEASR TECHNOLOGY) Abstract: According to Waldo Stumpf, Chief Executive of South Africa's Atomic Energy Corporation, South Africa has "abandoned its nuclear weapons program and is seeking instead to become competitive on the world nuclear fuel market within a few years." Stumpf cited change in South Africa's strategic concerns and the prospects for a future black government as factors in his country's decision. Stumpf, however, refused to comment on US intelligence allegations that South Africa had enriched uranium to a weapons-grade level. In an interview in October 1991 Stumpf denied that South Africa had ever cooperated with Israel, Iraq or "any other country" in the field of nuclear technology. ... This came despite 1989 reports from US intelligence sources that South Africa had provided weapons grade HEU to Israel. UN inspectors in Iraq have noted that Iraq had looked into the South African jet-nozzle enrichment process, however, the South African Atomic Energy Corporation was not mentioned among Iraq's suppliers of nuclear technology in the documents seized by the UN. Stumpf stated that South Africa's nuclear program is now geared toward the export of "nuclear fuel and nuclear industry-related technology." South Africa is therefore pursuing laser enrichment processes. South Africa signed the NPT in September 1991 and agreed to IAEA safeguards at all its nuclear related facilities at that time. Stumpf said that South Africa hopes to compete with the US, FRG, France and Japan in world nuclear fuel exports, particularly to Asia and Europe. South Africa is thought to have been capable of producing weapons grade HEU since the early 1980's, according to proliferation specialist Leonard Spector. However, Stumpf declined to comment on the highest level of enrichment attained by South Africa. Stumpf did say that South Africa's two research reactors had run on 90%-plus HEU before being reduced to 45% some years ago. - "SOUTH AFRICA SAID TO ABANDON PURSUIT OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS," THE WASHINGTON POST, 18 October 1991, PP. A23, A26 BY DAVID B. OTTAWAY via - "CNS Nuclear and Missile Developments Database: Sample Abstracts on South Africa's Nuclear Doctrine," These abstracts were selected from the over 30,000 entries in the CNS Nuclear and Missile Developments Database., http://www.nti.org/e_research/e1_safrica_nuclear.html.

1992 : (CHRISTOPHER MELLON DONATES $2,000 TO THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE) - "Democrats subvert war intelligence," By J. Michael Waller, WorldNetDaily, © 2003 Insight/News World Communications Inc. , http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1045272/posts

1992 - 1995 : (WILSON IS US AMBASSADOR TO GABON & SAO TOME/PRINCIPE) He served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Gabonese Republic and to the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe from 1992 to 1995. - His own bio, http://216.239.53.104/search?q=cache:TjVOq4W4lssJ:www.cpsag.com/our_team/wilson.html+%22valerie+plame%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 This web site is that of the CPS : Corporate and Public Strategy Advisory Group where he is listed as "part of the team"

1990s : (THE UK'S DR. DAVID KELLY WAS A MEMBER OF THE UN INSPECTION TEAM LED BY THE US'S DR. DAVID KAY)- "Meanwhile, Saddam's secrets rise from the desert," Con Coughlin;The Sunday Telegraph (U.K.) , 08/17/03; Con Coughlin is the author of Saddam: The Secret Life

1990s : (TORICELLI LEADS EFFORTS TO HANDCUFF CIA) As Newsmax.com's Washington correspondent Wes Vernon has reported, Torricelli led congressional efforts in the mid-1990s that handcuffed the CIA's abilities to recruit spies - a key policy that helped allow the attacks of Sept. 11 to take place with no intelligence warnings. Vernon wrote that current and former CIA operatives say Clinton administration policies which forbade the CIA from recruiting known terrorists and other criminals left the U.S. government bereft of all intelligence about such terrorist groups. If the senator, now [Sept 2001] under investigation for alleged bribery schemes, wants to know what caused the intelligence lapses he has only to look in the mirror to find one of the prime culprits. - "Senator Who Helped Tie CIA’s Hands Now Castigating Agency for Intelligence Failures," by Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff, NewsMax.com, 9/30/01

1992 : (MERYL NASS WRITES PAPER ON 1978-1980 ANTHRAX OUTBREAK IN RHODESIA) The Nass report [1992 article by longtime Rosenberg associate Meryl Nass] purported to explain the 1978-80 anthrax outbreak that affected 10,000 black farmers, predominantly with cutaneous anthrax, killing 182. In her "explanation," Nass leaped from one politically loaded speculation to another without any evidence.- "Media Manufacture Cloud of Suspicion Over Hatfill," Posted July 22, 2002, By Nicholas Stix, Insight On The News , InsightMagazine, http://www.insightmag.com/news/2002/08/12/FairComment/Media.Manufacture.Cloud.Of.Suspicion.Over.Hatfill-258774.shtml

1993 : (CHRISTOPHER MELLON DONATES $1,000 TO GEORGE H. W. BUSH REELECTION CAMPAIGN) - "Democrats subvert war intelligence," By J. Michael Waller, WorldNetDaily, © 2003 Insight/News World Communications Inc. , http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1045272/posts

1993 : (IAEA REPORT SAYS IRAQ HAS 580 TONS OF URANIUM, SOME OF IT FROM NIGER) A 1993 IAEA report on the Iraqi nuclear program listed 580 tons of natural uranium in Iraq, some of it originating from Niger. Ancient history? Well maybe. (I've certainly written about it before.) But it is useful to remind people, in an age of short-attention spans, that Niger and Iraq were part of a nuclear family dating back to the 1970s. - "The Honorable Mr. Wilson. Frog-marching into the history books.," National Review Online, NRO, October 01, 2003, 8:38 a.m. by James Robbins

1993 : (IAEA REPORT LISTS 580 TONS OF NATURAL URANIUM FROM BRAZIL, PORTUGAL & NIGER IN IRAQ)- "Uranium-Gate? Some context," by James S Robbins, NRO, JULY 9, 2003

1993 : (SOUTH AFRICA : AL-KHAFAJI FOUNDS FALCON TRADING GROUP IN JOHANNESBURG & DOES BUSINESS WITH IRAQ'S SADDAM HUSSEIN FOR YEARS) The Falcon Trading Group, a company that al-Khafaji founded in 1993 in Johannesburg, South Africa, has done nearly $70 million of business with Saddam's regime. - "Saddam's Cash," The Weekly Standard

1994 (IRAQ & AL QAEDA RELATIONSHIP : SUDAN : BIN LADEN MEETS WITH IRAQI INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS, INCLUDING IRAQI INTELLIGENCE SECRET SERVICE DIRECTOR AL-HIJAZI, ALLEGEDLY TO WORK TOGATHER ON PROJECTS AGAINST THE US) "BIN LADEN again met with IRAQI INTELLIGENCE officers in 1994 and 1995 in the Sudan. At these meetings, BIN-LADEN and IRAQI INTELLIGENCE secret service director FARUQ AL-HIJAZI agreed to work together on terrorist projects directed against the U.S. " - findlaw

1994 : (IRAQ'S SADDAM HUSSEIN SENDS HIS SECRET SERVICE DIRECTOR, FARUQ HIJAZI aka FAROUK HIJAZI TO SUDAN TO MEET WITH BIN LADEN ; MEETINGS WERE BROKERED BY SUDANESE MUSLIM LEADER AL-TOURABI) Desperate for allies after the Gulf War, Saddam sent Faruq Hijazi, his secret service director, to Sudan in 1994, where bin Laden then had his headquarters. The meetings were brokered by Hassan al-Tourabi, the Sudanese Muslim leader, who was bin Laden’s protector. The Sudanese belatedly offered to show the CIA all they knew about bin Laden and his visits, to ingratiate themselves back into the international fold, but the Americans scorned the approach. - "Hijacker 'given anthrax flask by Iraqi agent'," by DANIEL MCGRORY, The London Times, SATURDAY OCTOBER 27 2001

1994 : (SUDAN : IRAQI INTELLIGENCE CHIEF FAROUK HIJAZI MEETS BIN LADEN) "Press reports also chronicled an earlier meeting between Hijazi and bin Laden in Sudan in 1994. " "The Clinton Intel Record Deeper failures revealed. ," by Mansoor Ijaz, National Review Online, 4-29-2003

1994 : (SUDAN, BIN LADEN & IMAD MUGNIYAH MEET) A meeting between bin Laden and Imad Mugniyeh, the military chief of Hizballah, was held in 1994. The meeting apparently took place in Sudan. -MSNBC

JULY 21, 1994 : (CLINTON UNDERMINES SECURITY AT US NUCLEAR LABS IN ORDER TO AVOID BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR FOREIGN VISITORS) [LAB SECURITY] The controls were still in place when Clinton took office, but then in 1994 the Los Alamos and Sandia labs implemented exceptions to the Bush order to avoid background checks for foreign visitors. That is what opened the flood gates. ...... "DOE 1240.2B will be revised to reflect these modifications." This action abolished the terms "sensitive facility" and "security facility" and focused the reporting requirements on "Security Areas", excepting property protection areas. ER strongly endorsed this modification...The modification was explained in the notice as, "Since open communication is fundamental to the economic vitality of the international community, this notice removes necessary impediments to the free flow and exchange of ideas and technology." April 1997 Tommy D. Chang, NN-10 http://www.jlab.org/exp_prog/SLCCC/order12402b.html - via "DOWNSIDE LEGACY AT TWO DEGREES OF PRESIDENT CLINTON; SECTION: BEHIND THE TREASON ALLEGATIONS; SUBSECTION: TIMELINE 1994; Revised 6/1/00"

AUGUST 1994: (SUDAN, CARLOS) Sudan turned over the elusive international terrorist who called himself Carlos; the State Department called that "a significant development." (So why did Clinton ignore Sudan on bin Laden?)

SEPTEMBER 1994 : (PAKISTAN ADMITS IT HAS RECEIVED MISSILES FROM CHINA) Political counselor of the Pakistan embassy in Washington, Zamir Akram, states that Pakistan has received M-11 missiles from China, but that their capabilities fall below the 300 kilometer range parameter set out by the Missile Technology Control Regime.- "U.S.-China Techonology Transfer: Annotated Timeline 1980-January 1998," by Bates Gill, GlobalBeat, NYU.edu, June 22, 1998

SEPTEMBER 1994 : (FBI DIR. FREEH'S ANTITERRORISM PACKAGE) FBI Dir. Freeh sends Dep. Att. Gen Gorelick a package of antiterrorism recommendations from the Executive Advisory Board of DoJ's Office of Investigative Policies. Recommendations are: 1. Develop a uniform database of State Dept. visa refusals; 2.Rethink the visa waiver pilot program; 3.Expand INS preinspection; 4.Allow classified information to be used by the court in deportation proceedings; 5.Tighten the asylum screening provisions and detain and expeditiously deport anyone suspected of terrorist intent; 6.Tighten controls against NIV overstayers and persons involved in sham marriages; 7. Share INS alien files with FBI terrorism investigators.

1994 late : (IRAQ'S CLANDESTINE SUPPLIER NETWORK RESTORED) By late 1994, Iraq's secret purchasing system was completely restored. It was operating energetically not only to just restore previous capabilities but to support new projects -- mostly outside Iraq. Anticipating that the sanctions would be lifted from Iraq, many European firms were rushing to grab a good share of what used to be a very lucrative market. Presently, the Iraqi-run system is made up of an endless and redundant web of Western firms and technology plants, liaison people, banks and financial institutes, secret merchants and middlemen -- so that it is virtually impossible to discover all components, let alone bring down the system. The procurement system of the Iraqi intelligence has been resurrected, it functions, and it feels good. The present system has not only arose on the ruins of the previous one, but it has learned and overcome all the errors of the system of the 1980s. Significantly, virtually all the firms and plants that had worked for Iraq before the Gulf War have already found their way into the fold of the new system. This time however, many support and sustain programs in Libya and Sudan, as well as in third countries from where the Iraqis ship the goods on their own. - Yossef Bodansky, "The Iraqi WMD Challenge - Myths and Reality," TASK FORCE ON TERRORISM & UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515 , February 10, 1998

1995 - 1997 : (WILSON SERVES AS POLITICAL ADVISOR TO CinC, US ARMED FORCES IN EUROPE) Ambassador Wilson was the Political Advisor to the Commander-in-Chief of United States Armed Forces, Europe, 1995-1997. (* My note : See General Wesley Clark)- His own bio, http://216.239.53.104/search?q=cache:TjVOq4W4lssJ:www.cpsag.com/our_team/wilson.html+%22valerie+plame%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 This web site is that of the CPS : Corporate and Public Strategy Advisory Group where he is listed as "part of the team"

1995 : (CIA DIRECTOR WOOLSEY QUITS, JOHN DEUTCH TAKES OVER) When James Woolsey, the first Clinton-era spy chief quit in disgust in 1995, John Deutch replaced him. The White House directed Deutch to work with then-Rep. Robert Torricelli to rid the CIA’s Clandestine Service of anyone who had contact with foreign nationals less savory than Mother Theresa. Deutch also implemented "sensitivity seminars" to improve "tolerance"—apparently forgetting that terrorists don’t get "sensitivity training." By the time the thoroughly discredited Deutch departed in December 1996, CIA morale and the ability to collect human intelligence, "HUMINT," had hit rock bottom.

MARCH 25, 1995 : (DEMOCRAT REPRESENTATIVE TORICELLI LATTER TO CLINTON ALLEGES CIA INVOLVEMENT IN DEVINE & BAMACA DEATHS IN GUATAMALA; THIS EFFORT BY TORICELLI RESULTS IN CIA POLICY CHANGE, PRECIPITATING THE DETERIORATION IN THE CIA'S HUMINT RESOURCES AND AN EFFECTIVELY BLINDED CIA) In its 1997 report, the House Intelligence Committee had this to say about the antics of Torricelli, by then a senator: "None of the allegations raised by Rep. Torricelli in the March 22, 1995 letter to the president [Clinton] or subsequent public statements concerning the involvement of the CIA in the DeVine and Bamaca deaths in Guatemala have proved true." Still, Torricelli's efforts paid off with the Clinton administration, which moved to ban the use of spies or the recruitment of spies that had any involvement with criminals or terrorists. It was about the time of this well-publicized incident that the CIA's slide into a deteriorated human intelligence capability accelerated. Torricelli effectively blinded the CIA. - "Senator Who Helped Tie CIA’s Hands Now Castigating Agency for Intelligence Failures," by Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff, NewsMax.com, 9/30/01

OCTOBER 1995 : (CAMPAIGN FINANCING : VERBLE, GORE, FOWLER, ROSEN & OIL FINANCIER ROGER TAMRAZ) She [Mrs Verble] attended an October 1995 White House coffee with Mr. Gore, DNC Chairman Donald L. Fowler, DNC Finance Chairman Marvin S.Rosen, and oil financier Roger Tamraz, now [as of June 2000] an international fugitive who donated thousands of dollars to the DNC. - "Elian's flight Arranger Linked to Hillary," by Jerry Seper, The Washington Times, June 30, 2000

1995 : (DEMOCRAT REPRESENTATIVE TORRICELLI LEAK GIVES AWAY THE NAME OF A CIA SOURCE IN GUATAMALA, ALLEGEDLY TO PLEASE BIANCA JAGGER, HIS GIRLFRIEND) In 1995 Robert Torricelli, D-N.J., then a member of the House of Representatives, made secrets public at the behest of left-wing activist Bianca Jagger, his girlfriend at the time, according to Newark Star-Ledger columnist Paul Mulshine in the January/February issue of Heterodoxy. Mulshine's article showed how Torricelli's action in giving away the name of a CIA source in Guatemala was based not on fact, but on a conspiracy theory of "the loony left," as Heterodoxy later characterized it. - "Senator Who Helped Tie CIA’s Hands Now Castigating Agency for Intelligence Failures," by Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff, NewsMax.com, 9/30/01

APRIL 24, 1995 : (IRAQI OFFICIAL WISSAM AL ZAHAWIE aka ZAHAWI ATTENDS UN CONFERENCE ON THE NONPROLIFERATION TREATY AND RAILS AGAINST ISRAEL) At a 1995 UN conference on extending the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Zahawie (sometimes spelled "Zahawi") argued that unless Israel was stripped of nuclear weapons, other states would need to engage in "a secret or public" arms race to "restore a certain balance." In an official UN summary of the April 24, 1995, session of this conference—provided to me by the United Nations Library—Zahawie sometimes referred to Israel as the "entity." "In that entity," the summary cites him as saying, "there was a powerful opposition party which was expected to win the forthcoming elections and which was urging that not a single inch of the occupied territories should be surrendered, and was ready, in its fanaticism, to go to any lengths, whatever the cost. It was not hard to see what that party would do with its nuclear bomb." "[B]y exempting one State [Israel] from applying the provisions of the Treaty while expecting others to respect it forever," the UN summary cites Zahawie as saying, "there would inevitably be attempts to restore a certain balance. That meant an arms race, whether secret or public." "Efforts must therefore be made either to establish equity and equilibrium," the UN summary reports Zahawie as saying, "or—preferably—to attain the ultimate goal sought by all mankind, namely the complete and permanent elimination of the nuclear threat." Citing what he characterized as belligerent statements by various U.S. leaders of the Cold War era, Zahawie argued that the U.S. refrained from using nuclear weapons only out of fear of Soviet retaliation. "Apparently, the military and civilian leaders of the United States were very attached to the idea of atomic bombing designed to destroy a city or an entire country, since their experience of Hiroshima and Nagasaki," the UN summary reports him saying. "If there had been any equilibrium at the beginning," it cites him as saying, "the world would not have experienced the atrocities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki." Zahawie's belligerence did not go unnoticed at the time. "Iraq's delegate at the conference, Wissam Al-Zahawi," reported Agence France Presse, "warned that if the international community allowed Israel to remain outside the NPT it would lead to 'inevitable attempts' to reestablish 'some kind of equilibrium' in the region, followed by a 'secret or open' arms race."- "Iraqi Nuke Hawk Went to Niger," by Terence P. Jeffrey, Human Events , 8/1/03

MAY 1995 late : (WEAPONS COMPONENTS WERE SHIPPED INTO IRAQ VIA JORDAN UNDER CHINESE DIPLOMATIC COVER AS "MEDICINE" ) Components for Saddam Husayn's biological weapons programme were slipped into Iraq under Chinese diplomatic cover, according to documents seen by The Sunday Times in Baghdad. The documents refer to 137 kilograms of laboratory chemicals being channelled to Iraq from China in the guise of medical supplies. The cargo, flown to Jordan on May 31, 1995, was listed as "medicine" in a Jordanian customs report and the recipient was described as "Chinese embassy", Amman. Correspondence found in Baghdad shows that the 16 boxes contained chemicals - including some described by the supplier as "hazardous products" that should be stowed with extreme caution. A former Iraqi intelligence agent familiar with the deal said that from Amman the cargo was collected by Chinese diplomats based at the embassy in Baghdad. They escorted it in embassy vehicles across the border from Jordan to the Iraqi capital. From the Chinese embassy in Baghdad the goods were delivered in several batches to the car boot of an Iraqi intelligence operative who hid them in his home to prevent their discovery by United Nations weapons inspectors. From time to time he delivered small quantities to a research commission overseeing the biological weapons programme. The Iraqi source said that Baghdad went to great lengths to try to influence the Chinese whose power of veto on the UN security council made them one of the leading players in Iraq's conflict with America. To this end, Iraqi intelligence never missed an opportunity to gather potential blackmail material. The transfer of chemicals from the Chinese embassy vehicle to the Iraqi's car was secretly filmed by Iraqi agents from a department charged with monitoring the foreign diplomatic community.- "China Linked To Iraq Bio-Weapons, " Report by Matthew Campbell in Baghdad, London The Sunday Times 25 May 03

1995 - 1997 : (WILSON IS POLITICAL ADVISOR FOR C-IN-C US ARMED FORCES EUROPE) Joseph C. Wilson,IV the guy quoted in the NYT about the uranium story.....seems was the Political Advisor for Commander-in-Chief, U.S.Armed Forces Europe 1995-1997. - Freeper Dog , http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/944219/posts?page=37#37 , http://www.ihc.ucsb.edu/events/past/winter03/wilson/
(* My note : Looks like Wilson was political advisor for the C-in-C US Armed Forces in Europe to some date in 1997- note that future Democrat presidential primary candidate and former general Wesley Clark was given C-in-C Europe job in summer of 1997. Is there a connection?)* Also:
(* My note : sometime between 1995 - 1997, - maybe 1997 given Dowd's reference to 'six years later' - Wilson met Valerie Plame and Plame told him she was in the CIA. See this excerpt from the NY Times' Dowd: Valerie Plame and Joseph Wilson both happened to alight in Washington, their jet-set schedules intersecting, and spotted each other across a cocktail party filled with foreigners."I saw this striking blonde," he recalled, still sounding smitten six years later. At first she said she was an energy analyst, but confided sometime around the first kiss that she was in the CIA. "I had a security clearance," grinned Wilson, then a political adviser to the commander of U.S. forces in Europe. - "Maureen Dowd : Ambassador Wilson and the Spy Who Loved Him, " NY Times, October 3, 2003 )

JANUARY 27, 1996 : (NIGER : MAINASSARA SEIZES POWER) [Ibrahim Bare] Mainassara seized power Jan. 27, 1996, ousting the country's first democratically elected government after a political standoff between its civilian president and prime minister had paralyzed Niger's government for more than a year. Mainassara placed President Mahamane Ousmane under house arrest but released him three months later. - "1999 year in review," CNN

FEBRUARY 17, 1996 : (CLINTON ON IRAQ'S WMD) "'Now, let's imagine the future. What if he [Saddam] fails to comply and we fail to act or we take some ambiguous third route which gives him yet more opportunities to develop this program of weapons of mass destruction? Well, he will conclude that the international community has lost its will. He will then conclude that he can go right on and do more to rebuild an arsenal of devastating destruction. And someday, some way, I guarantee you, he will use the arsenal.' "- Bill Clinton, Meet the Press, February 17, 1996 via William McKinley's blog in 2003 , who adds: ( it was also reported in the Washington Post)

JULY 1996 : (NIGER : MAINASSARA WINS ELECTION) [Ibrahim Bare Mainassara] He won a controversial presidential election in July 1996 - "1999 year in review," CNN

DECEMBER 1996 : (JOHN DEUTCH LEAVES POSITION OF CIA DIRECTOR) By the time the thoroughly discredited Deutch departed in December 1996, CIA morale and the ability to collect human intelligence, "HUMINT," had hit rock bottom.

circa 1997 : (VALERIE PLAME OUTS HERSELF TO A C-in-C US ARMED FORCES IN EUROPE POLITICAL ADVISOR, WILSON, THAT SHE IS IN THE CIA, ACCORDING TO LATER REPORT BY MAUREEEN DOWD OF THE NY TIMES) Valerie Plame and Joseph Wilson both happened to alight in Washington, their jet-set schedules intersecting, and spotted each other across a cocktail party filled with foreigners."I saw this striking blonde," he recalled, still sounding smitten six years later. At first she said she was an energy analyst, but confided sometime around the first kiss that she was in the CIA. "I had a security clearance," grinned Wilson, then a political adviser to the commander of U.S. forces in Europe. - "Maureen Dowd : Ambassador Wilson and the Spy Who Loved Him, " NY Times, October 3, 2003

1997 : (WILSON RETURNS FROM OVERSEAS TO WASHINGTON AS SENIOR DIRECTOR OF AFRICAN AFFAIRS AT THE NSC) That same year [1997], Wilson also came back to Washington, as a senior director for African affairs at the National Security Council...A source, however, says that Wilson was not universally popular, because of what was perceived to be too strong sympathies for the interests of the Africans and Europeans. via FR's seamole, Jan 2, 2004*

* 1990s sometime in here : (WILSON WAS A CLINTON NSC ADVISOR) then later in the 1990s as a Clinton National Security Council staffer. - "The Honorable Mr. Wilson. Frog-marching into the history books.," National Review Online, NRO, October 01, 2003, 8:38 a.m. by James Robbins

FEBRUARY 1997 : (CLINTON-GORE CAMPAIGN FINANCE SCANDALS: FOREIGN INFLUENCE PEDDLING DOCUMENTS : RENO / GORELICK SECURITY BREACH) Stimulated by press reports of "the Asian connection" to the Clinton-Gore campaign, the Bureau teletyped all field offices for reports on foreign attempts to influence U.S. political campaigns. On Washington's Birthday the F.B.I.'s counterintelligence chief, John Lewis, delivered a packet of those top-secret reports to Janet Reno. "The Attorney General gave the packet of teletypes to then Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick," reports Michael Bromwich, the in-house Inspector General. At the same time, White House Counsel Charles Ruff made two calls to Justice seeking to find out what embarrassment was in store. Never told by Ms. Reno of F.B.I. restrictions on the documents, Ms. Gorelick bucked them to the Office of Intelligence Policy and Review. They then blithely passed them on to Laura Ingersoll's Justice "task force," selected for its ineptitude. Nothing doing, said the F.B.I., which "retrieved the packet shortly after the Task Force received it," according to Bromwich. When I asked the F.B.I. Director, Louis Freeh, yesterday if he had been aware of the confrontation -- an unprecedented dispatch of agents to snatch back evidence from Main Justice -- he replied, "I knew about it and certainly approved of it." - New York Times 7/16/99 William Safire via Alamo-Girl.com

JUNE 1997 - JULY 1998 : (CLINTON ADMINISTRATION : WILSON SERVES IN NSC) Ambassador Wilson served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council from June 1997 until July 1998. In that capacity he was responsible for the coordination of U.S. policy to the 48 countries of sub-Saharan Africa. - Wilson's own bio (* My note: Did he begin in June or July 1997? Some sources indicate he didn't go to the NSC until July)

JULY 1997 - JULY 1998 : (CLINTON ADMIN: WILSON WAS SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR AFRICAN AFFAIRS AT THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL) - Wilson's bio at the web site of the Corporate and Public Strategy Advisory Group

JUNE 1997 - JULY 1998 : (WILSON ON NSC ; WAS ONE OF THE PLANNERS OF CLINTON'S TRIP TO AFRICA IN MARCH 1998) Ambassador Wilson served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council from June 1997 until July 1998. In that capacity he was responsible for the coordination of U.S. policy to the 48 countries of sub-Saharan Africa, He was one of the principal architecs of President Clinton's historic trip to Africa in March 1998.- His own bio, http://216.239.53.104/search?q=cache:TjVOq4W4lssJ:www.cpsag.com/our_team/wilson.html+%22valerie+plame%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 This web site is that of the CPS : Corporate and Public Strategy Advisory Group where he is listed as "part of the team"

JULY 10, 1997 - 2000 : (WESLEY CLARK BECOMES SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER EUROPE - IS ALSO C-IN-C US EUROPEAN COMMAND) - Freeper Dog, http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/944219/posts?page=37#37, see also http://www.nato.int/cv/saceur/clark.htm

1997 : (HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE REPORT ON TORICELLI SAYS HIS ALLEGATIONS ABOUT CIA INVOLVEMENT IN DEVINE & BAMACA DEATHS PROVED UNTRUE) In its 1997 report, the House Intelligence Committee had this to say about the antics of Torricelli, by then a senator: "None of the allegations raised by Rep. Torricelli in the March 22, 1995 letter to the president [Clinton] or subsequent public statements concerning the involvement of the CIA in the DeVine and Bamaca deaths in Guatemala have proved true." Still, Torricelli's efforts paid off with the Clinton administration, which moved to ban the use of spies or the recruitment of spies that had any involvement with criminals or terrorists. It was about the time of this well-publicized incident that the CIA's slide into a deteriorated human intelligence capability accelerated. Torricelli effectively blinded the CIA. - "Senator Who Helped Tie CIA’s Hands Now Castigating Agency for Intelligence Failures," by Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff, NewsMax.com, 9/30/01

AUGUST 1997 : (SOUTH AFRICA SELLS ZIRCONIUM TUBING PLANT TO CHINA, NEWSPAPER REPORT OF ILLEGAL CHINESE WORKERS DISMANTLING PLANT ALERTS PEOPLE TO THE SALE RIGHT AROUND THE TIME CHINA HAD CONCLUDED AN AGREMENT WITH IRAN TO BUILD A ZIRCONIUM TUBING PLANT THERE) Abstract : In August 1997, South Africa and China concluded a contract for the sale of a plant used to manufacture zirconium tubing at Pelindaba. The deal was not made public until a South African newspaper revealed the presence of "illegal" Chinese technicians dismantling the plant and packing equipment for export to China. The Chinese workers had entered South Africa with business visas, and had been working without the proper employment visas. According to an unidentified member of the South African government, had it not been for the newspaper report, "there might have been nothing to stop this sensitive equipment leaving the country." The South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) stated that there are three pieces of equipment, described as CNC [computer numerically controlled] machine tools used to make complex molds, require authorization for export under the Nuclear Suppliers Group dual-use guidelines. The South African government requires an end-user certificate from China before it will authorize the export of the equipment. US officials are concerned that China might ship the South African plant to Iran, because China has signed a contract to build a zirconium tube factory in Iran. - "Is Iran In RSA-China Zirconium Deal?," Jane's Pointer, February 1998, p.1 , 1 February 1998 via - "CNS Nuclear and Missile Developments Database: Sample Abstracts on South Africa's Nuclear Doctrine," These abstracts were selected from the over 30,000 entries in the CNS Nuclear and Missile Developments Database., http://www.nti.org/e_research/e1_safrica_nuclear.html.

OCTOBER 9, 1997 : (CLINTON ADMINISTRATION : SUSAN RICE WAS CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE TO BECOME ASST SEC FOR E AFRICA) [Susan] Rice, the incoming Assistant Secretary for East Africa- "The Clinton Intel Record : Deeper failures revealed. ," by Mansoor Ijaz, National Review Online, 4-29-2003

NOVEMBER 3, 1997 : (IRAQ THREATENS TO SHOOT DOWN U-2s) Iraq warns it will shoot down U2 spy planes flying over its territory in support of UN weapons inspectors. Iraq threatens US planes - TIMELINE OF THE IRAQI CRISIS 1997-1998

NOVEMBER 6, 1997 : (ARTFIX.COM IS REGISTERED BY "MARC ASH") - source: whois search on artfix.com conducted on July 9, 2003 (* My note: would show up as another antiwar Nigerflap spinner.)

NOVEMBER 13, 1997 : (IRAQ EXPELS UNSCOM AMERICANS) Iraq expels Americans working for UNSCOM- Iraq - Scotsman says Saddam has weapons to wipe out world's population, nuclear bomb within 3 years "The Scotsman dossier - SPECIAL REPORT ON IRAQ" by Fraser Nelson, Westminster Editor

NOVEMBER 12, 1997 : (IRAQ'S AMBASSADOR TO THE VATICAN WISSAM AL ZAHAWIE aka ZAHAWI'S LETTER TO THE PRESS IS PUBLISHED, RAILS AGAINST ISRAEL AND US) In a letter published on Nov. 12, 1997, in the International Herald Tribune, Zahawie, identified as Iraq's ambassador to the Vatican, was more direct. "Iraq has shown that there are Arabs who refuse to bow to American bullying," he wrote. "It has challenged a Zionist-American diktat by trying to achieve the forbidden strategic balance that would enable Arabs to resist Israeli aggression."- "Iraqi Nuke Hawk Went to Niger," by Terence P. Jeffrey, Human Events , 8/1/03

NOVEMBER 14, 1997 : (US HOUSE PASSES MOTION BACKING UNILATERAL MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ) US House of Representatives passes motion backing unilateral US military action against Iraq, but only as a last resort.- Iraq - Scotsman says Saddam has weapons to wipe out world's population, nuclear bomb within 3 years "The Scotsman dossier - SPECIAL REPORT ON IRAQ" by Fraser Nelson, Westminster Editor

1998 or before? : (WILSON MARRIES VALERIE ELISE PLAME - WILSON LATER SAYS THIS IS WHEN HE LEARNED THAT PLAME WAS IN THE CIA) - Joe Wilson's entry in Who's Who * * Valerie Plame and Joseph Wilson both happened to alight in Washington, their jet-set schedules intersecting, and spotted each other across a cocktail party filled with foreigners."I saw this striking blonde," he recalled, still sounding smitten six years later. At first she said she was an energy analyst, but confided sometime around the first kiss that she was in the CIA. "I had a security clearance," grinned Wilson, then a political adviser to the commander of U.S. forces in Europe. - "Maureen Dowd : Ambassador Wilson and the Spy Who Loved Him, " NY Times, October 3, 2003 1998 : (WILSON MARRIES VALERIE PLAME) Joe Wilson's entry in Who's Who lists only two wives: Susan Dale Otchis, married in 1973 and divorced in 1986, and Valerie Elise Plame, married in 1998. He spent most of the time between 1986 and 1998 out of the country (in the former French Congo, in Baghdad, in Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe [apparently the same person serves as US ambassador to Gabon and to Sao Tome & Principe, which has only about 165,000 people]). During his stay in Gabon there was an election in which there were charges of vote fraud. As a good Democrat, he must have been teaching them how. If Joe Wilson is a retired ambassador, how likely is it that his wife would be going to another country on a CIA assignment? 26 posted on 10/05/2003 12:57 PM PDT by Verginius Rufus

1998 : (UK LABOUR MP GALLOWAY'S 'MIRIAM CAMPAIGN' BEGINS) Fawaz Abdullah Zureikat : Businessman. UK Labour MP George Galloway appointed him to the MP's Miriam campaign, which began in 1998.- "The King of Cuba (GALLOWAY!)," News of the World , April 27, 2003

1998 : (UK LABOUT MP HELPS FOUND THE MARIAM APPEAL) But I do know a few things about George Galloway and the cause he championed with regards to Iraq. I know that he helped found the Mariam Appeal, a humanitarian organisation established in 1998 initially to raise funds on behalf of an Iraqi girl who suffered from leukaemia and who, because of economic sanctions, was unable to receive adequate medical care. - "Galloway's a crook - how convenient, " by Scott "shorteyes" Ritter, The Guardian , Friday April 25, 2003

1998 : (NIGER : MAINASSARA'S GOVENRMENT PUTS DOWN SEVERAL UPRISINGS) , and his government quelled several army uprisings and mutinies in 1998. - "1999 year in review," CNN

FEBRUARY 10, 1998 : (IRAQ'S AMBASSADOR TO THE VATICAN WISSAM AL ZAHAWIE aka ZAHAWI'S HAS ANOTHER LETTER PUBLISHED IN THE INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE ; THIS LETTER COMPAINS ABOUT COLUMNIST WILLIAM SAFIRE & THOMAS FRIEDMAN WHO ADVOCATE THAT HUSSEIN SHOULD BE DISARMED BY FORCE) In a letter published in the International Herald Tribune on Feb. 10, 1998, he objected to columns by William Safire and Thomas Friedman that advocated the use of force to disarm Saddam. "The present rabid braying and warmongering will surely serve to stiffen Iraqis' resolve, to increase their hatred of their American tormentors and to rally people around their president," he wrote.- "Iraqi Nuke Hawk Went to Niger," by Terence P. Jeffrey, Human Events , 8/1/03

FEBRUARY 1999 : (AN IRAQI OFFICIAL -ACCORDING TO THE IAEA IT IS AL-ZAHAWIE, IRAQ'S AMBASSADOR TO ROME - WAS IN NIGER AND OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES AT THIS TIME, IRAQ WOULD SAY, IN EARLY 2003- AT LEAST ACCORDING TO UN'S EL BARADEI) The head of the U-N nuclear agency ElBaradei [in 2002] said Baghdad suggested the visit by an unidentified Iraqi official to a number of African countries, including Niger, in February 1999, might have given rise to the allegations. " - Source : VOA News Report, VOA Correspondent ALEX BELIDA, 03/07/03, via http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iraq/2003/iraq-030307-2d189eab.htm. (The IAEA says the Iraqi ambassador in question is the "Ambassador to Rome, Ambassador Al Zahawie. He retired in August 2000." and it was his name which was on the forged documents) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/951024/posts

MARCH 1998 : (CLINTON'S TRIP THROUGH AFRICA ARRANGED BY WILSON) - Wilson's bio

MARCH 1998 : (WILSON A 'PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT' OF CLINTON TRIP TO AFRICA) He was one of the principal architects of 1998 : (CLINTON TRIP TO AFRICA ORGANIZED BY JOSEPH C WILSON) 'One of his [(JOSEPH C. WILSON)] major achievements was organizing President Clinton's historic trip to Africa in 1998.' Which part-the bongos, the dashiki or the cigar smoking? - 7 posted on 07/11/2003 11:31 PM EDT by Wild Irish RoguePresident Clinton’s historic trip to Africa in March 1998. - Wilson's own bio

MARCH 1998 : (WILSON ON NSC ; WAS ONE OF THE PLANNERS OF CLINTON'S TRIP TO AFRICA IN MARCH 1998) - His own bio, http://216.239.53.104/search?q=cache:TjVOq4W4lssJ:www.cpsag.com/our_team/wilson.html+%22valerie+plame%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 This web site is that of the CPS : Corporate and Public Strategy Advisory Group where he is listed as "part of the team" (* My note: MARCH 1998 was when Kofi Annan gave in to Iraq, wasn't it?)

JUNE 1998 : (DOD : DEFENSE REFORM INITIATIVE : 'OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR COMMAND, CONTROL, COMMUNICATIONS AND INTELLIGENCE' aka ASD(C3I)TO BE RENAMED 'OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR SPACE AND INFORMATION SUPERIORITY' - NOTE POSITION OF CHRISTOPHER MELLON, LATER TO BECOME INVOLVED IN ROCKEFELLER SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE MEMO SCANDAL- DEMOCRAT EFFORT TO SUBVERT WAR INTELLIGENCE & UNDERMINE PRESIDENCY) Congress wants to change the name of the Defense Department’s top systems shop to reflect the office’s new duties and oversight responsibilities. DOD last month announced a major reorganization of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence as part of DOD’s Defense Reform Initiative. Under the restructuring, the office has been broadened to include oversight in such areas as surveillance, reconnaissance and space.
In its fiscal 1999 Defense authorization bill, the Senate Armed Services Committee raised concerns that the title ASD(C3I) no longer describes the office’s responsibilities and priorities. Consequently, the committee is endorsing a new title: the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space and Information Superiority.
"The committee had been concerned that the term ‘space’ would not appear in the revised title," the committee said in the report accompanying the bill. "As the single focal point for space in [DOD], this would have been a serious omission that would have sent a negative and misleading message."
The new assistant secretary of Defense for space and information superiority would be responsible for space policy, information assurance, information operations, intelligence policy, command and control, communications, surveillance, reconnaissance, year 2000 work and electromagnetic spectrum issues, the Senate report said.
The House passed its $270 billion Defense authorization bill last month. The Senate this month is scheduled to vote on its version, including the provision renaming the ASD(C3I) office.
Room for space
"Although there are significant areas of overlap between information superiority and space, the two areas also have many unique aspects that deserve significant focused attention," the committee report said.
Congress in 1985 created the position of ASD(C3I) at DOD’s re quest to oversee, among other things, the acquisition of computers and to establish program structures, interoperability requirements and architectures.
But Defense spokeswoman Susan Hansen said that despite the reorganization of ASD(C3I), the department did not seek to change the name of the office. "The department hasn’t taken a position on the proposed name change," she said. "That’s certainly the Senate’s idea. The department has made no comment on it. At the moment, the office is still called ASD(C3I)."
Arthur Money, the Air Force’s former chief information officer and assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, has been tapped by DOD to become the next ASD(C3I). Money is currently the senior civilian official for the office and acting CIO until the Senate confirms his nomination.
Marvin Langston, the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency’s director of information systems, will leave DARPA to serve as acting deputy CIO and deputy assistant secretary of Defense for CIO policy and implementation. As part of the Defense Reform Initiative, Defense Secretary William Cohen had directed that the Office of the ASD(C3I) be separated into components for intelligence and C3 and that the undersecretary of Defense for acquisition and technology take over CIO duties. Cohen reversed that decision earlier this year and decided to keep the office intact and maintain its CIO responsibilities. He added the new oversight areas including space-related matters and the Defense Airborne Reconnaissance Program. The office will oversee six DOD agencies: the Defense Information Systems Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, Defense Security Service, National Imagery and Mapping Agency, National Reconnaissance Office and National Security Agency. To staff the revamped office, DOD is reassigning some officials to acting posts:
Air Force Maj. Gen. Kenneth Israel, director of the Defense Airborne Reconnaissance Office, will be acting deputy assistant secretary of Defense for command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and space systems. DARO will cease to exist as a separate De fense agency.
Linton Wells II, deputy undersecretary of Defense for policy support, will be acting principal deputy assistant secretary of Defense for C3I. Cheryl Roby will still be acting deputy assistant secretary of Defense for intelligence.
Christopher Mellon, assistant to the secretary of Defense for intelligence oversight, will be acting deputy assistant secretary of Defense for security and information operations.
- "Hill wants to give Defense IT shop new name," By Gregory Slabodkin, GCN Staff GOVERNMENT NEWS, GCN, June 1, 1998, http://www.gcn.com/archives/gcn/1998/june1/hill_wants_to_give_defense_it_sh.htm

JUNE 26, 1998 : (FATHER BENJAMIN'S DOCUMENTARY "IRAQ SOLIDARITY ACTION" IS SCREENED; IRAQI AMBASSADOR TO THE VATICAN AL ZAHAWIE ATTENDS THE SCREENING) VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- A new 20-minute documentary film, produced in Iraq by Father Jean-Marie Benjamin, describes the damages brought upon that country's people by the 7-year-old embargo. The film will be screened for the press in Rome tomorrow. Father Benjamin and his film crew traveled extensively across Iraq-- visiting Mosul, Basra, Samra, Baghdad, and Babylon-- to gather footage for their documentary, which is entitled "Iraq solidarity action." The film denounces the "atrocity of these inhuman sanctions which, each month, cause the death of more than 6,000 children," according to a press release from the producers. Father Benjamin, a French-born priest now serving in the Rome diocese, has previously overseen the production of films on Padre Pio and St. Francis of Assisi. He also accompanied the late Cardinal Agostino Casaroli on many of his diplomatic missions Send reply to: ADC Iraq Task Force adc-itf@leb.net - "DOCUMENTARY FILM RIPS EMBARGO ON IRAQ," 25 June 1998, http://www.iacenter.org/film625.htm

DECEMBER 1998 : (BILL CLINTON ON IRAQ) Bill Clinton was firm, resolute and uncompromising in explaining to the nation why military action against Saddam Hussein had proved necessary: "This situation presents a clear and present danger to the stability of the Persian Gulf and the safety of people everywhere," he said. "This is a question of action. Iraq has abused its final chance." Indeed, he warned, "Overwhelming force remains an option." Delaying such action "for even a matter of days would [give] Saddam more time to disperse his forces and protect his weapons." Even with nations such as Russia, China and France disagreeing with the use of armed force, he said, "we remain ready to act." Bill Clinton issued those threats and later acted on them (albeit briefly and tentatively). - "DEM DOUBLE-TAKE (or...Hypocrites On Parade), " by ERIC FETTMANN, New York Post October 10, 2002

1999 : (AFRICA : GABON HALTS EXPORT OF URANIUM) Gabon ceased exports of [unprocessed uranium oxide] after 1999 - reserves at the largest mine, Mounana, had been depleted. - "Iraq 'sought African uranium' Britain says Iraq wanted African uranium, "BBC News World Edition, Tuesday, 24 September, 2002, 10:59 GMT 11:59 UK

1999 : (GERMANY, SCIENTIST KARL-HEINZ SCHAAB CONVICTED OF TREASON FOR SALES OF URANIUM ENRICHMENT TECH TO IRAQ BEFORE GULF WAR) Schaab had spent time in Rio de Janeiro while eluding German authorities. He was captured returning to Germany and convicted of treason in 1999. He had been sought by German authorities since 1990 on charges of selling German uranium enrichment technology to Iraq before the Gulf War.- "Brazil uranium sales to Iraq stir debate ," by Carmen Gentile, United Press International 9/25/02

FEBRUARY 1999 : (IRAQI OFFICIAL ZAHAWIE aka ZAHAWI TRAVELS TO NIGER; IAEA WOULD LATER IN 2003 SAY THAT HE WAS ON A "TRADE MISSION" TO AFRICA ) In this column last week [2003] , I reported that IAEA Senior Information Officer Melissa Fleming, in response to written questions from me, did state that Zahawie was the Iraqi official who went to Niger in 1999. He went, she said , as "a part of a trade mission and also he was accredited to Niger as Ambassador." IAEA, she said, had interviewed him in Baghdad in the presence of Iraqi monitors.- "Iraqi Nuke Hawk Went to Niger," by Terence P. Jeffrey, Human Events , 8/1/03

FEBRUARY 1999 : (NIGER : IRAQ'S FORMER AMBASSADOR TO THE VATICAN AL-ZAHAWIE VISITS NIAMEY, NIGER'S CAPITOL, WHILE ON A TOUR OF WEST AFRICAN NATIONS, TO INVITE PRESIDENT MAINASSARA TO BAGHDAD) a February 1999 visit to Niamey, Niger's capital, by Wissam al-Zahawie, Iraq's former ambassador to the Vatican. [He later claimed that his] trip had nothing to do with uranium. He was touring four West African nations, he said, and came here to invite Niger's then-President Ibrahim Bare Mainassara to Baghdad. Mainassara was assassinated two months later, and al-Zahawie could not be reached for comment about their talks. - "A look at the U.S.-British claims that Iraq tried to acquire uranium in Africa," AP, SEPT 21, 2003

FEBRUARY 26? +/-, 1999 : (KHAN'S GROUP TRAVELS TO NIGER, CHAD AND THEN TO SUDAN WHERE THEY VISITED THE SHIFA "ASPIRIN" FACTORY WHICH THE US HAD DESTROYED EARLIER) After spending a couple of days [in Timbuktu] we were on our way back and our first stop was Niamey, capital of Niger." Siddique also writes that after a stopver at N'Djamena, capital of Chad... they we flew to Khartoum. After Khan had attended to "some business", they visited the Shifa factory that was destroyed by American missiles ... - "Khan made trips to Niger, Sudan," CHIDANAND RAJGHATTA, TIMES NEWS NETWORK, THE TIMES OF INDIA, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2004 11:52:23 AM , http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow/497486.cms

1999 early : (VALERIE AND JOE WILSON ATTEND AFRICAN STATE DINNER) Ha! Wilson and his wife showed up at a big African State dinner in 1999, as shown on this guest list published in "Africa Today." Click here and scroll down...guest list is alphabetical, and wife is listed as "Valerie Wilson" Wilson is listed as the President of Wilson International Ventures, and this dinner took place in early 1999. 40 posted on 08/04/2003 5:43 AM PDT by Miss Marple

MARCH ? 1999 : (FORMER AMBASSADOR WILSON & PLAME DONATE TO AL GORE CAMPAIGN AND TO SENATOR TED KENNEDY) in 1999 he and his wife gave $2,000 to Al Gore and he gave $1,000 to Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA).- (Center For Responsive Politics, www.opensecrets.org , Accessed 9/29/03; Political Money Line, www.tray.com, Accessed 9/30/03; FOX’s “Fox And Friends,” 9/30/03) via - "SAY IT AIN’T SO JOES? Joe Lieberman & Joe Wilson Make Bold Assertions That Facts Don’t Support, "RNC Research, Republican National Committee, October 5, 2003

1999 : (ITALY : NIGER'S AMBASSADOR TO ROME IS ADAMOU SEKOU) Adamou Sekou was Niger's ambassador in Rome - "A look at the U.S.-British claims that Iraq tried to acquire uranium in Africa," AP, SEPT 21, 2003

APRIL 1999 (NIGER : AFTER ALLEGEDLY RECIEVING INVITATION FROM IRAQ TO VISIT BAGDHAD FROM IRAQI DIPLOMAT AL ZAHAWIE MAINASSARA IS ASSASSINATED) Mainassara was assassinated two months later, [in April after feb 1999 visit to Niger by Wissam al-Zahawie]- "A look at the U.S.-British claims that Iraq tried to acquire uranium in Africa," AP, SEPT 21, 2003

APRIL 9, 1999 : (NIGER : PRESIDENT MAINASSARA IS ASSASSINATED) Niger's president, Ibrahim Bare Mainassara, was ambushed and killed by dissident soldiers at the airport in the capital, Niamey, on April 9, 1999 - "1999 year in review," CNN

APRIL 1999 : (NIGER : MILITARY JUNTA LED BY MAJOR DAOUDA WANKE TAKES POWER) A few days after the assassination of Ibrahim Bare Mainassara, a military junta headed by Major Daouda Wanke took power. They pledged to hold civilian elections by the end of the year. - "On this Day 9 April 1999: President of Niger 'killed in ambush,' BBC News

APRIL 9, 1999 : (NIGER : ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT MAINASSARA) The president of Niger, Ibrahim Bare Mainassara, has been shot dead in an apparent coup attempt. However, his death has been described as a "tragic accident" by the prime minister [Ibraim Assane Mayaki] of the west African state. But diplomats from Niger, based in the neighbouring country of Burkina Faso, said Mr Mainassara was ambushed and shot by mutinying troops as he tried to flee the country. The diplomats said they had been told by colleagues in Niger that the uprising began shortly after sunrise when soldiers swarmed on to the streets of the capital, Niamey. Troops with tanks are said to have blocked access to the presidential palace and other key locations. In a radio broadcast Niger's Prime Minister, Ibraim Assane Mayaki , announced the country's parliament had been dissolved and that all political activity had been suspended. A government of national unity would be formed in a few days, Mr Mayaki added. It is still unclear whether forces loyal to the Mr Mayaki, were involved in the president's death. There has been no explanation for Mr Mainassara's assassination but it follows opposition calls for him to resign after the annulment of regional elections held earlier this week. Mr Mainassara, a former army colonel, seized power in January 1996, ousting the country's first democratically elected president, Mahamane Ousmane. Mr Mainassara said he had staged the coup because Mr Ousmane had failed to address Niger's economic and political problems. Last year his government quashed several army uprisings and mutinies. The United Nations secretary-general, Kofi Annan, has reacted "with dismay" to the killing and called on Niger's leaders to work for "an early return to peace, stability and constitutional order". - "On this Day 9 April 1999: President of Niger 'killed in ambush,' BBC News

APRIL 22, 1999 : (WILSON RETURNS $1,000 OF $2,000 HE CONTRIBUTED TO AL GORE BECAUSE IT EXCEEDED LEGAL LIMIT; THE SAME DAY WILSON'S WIFE CONTRIBUTES $1,000 TO AL GORE USING A FICTICIOUS NAME FOR HERSELF, AND NAMES HER EMPLOYER, BREWSTER-JENNINGS & ASSOCIATES, A CIA FRONT COMPANY AS WELL AS LISTS HERSELF AS AN ANALYST) WASHINGTON -- On the same day in 1999 that retired diplomat Joseph Wilson was returned $1,000 of $2,000 he contributed to Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore a month earlier because it exceeded the federal limit, his CIA-employee wife gave $1,000 to Gore using a fictitious identification for herself.In making her April 22, 1999, contribution, Valerie E. Wilson identified herself as an "analyst" with "Brewster-Jennings & Associates." No such firm is listed anywhere, but the late Brewster Jennings was president of Socony-Vacuum oil company a half-century ago. Any CIA employee working under "non-official cover" always is listed with a real firm, but never an imaginary one. - "Novak: The Wilsons for Gore ," by Robert Novak, Townhall.com, 10/05/03

JUNE 1999 : (YEMEN : US BEGINS TO REFUEL ITS WARSHIPS IN THE PORT OF ADEN) (*Why? Political reasons?)

JUNE 1999 : (RITTER INTERVIEW WITH LEADERS OF THE FELLOWSHIP OF RECONCILIATION, A PEACE ORGANIZATION BASED IN NYACK, NEW YORK) "When you ask the question [does] Iraq possess militarily viable biological or chemical weapons? The answer is 'no.' It is a resounding NO! Can Iraq produce today chemical weapons on a meaningful scale? No! Can Iraq produce biological weapons on a meaningful scale? No! Ballistic missiles? No. It is 'no' across the board. So from a qualitative standpoint, Iraq has been disarmed. Iraq today possesses no meaningful weapons of mass destruction capability." - Scott Ritter, June 1999
(* My note: Ritter went on in that same interview to try to tone down that remark, but it is clear something happened between December 1998 and June 1999 that put him over the edge.)

JUNE 1999 : (NIGER : BUSINESSMAN APPROACHES A FORMER NIGERIEN OFFICIAL AND ASKS FOR A MEETING, THE OFFICIAL INTERPRETED IT AS AN ATTEMPT TO DISCUSS URANIUM SALES, ACCORDING TO TENET IN 2003, CITING A REPORT BY AN OUTSIDE INVESTIGATOR THE CIA SENT TO NIGER IN 2002- FORMER AMBASSADOR WILSON WOULD LATER CLAIM TO BE THIS OUTSIDE INVESTIGATOR) An outside investigator whom the CIA sent to Niger [in 2002] reported that a former Niger official he spoke with "said that in June 1999 a businessman approached him and insisted that the former official meet with an Iraqi delegation to discuss 'expanding commercial relations' between Iraq and Niger. The former official interpreted the overture as an attempt to discuss uranium sales." This alleged June overture, trying to set up a subsequent Iraq-Niger "commercial relations" meeting, would have taken place four months after what the IAEA described as Zahawi's February 1999 "trade mission."According to a July 11 statement by CIA Director George Tenet )- "Iraqi Nuke Hawk Went to Niger," by Terence P. Jeffrey, Human Events , 8/1/03
(* My note : Note that this report has absolutely NOTHING to do with forged documents, or any documents, but is an interview of real live witnesses.

JUNE 1999 : (NIGER : A NIGER OFFICIAL ENCOUNTERED A BUSINESSMAN SEEKING TO GET THE OFFICIAL TO MEET WITH AN IRAQI DELEGATION; THE NIGER OFFICIAL INTERPRETED IT AS AN OVERTURE TO DISCUSS URANIUM SALES) - According to CIA outside investogator -allegedly Joe Wilson- via later George Tenet statement - "Iraq's trade mission to Niger, " by Terence Jeffrey, TownHall.com, 7/23/03

JUNE 1999 : (NIGER : BUSINESSMAN APPROACHES A FORMER NIGERIEN OFFICIAL AND ASKS FOR A MEETING, THE OFFICIAL INTERPRETED IT AS AN ATTEMPT TO DISCUSS URANIUM SALES, ACCORDING TO TENET IN 2003, CITING A REPORT BY AN OUTSIDE INVESTIGATOR THE CIA SENT TO NIGER IN 2002- FORMER AMBASSADOR WILSON WOULD LATER CLAIM TO BE THIS OUTSIDE INVESTIGATOR) An outside investigator whom the CIA sent to Niger [in 2002] reported that a former Niger official he spoke with "said that in June 1999 a businessman approached him and insisted that the former official meet with an Iraqi delegation to discuss 'expanding commercial relations' between Iraq and Niger. The former official interpreted the overture as an attempt to discuss uranium sales." This alleged June overture, trying to set up a subsequent Iraq-Niger "commercial relations" meeting, would have taken place four months after what the IAEA described as Zahawi's February 1999 "trade mission.")According to a July 11 statement by CIA Director George Tenet,
(* My note : Note that this report has absolutely NOTHING to do with forged documents, or any documents, but is an interview of real live witnesses.)- "Iraqi Nuke Hawk Went to Niger," by Terence P. Jeffrey, Human Events , 8/1/03*

JUNE 1999 : ( 'A BUSINESSMAN' APPROACHED A NIGERIEN OFFICIAL IN JUNE 1999 TO DISCUSS 'COMMERCIAL RELATIONS' AND THIS WAS INTERPRETED BY THE NIGERIEN OFFICIAL AS AN ATTEMPT TO DISCUSS URANIUM SALES, ACCORDING TO REPORT MENTIONED BY CIA DIRECTOR TENET IN LATER JUNE 2003 TESTIMONY) According To CIA, Wilson Reported Nigerian Officials Were “Unaware” Of Specific Iraqi Attempt To Obtain Uranium, But That Iraqi Delegation Did Attempt To Meet With Nigerians Regarding “Expanding Commercial Relations.” “There was fragmentary intelligence gathered in late 2001 and early 2002 on the allegations of Saddam’s efforts to obtain additional raw uranium from Africa, beyond the 550 metric tons already in Iraq. In an effort to inquire about certain reports involving Niger, CIA’s counter-proliferation experts, on their own initiative, asked an individual with ties to the region [Joe Wilson] to make a visit to see what he could learn. He reported back to us that one of the former Nigerian officials he met stated that he was unaware of any contract being signed between Niger and rogue states for the sale of uranium during his tenure in office. The same former official also said that in June 1999 a businessman approached him and insisted that the former official meet with an Iraqi delegation to discuss “expanding commercial relations” between Iraq and Niger. The former official interpreted the overture as an attempt to discuss uranium sales.” (Statement By George J. Tenet Director Of Central Intelligence, 7/11/03) via - "SAY IT AIN’T SO JOES? Joe Lieberman & Joe Wilson Make Bold Assertions That Facts Don’t Support, "RNC Research, Republican National Committee, October 5, 2003

JUNE 1999 : (CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ENERGY DEPT REINSTATES BADGES "AFTER HORSE HAS LEFT THE BARN") Now just a few weeks ago, in the wake of all these revelations (in the Cox Report), the Energy Department has reinstated the color-coded badges (in US weapons labs). But during the time that these thefts took place, they were not able to wear these badges. - "THE CLINTON NATIONAL SECURITY SCANDAL AND COVERUP," Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), Senate, June 23, 1999

JUNE 1999 : (SCOTT RITTER TURN) June 1999 interview with leaders of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, a peace organization based in Nyack, New York, he had changed his tune. "When you ask the question [does] Iraq possess militarily viable biological or chemical weapons? The answer is 'no.' It is a resounding NO! Can Iraq produce today chemical weapons on a meaningful scale? No! Can Iraq produce biological weapons on a meaningful scale? No! Ballistic missiles? No. It is 'no' across the board. So from a qualitative standpoint, Iraq has been disarmed. Iraq today possesses no meaningful weapons of mass destruction capability." Virtually every expert on Iraq and arms control disagrees. Ambassador Butler, Ritter's former boss with the U.N., says that Iraq never disarmed during the 1990s and almost certainly has weapons of mass destruction today. Charles Duelfer, Butler's number two, believes Iraq currently has biological and chemical weapons, and the means to deliver them. Arms control experts Gary Milhollin and Kelly Motz, with the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, detailed in the July issue of Commentary the steady and stealthy weapons trade with Iraq. In his less guarded moments, though, Ritter appears to acknowledge that Iraq retains weapons of mass destruction. Just minutes after he told the Fellowship of Reconciliation that Iraq has "no meaningful weapons of mass destruction capability," he qualified that assertion. More than that, he offered a justification for Saddam Hussein to repudiate the agreement that ended the Gulf War and rearm Iraq.Iraqi leaders, he said, "see their neighbors' weapons of mass destruction, they see the inevitability of conflict with the United States, and they're not going to give up their weapons. When Madeleine Albright made that awful statement in March of 1997, that economic sanctions would continue while Saddam was in power regardless of weapons disarmament, she basically closed the door on any hope that the Iraqis would get rid of their weapons." http://www.theweeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/000/524dplvk.asp

AUGUST 1999 : (NIGER ADOPTS NEW CONSTITUTION AFTER REFERENDUM GRANTS AMNESTY TO THOSE INVOLVED IN COUP AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT MAINASSARA) In August 1999 a new constitution was adopted following a referendum which granted an amnesty for those involved in the coup. - "On this Day 9 April 1999: President of Niger 'killed in ambush,' BBC News

OCTOBER 1999 : (INTEL ON INDIA INTERCEPTION OF N KOREAN MISSILE COMPONENT SHIPMENT TO PAKISTAN, MISSILE STEEL TO EGYPT, IRAN & LIBYA , EVEN CONGO, POSSIBLY INVOLVED FOR URANIUM) "….. Other recent activities by the North Koreans outlined in classified intelligence reports include: North Korea last summer tried to ship missile components to Pakistan but the ship was intercepted during a stop in India. In July, North Korea sent specialty steel with missile applications through a Chinese company in Hong Kong to Egypt, which is secretly cooperating with Pyongyang in building Scud missiles. Iranian officials recently traveled to North Korea to discuss missile cooperation. Iran is building two types of medium-range missiles, mostly with Russian and Chinese assistance. There are some signs that North Korea is assisting Libya with its efforts to develop missiles. North Koreans are helping train the Congo military and may be paid for the training with uranium ore from the African nation's Shinkolobwe mine -- where fuel for the first U.S. nuclear weapons originated….." - The Washington Times 10/28/99 Bill Gertz

OCTOBER 14, 1999 : (NY CITY : SPIES : SUSAN LINDHAUER MEETS WITH IRAQI ISS OFFICER) On or about October 14, 1999, SUSAN LINDAUER, a/k/a “Symbol SUSAN,” met with an officer of the Iraqi Intelligence Service (“IIS”) in Manhattan. - "Text of indictment against American spying for Iraq," Findlaw. com, March 11, 2004

OCTOBER 31, 1999 : (EGYPT AIR FLIGHT SENT PLUMMETING INTO THE OCEAN OFF US COAST BY SUICIDAL EGYPTIAN PILOT) A suspected suicidal Muslim pilot was believed to have purposely crashed an Egypt Air Flight into the sea shortly after takeoff from New York on October 31, 1999 killing all 217 on board - "A Short History of World War IIIA Lesson of the Future.," by Sal Rosken, The Partial Observer , 2 March 2003

NOVEMBER 1999 : (NIGER : MAMADOU ELECTED PRESIDENT IN CLOSE ELECTION) a former army officer, Tandja Mamadou, was elected president after a close-run election. - "On this Day 9 April 1999: President of Niger 'killed in ambush,' BBC News

DECEMBER 25, 1999 : (UK LABOUR MP GALLOWAY SPENDS CHRISTMAS WITH IRAQI OFFICIAL TARIQ AZIZ) - Source Galloway, on Radio 4 program "On the Ropes." on June 17, 2003 according to the story "I was in Iraq on day alleged in memos, admits Galloway," By Sally Pook, Daily Telegraph - UK, June 18, 2003

DECEMBER 26, 1999 : (BOXING DAY HOLIDAY : UK LABOUR MP GALLOWAY WAS IN IRAQ, MET WITH IRAQI INTELLIGENCE AGENT OVER GALLOWAY'S CUT OF THE OIL FOR FOOD PROGRAM) One of the documents [found by the UK Telegraph in Iraq in 2003] was a memorandum suggesting that on Boxing Day 1999 Mr Galloway met an Iraqi intelligence agent in Baghdad and laid out his demands for a larger slice of the revenue from the sale of three million barrels of oil every six months. It also purported to show him as asking for "exceptional" commercial opportunities. Saddam Hussein's office rejected these alleged requests for more money, explaining that they were unaffordable. -"I was in Iraq on day alleged in memos, admits Galloway," By Sally Pook, Daily Telegraph - UK, June 18, 2003

DECEMBER 29, 1999 : ( IRAQ'S AMBASSADOR TO THE VATICAN WISSAM AL ZAHAWIE aka ZAHAWI HAS ANOTHER LETTER PUBLISHED IN THE INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE ; IN IT HE SAYS THE UN IS TRYING TO GIVE THE US AND UK AN EXCUSE TO KEEP BOMBING) - Zenit

DECEMBER 30, 1999 : (IRAQ'S AMBASSADOR TO THE VATICAN WISSAM AL ZAHAWIE aka ZAHAWI HAS ANOTHER LETTER PUBLISHED IN THE INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE ; THIS ONE OBJECTS TO RESUMPTION OF UN INSPECTIONS) On December 30, 1999, 10 months after his trade mission to Niger, the International Herald Tribune published a letter from Zahawie objecting to resumption of UN weapons inspections. "It should come as no surprise that Iraq should resist the return of the so-called inspectors who were relaying to the United States and Britain the information they need to choose the targets for their systematic bombing of Iraq," Zahawie wrote.- "Iraqi Nuke Hawk Went to Niger," by Terence P. Jeffrey, Human Events , 8/1/03

1999 : (AFRICA : GABON QUITS EXPORTING URANIUM)

1990s late : (ANN PINCUS TRANSFERS TO OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND MEDIA REACTION AT STATE DEPT BUREAU OF INTELLIGENCE AND RESEARCH, THE SAME OFFICE WHICH WOULD 'LOSE' LAPTOP WITH CLASSIFIED INFO IN APRIL 2000) Timmerman said that after several years at the U.S. Information Agency, Ann Pincus was transferred in the late 1990s to the Office of Research and Media Reaction at the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research, the same office that "lost" a laptop computer loaded with highly classified intelligence documents in April 2000. http://www.aim.org/publications/media_monitor/2003/08/28.html via 42 posted on 10/09/2003 3:49 PM PDT by Ben Hecks

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