Joe Wilson’s Response To Robert Novak Column

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Joe Wilson’s Response To Robert Novak Column
Posted by SusanUnPC on behalf of Ambassador Joseph Wilson
Thursday, 13 July 2006

UPDATE FROM LARRY JOHNSON:

Many thanks to Susan for getting this story up. I just got to a computer and wanted to add a couple of notes. First, Robert Novak has been repeating the nonsense that he learned Valerie’s name because he looked her up in Who’s Who. Excuse me? If you looked up Valerie in Who’s Who back in July 2001 it said nothing, I repeat NOTHING, about her working for the CIA. The only way Novak knew that she worked at the CIA was because Karl Rove told him. Bill Harlow, the CIA’s spokesman said more than he should to Novak but at least he warned Novak not to print anything about her identity. But Novak ignored Harwell. Second, more than 10 former intelligence officers (myself included), identified by name, have stated that Valerie was undercover when she was outed. Those are cold, hard facts.

Now we have this from Joe Wilson:

"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 set up 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."

— Ambassador Joseph Wilson

What is it about "undercover" that the Administration does not understand?

UPDATES: Turn on your teevees tomorrow morning at 10AM ET — Joe and Valerie are holding a press conference to announce their suit against Cheney, Libby and Rove. And Josh Micah Marshall has posted the complaint. Also, I just got "Breaking News" in my Inbox from CNN about the lawsuit.

And, if you want to donate to help defray the lawyer’s fees, here is the site:
http://www.wilsonsupport.org.