Joseph Wilson, Niger, Uranium and Bush’s Famous Sixteen Words: Evolution of a Confused Story

April 16, 2004

[Shermy]

I almost put everything else in mind aside when I read this that he told a blogger (September 18, 2003):

"...Now, my understanding is that there are all sorts of other documents that have since come to light and Andrea Mitchell showed me some documents which I had not seen and frankly, I did not have my glasses, so I didn't even get a chance to read them, and I have not seen them since...."

[Shermy]

USA Today had this to say in its December 18, 1990 article about Wilson:

For Wilson, the dream assignment would be France. He grew up in Paris, his wife, Jacqueline, is French, and he owns a vacation home near the Riviera town of Hyeres.

He grew up in Paris...sounds like fodder for the grist...Paris, Paris, I've heard of that place before...yeah, Kerry applied for a draft deferment to study in Paris!

Well, I hear it's a great town.

[okie01]

What were these "documents", one wonders? And whatever was Andrea Mitchell doing with them?

Is there any history, d'ya 'spose, of the Wilsons and the Greenspans socializing? Or do they travel in different circles?

The Beltway "power couples" are so damn incestuous...

[Shermy]

It doesn't sound like she got them from Wilson.

[okie01]

It doesn't sound like she got them from Wilson.

On the other hand, he doesn't sound terribly curious about them, either.

I'm mystified as to what they might've been and where they might've come from.

But he evidently wasn't. And I don't understand that, either.

[Shermy]

If I needed glasses, I'd get some.

Or ask for the documents later.

But maybe he doesn't want to know. Doesn't help him.

I omitted a lot of comment, :) . Note my question:

"In media reports Wilson is usually introduced as the person who disproved President Bush’s State of the Union speech claim that Iraq sought uranium in Africa, Bush’s “famous sixteen words.” But did he disprove that? Has he ever claimed that, and if so, does he still so claim?"


It is often claimed that he disproved the speech. Did he himself ever claim so? In his editorial he arguably does so by innuendo - the sole dramatic high-point, the reference to the state department fact sheet. Every thing I read he said after the editorial didn't say so. His criticisms of Bush never revisit this issue, the issue that made him famous. That's why I think my four questions would help clarify things.

Regarding the documents, maybe someone leaked them to select reporters after the initial hubbub to quiet things down...

[Fedora]

For Wilson, the dream assignment would be France.

I guess Wilson figures Paris would be more convenient for him because he'd be closer to his handlers :)

[okie01]

"But did he disprove that? Has he ever claimed that, and if so, does he still so claim?"

You've described the nub of the issue. Any fair reading of his published claims reveals that Wilson did not, ipso facto, disprove Bush's statement. And, in his initial interviews, he qualifies his testimony accordingly.

However, his op-ed clearly infers that the facts contradict Bush's statement. And his interviewers operate on the assumption that they do, never acknowledging his disclaimers.

It is a very skilled act. It seems to me that somebody with inside media knowledge must have cleverly guided Wilson in how to manage this subtle outcome. Pincus?

I, too, wonder how Wilson would respond to your question. Can he afford to be honest now? Or does he now believe the lie he himself propounded?

[Shermy]

Speaking of innuendo, from Vanity Fair:

"...In the days after the Novak column ran, a producer from ABC-Wilson will not say who-phoned him at home and said, "They're saying things about you at the White House so off-the-wall we can't even put them up." NBC's Andrea Mitchell called him that weekend, he says, and told him that sources at the White House were telling her, "The real story here is not the 16 words-the real story is Wilson and his wife." ..."

[mrustow]

Thanks for the ping, and for your prodigious research, Shermy. I have downloaded the thread, and will study it intently.

[Ben Hecks]

Thanks for the ping! Impressive research job! This gets bookmarked with the recent Pincus thread.

[Fedora]

Speaking of innuendo, from Vanity Fair:

They sure do like to quote anonymous "sources".

I've noticed Andrea Mitchell's name pop up a few times in the recent discussion of this. I never watch NBC so I don't know what she's been saying, but it sounds like some research on her may be in order, too.

[piasa]

I see you've found some things I hadn't some across yet- thank you for putting this together and posting it for us, excellent work.

[piasa]

Well, he also seems to be the only person who claims to have seen even a glimpse of them.

Has Andrea Mitchell ever mentioned them?

(And will they be conveniently stolen like the docs on Kerry were from the author who used the FOIA to get them?)

Stay tuned for more "As the World Spins"

[Dolphy]

Did you catch this from Tenet's statement:

The same former official also said that in June 1999 a businessman approached him and insisted that the former official meet with an Iraqi delegation to discuss "expanding commercial relations" between Iraq and Niger. The former official interpreted the overture as an attempt to discuss uranium sales.

Assuming Wilson is the single source for this statement, the State Department fact sheet that says Iraq's efforts to procure uranium were not exactly refuted by Wilson.

Also, have you seen what journalists made the subpoena list. I also ran into this article about Novak's history of being used, which I hadn't known.

Back to your research, again great job. It's almost funny to line up the journalist's manipulation of the facts as they try to charge Bush with manipulating the facts for his own ends.

[MEG33]

Excellent..Thank you for the research.

[Shermy]

Mark your calendars...

DATELINE NBC
FRIDAY, APR. 30
8:00 p.m. ET In his first network television interview, Ambassador Joseph Wilson talks with NBC’s Campbell Brown about his revealing new book, ”The Politics of Truth.”

[Dolphy]

On April 30, 2004 Ambassador Joseph Wilson’s book “The Politics of Truth” will be released. Wilson has been an opponent to the Iraq war, having proposed instead continued UN sanctions and inspections in a “containment” strategy

Yeah, that UN based containment strategy was working as evidenced by the oil for food program. No wonder the major media doesn't want to devote too much time to that story, they have books to sell and politics to play.

[Wolfstar]

Thanks for the ping and heads-up, Shermy. 8:00pm Eastern time is 5:00pm Pacific. I'll still be at work. Perhaps you or one of the other FReepers who are monitoring this story will post a summary of what the worm had to say. He sure couldn't have picked a softer touch to interview him. Campbell Brown, now there's a tuffie, LOL!

[Fedora]

Thanks, Shermy!