A 9.12.9 Tribute To That Other Joe Wilson

[omega minimo]

Former Senior United States Diplomat
http://www.greatertalent.com/JosephWilson
In a New York Times article in July, 2003, Wilson publicly stated his conclusions resulting from his trip to Niger, and charged that the Bush Administration skewed the British intelligence to exaggerate the threat of Iraqi nuclear weapons development. Eight days later, as retaliation for his article, his wife's identity as a covert CIA officer was revealed by senior White House and State Department officials. The betrayal of Valerie Plame's identity was a crime, and resulted in the conviction of Vice President Dick Cheney's Chief of Staff on four counts of perjury, lying to federal investigators, and obstruction of justice.

What I Didn't Find in Africa by Joseph C. Wilson 4th - Published on Sunday, July 6, 2003 by the New York Times
http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0706-02.htm

State Department Memo: "16 Words" Were False
 By Jason Leopold
 t r u t h o u t | Report, Monday 17 April 2006
http://www.truthout.org/article/state-department-memo-16-words-were-false

Sixteen days before President Bush's January 28, 2003, State of the Union address in which he said that the US learned from British intelligence that Iraq had attempted to acquire uranium from Africa - an explosive claim that helped pave the way to war - the State Department told the CIA that the intelligence the uranium claims were based upon were forgeries, according to a newly declassified State Department memo.

The revelation of the warning from the closely guarded State Department memo is the first piece of hard evidence and the strongest to date that the Bush administration manipulated and ignored intelligence information in their zeal to win public support for invading Iraq.


The Sixteen Words
“The British Government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa .”

Wilson: Bush's Words "The Lie"
(From a web chat sponsored by Kerry for President Oct. 29, 2003) *** Joe Wilson (Oct 29, 2003 11:24:53 AM)

I would remind you that had Mr. Cheney taken into consideration my report as well as 2 others submitted on this subject, rather than the forgeries, the lie would never have been in President Bush's State of the Union address, 
so when they ask, "Who betrayed the President?" they need to point the finger at the person who inserted the 16 words, not at the person who found the truth of the matter.



The Supreme Court’s denial of review in the lawsuit by Valerie Plame Wilson and Joseph Wilson ends their quest for redress and reflects a disturbing trend towards closing the door to relief on those injured by federal officials. 




In clear violation of federal law, top government officials revealed that Valerie Wilson was a secret operative for the CIA, thereby destroying her career, and endangering not only Mrs. Wilson’s family, but also our national security. These officials’ actions also violated the Wilsons’ constitutional rights by retaliating against them after Joe Wilson exercised his First Amendment right to freedom of speech, invading their privacy, and depriving them of liberty and property without due process.



With the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the Wilsons’ case, the courts have cut back individuals’ rights even further, for the first time barring a suit based on an inapplicable statute. It is sad that the Supreme Court would not hear this case, that the Wilsons will never get their day in court, and that Cheney, Rove, Libby, and Armitage never will be held accountable for their illegal and unconstitutional actions. It is even sadder, however, to realize that following this decision, future government officials may be emboldened to violate citizens’ constitutional rights without fear of repercussions.


How Powerful Can 16 Words Be? by Christopher Marquis, Published on Sunday, July 20, 2003 by the New York Times - http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0720-09.htm
"By backing down from its most explosive claim, the administration has cast a cloud over its intelligence capabilities at a time it is seeking international support.

"It's hugely important that people aren't in a position to say, last time you cried wolf," said Christopher Patten, the European Union's commissioner for external relations, "why are we to believe you this time?"


It is even sadder, however, to realize that following this decision, future government officials may be emboldened to violate citizens’ constitutional rights without fear of repercussions.

[rumpel]

1. When will both of them see justice...

:(

[Independent_Liberal]

2. Let's hope soon.

Won't be easy, but battles like these are hardly ever won over night.

[omega minimo]

3. Do they have further legal recourse?

[omega minimo]

4. After there case was refused, is there another step?

[yoyossarian]

5. So weird... it's like we've intersected with the Bizarro Universe...

Joe Wilson is a GREAT American hero... but that other Joe Wilson is a traitorous cur!
And which is which depends entirely on which universe you happen to inhabit...


I KNOW she's not a Senator,
but HE doesn't know that!

Tee-shirts, buttons and other crap at
Laugh City!


President Evil Online
has risen from the grave!

[omega minimo]

6. kick for Joe and Valrerie and family and everyone who has to look at that other noxiousJW