I never thought that Wilson was part of the operation, but perhaps was privy to the fact that the documents had been created as a red herring. To think that Wilson was an actual player, is to give him way too much importance. The man is a giant, only in his own mind.
Remember that France controls the nuclear energy industry in Niger, Wilson had some pretty good contacts among the French, and all that was actually claimed was that Saddam had attempted to buy uranium from Niger, not that he had succeeded. The documents were intended to prove that Saddam had succeeded, followed by the disclosure that the documents were forged, with the ultimate hoped for result of discrediting the US and British intelligence and distracting from the indisputable fact that Saddam had indeed tried to buy yellow cake from Niger (the French in Niger).
Yes................. you may likely be correct......... he just walked into it......... took a well-paid trip.............. and voila!
But........... my opinion is is that he still had his "way" with his second wife.................and that WAY as is the WAY of the French government is/was to diminish or/and destroy the efforts of the Brits and the Americans going into the war!
Get it?