Good info, thanks! I don't doubt for a second that Niger might have shipped uranium ore to Libya (or a number of other countries) by sea if they thought they could get away with it..... I was only saying that the (apparent) lack of a good road meant that the adjacent location of Libya did not necessarily make it likely that they would obtain their uranium from Niger. However, there are relatively few possible sources, and given the atrocious record of French companies and government with the "oil for food" program, no rational person (that excludes Joe Wilson and his fans) could possibly take any assurances of the French consortium which runs Niger's uranium mines with the slightest confidence. Also, even if high officials were 'clean' that doesn't mean some middle officials in-country couldn't have worked out a scheme to "cook the books" and siphon off some of the ore for their own corrupt purposes. Given that Iraq (and Libya, and other rogue states) would be willing to pay top dollar (nay, perhaps much more than top dollar) for any illicit uranium they could obtain, there were all kinds of motives and incentives for the players to try to deceive the USA. Joe Wilson's naivete (or wilful ignorance) about these matters is one of the most appalling aspects of the whole affair. Then there is the total failure of the MSM to see through him and ask some hard questions.
"Joe Wilson's naivete (or wilful ignorance) about these matters is one of the most appalling aspects of the whole affair. Then there is the total failure of the MSM to see through him and ask some hard questions."
Saw Hitchens on Hardball. Matthews was a complete asshole as usual when Hitchens tried to explain to Chrissy that Wilson was not being "discredited" but that Wilson was a liar.