Did Plame accompany Wilson to Niger?

[Peachhead22]

Being husband and wife you would think it's a strong possibility. If that is true, then the CIA didn't send Joseph Wilson to Niger. They sent a CIA operative exactly qualified to look into the matter in question. Her husband went along as cover (since he used to work there and it wouldn't arouse suspition for him to visit with official contacts). Even if the 'Pubs then argue "Well then, Plame recommended herself". Well duh, who hasn't recommended/volunteered themselves for an assignment? Especially one they're extremely qualified for, as was Valerie Plame.

edited for spelling

[Field Of Dreams]

1. My understanding is she did not accompany him...

but I could be totally wrong (certainly wouldn't be the first time)!

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. No

There is no indication that she did.

[H2O Man]

7. Correct.

She did not go. Wilson was going in an official capacity. The Agency indeed sent a highly qualified person. Note that Libby refered to him as the "clandestine guy" the CIA sent. Plame was, until Mr. Novak's article, a NOC, which by definition means she could never go on a mission in an official capacity.

Attempts to paint Wilson as unqualified fall flat. He was, without any question, the single best person for the mission. And his findings confiormed what both the CIA and military intelligence had previously reported.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

9. And if I recall properly, the ambassador to Niger reported the same

thing.

[H2O Man]

12. Right.

Her report was the agency's first.

[Peachhead22]

13. Wouldn't that have made Wilson...

...at least a quasi-operative of the CIA? Could Wilson have been a full-fledged CIA operative (with official cover)? If so the Bushies not only rendered one operative useless for future overseas operations, they did it for two.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

15. Why would he have had to be a CIA operative? I don't understand

your need to tie him to the CIA. He was in the dipolomatic corps for years, and had very many connections in the region, and he was just doing an investigative job at the request of the CIA because of his experience in Africa.

[Peachhead22]

16. I don't 'need' to tie him to anything

Even as a diplomat, he's the former ambassordor to both Niger AND Iraq. Which would make him one of the most qualified people on the planet for the trip he was sent on. Regardless of who his wife was or any CIA contacts he conceivably could have had. I'm just trying to see if Fitzgerald might have any additional counts of violation of any IIPA-like laws against the Bushies.

I'm just thinking out loud.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

3. I have heard him say that he went alone. eom

[Verve]

4. Good question but I doubt it.

The republicans would have emphasized this long ago if true.

Also, on a practical level, I think they have small kids. In most families with small kids, the majority of trips are taken by only one spouse so one can be home, close to the kids.

[npincus]

5. no

[librechik]

6. no--she had just given birth to twins.

and that fact was one reason Wilson said it was ridiculous to suggest that she sent him!

[Just Me]

8. No, she did NOT go. Where did you hear such a suggestion?

:shrug:

[Peachhead22]

10. I didn't hear it anywhere

It just struck me that "If Wilson went, wouldn't it be natural for his wife to accompany him?".

I was bringing up a point, but apparently I was wrong about my presumption.

[AlCzervik]

14. That would have come already and Wilson would have been smeared even more

[symbolman]

11. I used the Downing Street Minutes Hearing liberally in my film

"Rove's War" at Takebackthemedia.com and Wilson states that his wife never went with him, an as a matter of fact wasn't even in the room when the meeting took place where he was asked to go..

I like that I was able to use Wilson's testimony (under OATH) in the DSM Hearing to completely DeBunk Republican talking points :)

H2OMan, you've got a fan club thread happening if you don't know it, I just posted there :)