Follow the trail: how a rumour in Niger led to a crisis in Washington

[lovuian]

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1604574,00.html

The vice-president

Dick Cheney, who was angered by Wilson saying the administration twisted findings to support an Iraq invasion. Cheney mentioned Plame's work to...

The hapless fall guy

Lewis 'Scooter' Libby, who was Cheney's chief of staff, and ended up revealing Plame's work at the CIA to several journalists, including Judith Miller.

The woman of mass destruction

New York Times reporter Judy Miller. She did not write a story on Plame but went to jail for 85 days for initially refusing to reveal Libby's identity to ...

The relentless prosecutor

Patrick Fitzgerald, who investigated the blowing of Plame's cover - a federal crime. The probe has gone to the heart of the Bush administration.

more...

Its quite a trail!!!

[librarycard]

1. How did Cheney know Plame was CIA?

If Tenet told him, how did that come up in conversation?

Wasn't it Cheney who had first suggested to Tenet that RWer Wilson go to Niger when Cheney told the CIA, presumably Tenet, that he wanted "more information" about the yellowcake claim?

Did Poppy Bush tell Cheney to suggest that Wilson go? Did Poppy Bush know that Wilson's wife was CIA?

[Garbo 2004]

2. Cheney asked for more info from CIA. He didn't ask that Wilson be sent

to Niger to answer his question. (He didn't ask that anyone be sent.) CIA decided to do that on its own. And they've said so. CIA had previously sent Wilson to Africa on another matter due to his expertise in the area so not so remarkable that he be sent.

Furthermore, State Dept had been saying the Niger claim was bunk even before Wilson went to Africa. A US General also had been tasked to investigate the Niger claim and determined it to not be credible. Wilson wasn't the first or only one to conclude the Niger claim was not credible.

And lastly, Tenet denied he gave Cheney the Plame info. Regardless, Cheney had access to sources other than Tenet with ties to the CIA who could provide him with the Plame info.

[librarycard]

3. Thanks for the info.

How close is Poppy still tied to the CIA, I wonder, or is he out of the loop?

[Garbo 2004]

8. Dunno. I wonder if Sr is really on Jr's side. Jr's made a mess of it and

while Daddy's bestest bud, Brent Scrowcroft has been blasting away at the "cabal" in Jr's Administration actually for longer than the recent LAT article, one must remember Daddy's been part of a bigger cabal. And Jr's just bringing too much attention to what they're about and how they they work. And despite the PNAC's true believers wet dream, Iraq is bad news for the larger cabal's business.

I'm just musing here, but I can't help but think of The Godfather. Remember when Sonny took over the family when the Don was shot? He made a mess of things. When the Don recovers and Sonny's gone, he says "He was a bad Don."

[Junkdrawer]

4. I'll bet Cheney & Libby investigated Plame as soon as Wilson filed...

his Niger report, if not sooner. I think a conspiracy to kill Brewster-Jennings is at the heart of this case...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5222729&mesg_id=5222729

[pushycat]

7. Jd you could be right that Brewster-Jennings was real target.

Nothing else makes much sense, even not knowing who is behind the opposition of that CIA front. Someone needed to block what Plame et al were tracking. Hope we get to find out someday!

[ignatius 2]

5. Ironic as hell that Berlusconi is coming to D C tomorrow to

meet with Chimpy. They must be coordinating their lies.

[lovuian]

6. Trick or Treat Berlusconi!!! Bingo Italy part of the charade!!!

Helping traitors!!!