Say Anything Blog

[...] A Reminder About Joe Wilson’s Yellowcake Documents By Rob on October 31, 2005 at 1:26 am [...]

Here’s the thing that puzzles me:  The CIA is supposed to be the source of foreign intel.  That is their job.  The FBI handles domestic intel, so the CIA gets all the rest.  If the Prez, Clinton and Kerry all believed that Saddam had WMDs, then the CIA was the source of that info.  So, they must be doing a CYA job by blaming the President, through a relatively unknown aide to the VP, of somehow being at fault for believing their intel.
It might be that they are focusing on the State of the Union speech because he named the British govt as his source for the uranium ore in Africa thing.  Maybe they are either miffed or jealous.  At any rate, it all seems to be a huge smokescreen to conceal their incompetence.  I welcome any investigation into their intel on this matter.

The crudely forged Niger/Uranium story was was circulating

Soon after the September 11th attacks, the Italian military intelligence agency SISMI sent its first report to the US government including details of an alleged Iraqi purchase of 500 tons of lightly-processed uranium ore from Niger. Details of this and a subsequent SISMI report were included in a CIA briefing of Vice President Cheney received in early 2002. And it was that briefing that prompted Cheney’s request for more information on the Iraq-Niger sale. And that requesting led in turn to the CIA’s decision to dispatch Joe Wilson on his trip to Niger.

But there was another key detail: The reports out of Italy were not a separate source of intelligence from the forgeries. They were the forgeries. To be precise, the intelligence reports from Italy were actually text transcriptions and summaries of the forged documents.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/

If the Prez, Clinton and Kerry all believed that Saddam had WMDs, then the CIA was the source of that info.

The CIA was definitely a source but there were others...like the weapons inspectors for example. As far as the Italian forgeries go, I don’t recall the CIA ever supporting them as genuine although I could be mistaken. It seems to me that it was the Pentagon’s intelligence service that was most behind them. I read a fascinating account of the debate amongst the various intelligence groups on the Niger story but of couse I’ve lost it. I’ll post it if I run across it because it was quite interesting. Interesting timing that the Italian PM is visiting the States...I wonder if he’ll get any questions about them.

Also, why did the President say he learned about Saddam’s seeking uranium from Africa from the British govt?

Just a guess on my part but knowing that the documents were faked while at the same time not wanting to let go of the issue as a justification for the Iraqi operation, perhaps shifting the responsibility for possessing the “knowledge” to the British allowed the Americans an out when the documents were determined to be forgeries. It was the British who said the info was real so don’t blame us that its not.

As far as I can see, it still comes down to the CIA.  It is their job to evaluate external security matters.  If they didn’t refute the forged docs, then they bear some responsibility.  I can see where they, like all civil servants, would want to escape responsibility for doing their job, though.  The British still maintain that Saddam sought to buy uranium ore from Africa, so it is probably true at the base, forged docs or not.  I guess that is a bit of a Dan Rather, eh?

The British still maintain that Saddam sought to buy uranium ore from Africa, so it is probably true at the base,…

...forged docs or not.

whatever fits your theory best.

Mike:  Unlike you, I haven’t put forth a theory.  I don’t know what happened here yet, but there are some interesting facts that are known so far, and more seem to be emerging.  I, unlike the MSM, am in no hurry to predict the news.  I prefer to let the facts come out before I draw conclusions.  I am, however, one of those Americans who wanted to depose Saddam since before 1990, so I don’t buy into your theory that anyone lied to us to get us into Iraq.  I think we waited far too long.

Good info, W.  I have two questions.  One, why would the Italian Intel agency want to deceive us?  Two, maybe the CIA got pissed off that they didn’t come up with this.  I wonder if they verified this intel for the VP?  Also, why did the President say he learned about Saddam’s seeking uranium from Africa from the British govt?  Oh, well.

As far as I can see, it still comes down to the CIA.

and

The British still maintain that Saddam sought to buy uranium ore from Africa, so it is probably true at the base, forged docs or not.

My apologies for thinking that you had an explanation.

I am, however, one of those Americans who wanted to depose Saddam since before 1990, so I don’t buy into your theory that anyone lied to us to get us into Iraq. I think we waited far too long.

Which would make sense if enough people think as you do,which they plainly don’t...thus the need for some creative justification creation.

I see it as leadership. I don’t think there was any lying.  It is the duty of the salesman to present his product in the best possible light, without being dishonest. The left is certainly trying to sell us their agenda, and they may be just a little dishonest about it. I view 9/11 as the precipitating event that removed the multicultural wool from over our eyes.  The eyes of some of us, at least.  The ones with their heads in the sand and their butts in the air are still looking to get cornholed.

It is the duty of the salesman to present his product in the best possible light, without being dishonest.

Can’t argue with that nor do I forget about caveat emptor. It’s just a shame that we plebes have to pay for your adventures. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Well, since I am not an ostrich, I choose to live free.  It isn’t an adventure, it’s the principle upon which my country was founded.  If we had an honest MSM, the sales job wouldn’t be necessary.  Most people think the war was about oil(not a bad idea, btw), not about preventing a madman from taking over the Middle East and all that entials.  The MSM covered up the facts and created massive smokescreens to prevent the majority of the public from knowing the truth about fanatical Islam.  The 9/11 attacks showed them the truth, and they responded with the necessary support.  The lobbying in the MSM to deny the truth that 9/11 showed us has been spectacular.  I still think the majority supports the President.  I think the polls are part of the disnformation campaign. All I want is for the MSM to present all the facts with no spin, and then let the people choose from the real menu.  Wishful thinking, I know.  Thus talk radio and the blogosphere.  Without us, we would have had a Vietnam-style debacle already.

You’re a riot but don’t forget to breathe.

All I want is for the MSM to present all the facts with no spin, and then let the people choose from the real menu. Wishful thinking, I know.

Agreed.

I think it’s the Muslims who are rioting in Paris right now.