Replies

"So where is it that you are coming up with that Cheney had doubts, and where are you coming up with that Cheney suggested someone unqualified for the task?"

I don't think I stated that Cheney suggested someone unqualified for the job -- certainly Wilson had qualifications, if you look at his credentials.

My statement about Cheney having doubts and sending Wilson comes from Cifford May's article "Scandal!", which has been posted on FR several times and can be found at http://www.nationalreview.com/may/may071103.asp.

The relevant quote from the article:

"Actually, Wilson has plenty of choices — but no basis for his slanderous allegation. A little background: Mr. Wilson was sent to Niger by the CIA to verify a U.S. intelligence report about the sale of yellowcake — because Vice President Dick Cheney requested it, because Cheney had doubts about the validity of the intelligence report.

Wilson says he spent eight days in Niger "drinking sweet mint tea and meeting with dozens of people" — hardly what a competent spy, detective, or even reporter would call an in-depth investigation. Nevertheless, let's give Wilson the benefit of the doubt and stipulate that he was correct when he reported back to the CIA that he believed it was 'highly doubtful that any such transaction ever took place. '"

I'll admit I am assuming that Cheney decided that Wilson's report was not credible, but it seems reasonable. And since May is the source for all of the other statements about Wilson in this report (virtually point for point) I am going to assume that May *was* credible when he said that Wilson was sent by Cheney.

Good enough?

OK, so May said that Cheney was a skeptic. I will tend to believe him, since May seems to be writing in defense of the administration or of the truth and not on a witch hunt; however, it would be nice if he substantiated this claim as he does with all the other things he lists. All of them, one can verify. The one saying Cheney doubted the intelligence, cannot- at least with the information presented.

But you said "Dick Cheney "tapped" this kook. He chose him on the reasonable grounds that he wanted an independent eye looking this situation over... So Cheney sent a skeptic. There is nothing presented by May saying Cheney chose Wilson. You state that he did. Did you make that up, did you read some tea leaves, or did you have something to base it on?

As for Wilson being qualified, he was being sent to evaluate intelligence information regarding the attempted procurement of uranium yellowcake, including determining if documents were forged.

Was he a CIA operative? No.

Was he an expert in yellowcake or other forms of radioactive materials? No.

Was he an expert in detecting forged documents? No.

Was he a weapons expert? No.

Did he have any qualifications relevant to his task?

No.

(Admin- I forgot a tag. Could you delete the previous copy of this reply please?)