Chronology Of Valerie Plame Controversy

CnsNews ^ | Oct 28, 2005 | Randy Hall

[Cindy_Cin]

The indictment of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, chief of staff for Vice President Dick Cheney, on Friday is the result of a 22-month investigation that had its roots in the buildup to the war in Iraq. Here is a listing of the events that led to the five charges being filed against Libby.

Feb. 2002: The CIA sends retired diplomat Joseph Wilson to Africa to investigate possible Iraqi purchases of uranium. Wilson reports back that purchase of yellowcake from Niger by Iraqi Dictator Saddam Hussein was "highly unlikely."

[Cindy_Cin]

I hope this is not a repeat.

[VRWCmember]

Wilson reports back that purchase of yellowcake from Niger by Iraqi Dictator Saddam Hussein was "highly unlikely."

Which might actually be relevant if those infamous sixteen words had been "We recently learned Saddam Hussein purchased large amounts of yellocake uranium from the country of Niger." But that was not what the president said. He said we had recently learn that Hussein ATTEMPTED TO OBTAIN ... uranium from AFRICA.

So all that Wilson's "explosive" finding reveals is that a particular purchase was "highly unlikely". Of course the fact that there was a purchase to investigate and deem as "highly unlikely" is in itself an indication that there probably was an attempt to purchase.

[AliVeritas]

Courtesy Gateway Pundit (to archive, loads of info):

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/

[kellynla]

what a waste of taxpayers' money and time...
any "beat cop" in America could have investigated Wilson's claim of "outing" his CIA desk jockey wife in one day and established that because she was not a "covert agent" that there was no crime.

Instead, we have another out of control independent prosecutor running wild with a carte blanche expense account!

Bottom line, if you're ever subpoenaed to appear before a Grand Jury; sell the house and pack up the wife and kids and get the hell out of the country; 'cause anyone can be indicted for something!

[gondramB]

" The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed in the 1990s that Saddam Hussein had an advanced nuclear weapons development program, had a design for a nuclear weapon and was working on five different methods of enriching uranium for a bomb. The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa. Our intelligence sources tell us that he has attempted to purchase high-strength aluminum tubes suitable for nuclear weapons production. Saddam Hussein has not credibly explained these activities. He clearly has much to hide."

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/01/20030128-19.html

[gondramB]

"Since she had no way of knowing whether Wislon might have been a double agent himself she could have exposed and endangered other CIA agents and their missions as well as her own (if she really had one - something we still don't know"

Wasn't Wilson Bush41's ambassodor to Iraq? If this is the same guy, he was kind of a hero back then.

[blau993]

There was no question, and even Wilson has never denied, that the Iraqis were in Niger and trying to establish a "trade relationship" with that country. Since Niger has only one export commodity, uranium ore ("yellowcake"), it doesn't take too much analytical expertise to figure out what the Iraqis were up to.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Wilson said she was able to reveal she was an operative ( on date 3 before he, a married man, was getting ready to bang her) because of his high security clearance. Can someone confirm or deny?

[Sorry to offend, but it is what it is]

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Thanks. I'll jump over to that thread now.

[kabar]

But that was not what the president said. He said we had recently learn that Hussein ATTEMPTED TO OBTAIN ... uranium from AFRICA.

That's not what he said. You left out the most important part. The British Government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa .”

The British still stand by that statement. The big mistake Bush made was allowing Tenet, in his July 11, 2003 press release, state "These 16 words should never have been included in the text written for the President." and "The background above makes it even more troubling that the 16 words eventually made it into the State of the Union speech. This was a mistake." Tenet Press Release

[kabar]

Wasn't Wilson Bush41's ambassodor to Iraq? If this is the same guy, he was kind of a hero back then.

Wilson was a career foreign service officer. He was Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) under Amb April Glaspie. When she left, he became in charge of the Mission as the Charge'. He was not our ambassador to Iraq.

[awb2121]

The whole leak thing was a means by which the Beltway could "eat one of their own." So what? Wilson has had way too many stories to even be consider and "expert".

Now he is mad because his family, wife, and him have been embarrassed? Was that before or after he said he used too many drugs, had too many wife's', and did inhale.

What a waste of time money, (our money), and effort to eat one of their own. The press will do anything, and have shown it to get at President Bush. Outside of the Beltway, who cares.

[gondramB]

"Wilson was a career foreign service officer. He was Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) under Amb April Glaspie. When she left, he became in charge of the Mission as the Charge'. He was not our ambassador to Iraq."

I stand corrected.

[Steve_Seattle]

Wilson has had way too many stories to even be consider and "expert".

Last night on national television, Wilson told Wolf Blitzer that he was sent to Niger because of his "expertise," yet another lie. He was NOT a WMD expert, and he had made only one brief trip to Niger in more than a decade.

[Yellow Rose of Texas]

Bump

[popdonnelly]

Wilson was Ambassador to Gabon from 1992 to 1995. He met his second wife, the French Jacqueline, there. Gabon's similarities to Niger are: they are both former French colonies; they have yellowcake uranium mined by joint local/French consortiums.

[gondramB]

Interesting... thank you.