Posted on 04/17/2006 1:30:56 PM PDT by rellimpank
Nobody appears to dispute what I wrote in last week's Slate to the effect that in February 1999, Saddam Hussein dispatched his former envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency, and former delegate to non-proliferation conferences at the United Nations, to Niger. Wissam al-Zahawie was, at the time of his visit, the accredited ambassador of Iraq to the Vatican: a more senior post than it may sound, given that the Vatican was almost the only full European embassy that Iraq then possessed. And nobody has proposed an answer to my question: Given the fact that Niger is synonymous with uranium (and was Iraq's source of "yellowcake" in 1981), and given that Zahawie had been Iraq's main man in nuclear diplomacy, what innocent explanation can be found for his trip
(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...
bttt
fyi
Well, someone has been reading FR.
While we're exposing dirty laundry, where did Libya get its uranium from?
Its original stash came from Niger. Where did its newer stash come from?
If you notice that Libya borders with Niger, you're cheating. Niger would never engage in contraband uranium sales, Wilson assured us that. Its all been checked out by the IAEA, Wilson assured us that also.
Except that IAEA itself said that they did not monitor Niger at all for three reasons; one, they didn't have legal permission from the government of Niger; two, they didn't have the personnel; and three, its just low-grade yellowcake, after all.
So, where did Libya get its yellowcake?
Christopher Hitchens: the rare socialist that I respect, ferociously honest and pro-democracy.
Joe Wilson: Lying, manipulative media whore psychopath. The kind of vermin that I (and Hitchens) absolutely despise.
I'd love to see the scowls on the faces of The Nation's readers.
ops. Slate readers
Joe Wilson was going to Niger on private company business. His wife arranged for an 'all expenses paid, no strings attached' trip for Joe, on the CIA's ticket, to 'spy' for them to see if Saddam was buying Yellowcake from the President Of Niger.
What was Joe's private company in the business of? In Niger?
I'm not sure he has read these FR pages.
1. He did not mention it was Wilson himself who was sent to Niger (on suggestion of his wife) in 1999. Presumably thgat dealt with the Zahawie matter. That is referenced in the Sentate intelligence report. I'd think he would have mentioned that.
2. He mentions Wilson's flippant spin on the al-Sahaf meeting in Algeria. The spin is it was al-Sahaf, alias Baghdad Bob, so how serious could that meeting have been?
But Baghdad Bob's blustering days were a post-2001 gig. What position did Al-Sahaf hold at the time of the meeting? Foreign Minister of Iraq. Nothing to sneeze at I'd say.
You thinking along the same lines as I am. Joe Wilson made a lot of money being a “consultant” to business interests in Africa. I wonder if Wilson’s business connections in Niger and Africa led him to lie about Niger’s yellowcake production.
"Niger would never engage in contraband uranium sales, Wilson assured us that."
Especially because the mines are controlled by French companies. FRENCH companies.
/sarc
Why was Joe going to Niger in the first place?
What does the company he owns do as a business? (the one that was in Niger waiting for him)
Hitchens has utterly destroyed Wilson. Fun to watch.
This is good follow-up to the New York Sun thread.
Twice Joe made the trip to Niger. Once during the Clinton admin., the other during the Bush admin.
Each ime the CIA was tasked with determining if Niger was selling Yellowcake ore to Saddam.
Each time, Saddam somehow scored a shipment of Yellowcake ore.
Each time, Joe told the CIA (he was not under any oath to tell the truth, he signed no papers) that there were no sales.
Joe's company brokers sales of Yellowcake ore for the President of Niger.
Joe's company brokers sales of Yellowcake ore for the President of Niger.
Joe's company brokers sales of Yellowcake ore for the President of Niger.
Joe would seem to be self-employed:
"Wilson manages JCWilson International Ventures, Corporation, a consulting firm specializing in strategic management and international business development.
Wilson is a speaker represented exclusively by Greater Talent Network."
His company, among other things, is a broker for the President of Niger.
Didn't Joe Wilso,s consulting firm share office space with Almudi (sp) now in jail for various things, one being caught with a huge amount of cash from Libya?
He is in business with a Saudi investor, specializing in west african mining.
...and JCWilson International Ventures, Corporation, brokers deals for the President of Niger, or has done so in the past, IIRC.
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