Yes. In Fact, His Wife Suggested Him For 1999 Trip, As Well. “The former ambassador had traveled previously to Niger on the CIA’s behalf … The former ambassador was selected for the 1999 trip after his wife mentioned to her supervisors that her husband was planning a business trip to Niger in the near future and might be willing to use his contacts in the region …” (Select Committee On Intelligence, “Report On The U.S. Intelligence Community’s Prewar Intelligence Assessments On Iraq,” U.S. Senate, 7/7/04)
Seems there are many folks who would have known of his credentials for such a trip.
I doubt it. I served on an Agency advisory board after I retired from the USG. My assignment was the result of someone in the Agency who knew me personally. You can have some credentials (along with the requisite security clearances), but it is who you know, more that what you know. Plame volunteered her retired husband and the Agency approved him because he had the contacts and security clearance. I am sure others could have fit that bill, but Wilson had the advantage of his wife on the inside who could influence her supervisors.
But that's okay. The fact - indisputable fact - of my post above is that someone at the RNC is lying through their teeth about what Wilson said, using one of the most blatant selective edits I have ever seen. Strange that no one here wonders why.
Specifically, what is someone at the RNC "lying through their teeth" about? What blatant selective edit?
It is pretty shameless.
I'm wondering that myself. Both seem to be saying the same thing. If you can figure out the difference, pass it on!