Joe Wilson Responds to Robert Novak

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Joe Wilson has just sent TWN and other journalists interested in the Fitzgerald investigation of the White House outing of Valerie Plame Wilson's covert CIA role a statement regarding Robert Novak's effort to "justify the unjustifiable":

Robert Novak, some other commentators and the Administration continue to try to completely distort the role that Valerie Wilson played with respect to Ambassador Wilson's trip to Niger.
The facts are beyond dispute. The Office of the Vice President requested that the CIA investigate reports of alleged uranium purchases by Iraq from Niger. The CIA setup a meeting to respond to the Vice President's inquiry. Another CIA official, not Valerie Wilson, suggested to Valerie Wilson's supervisor that the Ambassador attend that meeting.

That other CIA official made the recommendation because that official was familiar with the Ambassador's vast experience in Niger and knew of a previous trip to Africa concerning uranium matters that had been undertaken by the Ambassador on behalf of the CIA in 1999.

Valerie Wilson's supervisor subsequently asked her to relay a request from him to the Ambassador that he would like the Ambassador to attend the meeting at the CIA. Valerie Wilson did not participate in the meeting.

As the CIA itself has officially confirmed, Valerie Wilson did not send Ambassador Wilson to Niger and she neither suggested him nor recommended him for the trip. Furthermore, the Ambassador agreed to travel to Niger pro bono with only his travel expenses being paid.

These are the facts -- not just because Joe Wilson has stated them but as they are represented elsewhere in the public record -- and shame on those who continue to insist on blurring the picture for political advantage.

-- Steve Clemons

Update: Here is some interesting analysis and follow-up material from Firedoglake.

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Posted by Den Valdron, Jul 13 2006, 12:58PM - Link

Sorry guys, but its officially over. Karl Rove burned a CIA agent to punish her husband for telling the truth. And he got away with it.

The official line, and the media line, is that it isn't a crime. It's not even wrongful. The bad guys have won again.

The only person held to account was Scooter Libby who had the bad judgement to be caught in too many lies, and who will inevitably be pardoned.

Hatred triumphs, lies win, deceit and vengeance rule. Honour lies bleeding on the ground, gangraped by animals. The hour of the beast is upon us, can you hear its laughter.

Oh Brave New World, god help us all.

Posted by a guy, Jul 13 2006, 2:37PM - Link

Is it me, or is it a little wierd that Joe Wilson refers to himself as "The Ambassador". I'll have to start doing that...

Posted by Friendly Fire, Jul 13 2006, 2:42PM - Link

DV nails it.

Israel could fucking break-up what consensus there ever was in Lebanon with its' blockade and indescriminate bombing....... and a new civil war

No-one to codemn it from the USA...... get your war chargers on.

Posted by Finest, Jul 13 2006, 2:50PM - Link

UPDATE - The Dance

We're dancin' so fast are hearts can't take it. If we dance just a little faster none of the facts will be pertinent. And they are:

Fitz is the man, BY YOUR OWN ADMISSION. He calls the tune. And it's not what you want to hear. NO CRIME!!

Wilson/Plame IV is cryin' again, cryin' cuz his trip to Niger isn't important any more. Cuz we all know his WIFE sent him there. HE is not important unless he writes an Op-Ed for the Times, a book, an email to Steve. The facts are in. And Fitz has spoken. You don't get sent on a junket to Africa and end up with anything other than simple notoriety.

There ain't no crime and you can publish, email, expound a laundry hamper of shirtail nonsense and it ain't gonna' change a thing.

Sorry, Joe.

Posted by John Powers, Jul 13 2006, 5:12PM - Link

"These are the facts -- not just because Joe Wilson has stated them but as they are represented elsewhere in the public record"

Thank you Steve for writing what certainly ought to be apparent. I'm sure lots of "insiders" read your blog, but so do lots of regular folks like me. It's empowering that you write on a multitude of important topics grounded in an ordinary way of construing facts.

Posted by Den Valdron, Jul 13 2006, 6:53PM - Link

Hey Finest,

The fact that a rabid dog has successfully ripped up a child does not mean that it is not a rabid dog, or that it is a fine and good thing to be a rabid dog. One thing that is perfectly clear is that Bush, Cheney, Rove, Libby et al were perfectly happy to sell America out to fry their political enemies, that's a certain kind of character on display. And its perfectly clear that the Niger Uranium thing was bullshit from start to finish, and its a testament to your Presidents character that he burned a man *and* his wife for telling the truth. Finally, its bullshit that Plame sent Wilson, and victory do not entitle you to lies. You got a win, enjoy it.

Posted by Rogermac, Jul 14 2006, 8:26AM - Link

Joe Wilson's apparently referring to himself as "the ambassador" may be because the statement in question was prepared by his lawyers. This would expain the third-person usage.

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