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Posted on 07/17/2003 2:29:00 PM PDT by knighthawk
Forged documents on which the British and US governments allegedly based their case that Iraq was seeking uranium from Niger were so crudely drafted that it is unlikely they would have stood up to more than a few hours' - or minutes' - scrutiny by any specialist, it emerged yesterday.
The letters and paperwork, which surfaced in Italy's left of centre daily La Repubblica, reveal how amateurish the forgeries were. Although they amount to only eight pages, they contain more than a dozen easily checkable errors.
A logo, supposedly the national symbol of Niger, is badly drawn and minus much of the detail normally used in government documents.
The US president, George Bush, used the forged documents to build a case for going to war with Iraq. The US has since accepted they were bogus and blamed British intelligence for supplying the information.
At prime minister's questions yesterday, Tony Blair insisted the UK claim was based not on the forged documents but on independent intelligence.
He added that the link between Niger and Iraq was not an invention of the CIA or Britain. "We know in the 1980s that Iraq purchased from Niger over 270 tons of uranium, and therefore it is not beyond the bounds of possibility - let's at least put it like this - that they went back to Niger again."
The International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN body responsible for non-proliferation, yesterday reminded Britain it had a duty to hand over any new intelligence for verification.
An IAEA spokeswoman, Melissa Fleming, said: "If there was any other evidence, it would still be appropriate for the IAEA to receive it."
The forged documents were passed in February this year by the US to the IAEA, which a month later declared them to be forgeries. The IAEA has not released the documents.
Ms Fleming said: "We are not able to discuss the details of classified documents or documents given to us by member states."
But it is understood that the documents are the same as those leaked to La Repubblica.
The paper claimed the forged documents were originally passed to British intelligence service representatives in Rome and their contents conveyed to the CIA.
The documents, apparently from senior Niger authorities in Niamey to the country's ambassador in Rome, and a telex, from Niger's embassy in Rome, all relate to alleged negotiations for Iraq to buy 500 tonnes of uranium from Niger. The letters, in French and stamped with the Niger government seal, are scattered with spelling mistakes and contain several glaring inconsistencies.
One letter is dated July 30 1999 although it talks of negotiations between Niger and Iraq after that date, on June 29 2000.
Another, dated October 10 2000, is apparently signed by the Niger foreign minister, Allele Elhadj Habibou, although he ceased to be foreign minister in 1989.
The letters include formal confirmation, apparently signed by the president of Niger, of an alleged deal for 500 tonnes of uranium to be sold to Iraq "per year".
According to Repubblica, Italian intelligence services came into contact with an African diplomat wanting to sell the documents late in 2001.
They may then have put the diplomat in touch with British intelligence services.
Italy's government has repeatedly denied formally passing on the documents to other countries, but the head of a parliamentary commission on intelligence and security, Enzo Bianco, said yesterday he could not deny that Italy may have passed on the documents in an informal way.
"This is possible," he said. "I don't rule it out."
Probably forged it. ;o)
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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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Dear Mr. Husayn:
I have been requested by the Niger National Uranium Company to contact you for assistance in resolving a matter. The Niger National Uranium Company has recently concluded a large number of contracts for uranium exploration in the sub-Sahara region. The contracts have immediately produced moneys equalling US$40,000,000. The Niger National Uranium Company is desirous of uranium exploration in other parts of the world, however, because of certain regulations of the Niger Government, it is unable to move these funds to another region.
You assistance is requested as a non-Niger citizen to assist the Niger National Uranium Company, and also the Central Bank of Niger, in moving these funds out of Niger. If the funds can be transferred to your name, in your Iraq account, then you can forward the funds as directed by the Niger National Uranium Company. In exchange for your accomodating services, the Niger National Uranium Company would agree to allow you to retain 10% of our production of yellowcake.
However, to be a legitimate transferee of these moneys according to Niger law, you must presently be a depositor of at least US$100,000 in a Niger bank which is regulated by the Central Bank of Niger.
If it will be possible for you to assist us, we would be most grateful. We suggest that you meet with us in person in Niamey, and that during your visit I introduce you to the representatives of the Niger National Uranium Company, as well as with certain officials of the Central Bank of Niger.
Please call me at your earliest convenience at [Phone Number Redacted]. Time is of the essence in this matter; very quickly the Niger Government will realize that the Central Bank is maintaining this amount on deposit, and attempt to levy certain depository taxes on it.
Yours truly, etc.
Ben Escameen
Wouldn't bet on it.
That was great!
Notice how they slip the lie in oh-so subtly?
The Young and The Brainless
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