Why was Wilson sent to Niger?

[Dhalgren]

I have not found a "real" explanation as to why the CIA sent Wilson to Niger to look into the yellow cake business. The CIA has to have assets in Niger - had to have had them in 2002. When the VP's office asked for more information on the topic, why did the CIA send a public figure, married to a CIA agent and not simply have an asset give a detailed report? That is something that I have never really understood. Was the CIA trying to somehow "set up" the Glorious Leader and his thugs? Was there some reason that they needed to send someone of Wilson's position? I will admit, up front, that I may be just missing this...

[rooboy]

1. If you have a good read of Joe Wilson's CV, you'll understand why.

He's one of the most qualified people you could find to do the job.

[w13rd0]

2. Wilson had connections...

...within the government, and could pursue the issue as a public matter. There's nothing insidious about trying to verify activities Saddam may have been taking that were contrary to UN resolutions. So why use, and thusly endanger, a NOC or CIA official? Wilson was able to go and do what needed to be done and was well qualified to do so.

[Dhalgren]

5. There was no reason to "endanger" any CIA operative.

The idea is that the CIA had to send someone publicly to Niger to find out about the yellow cake business. Why? Why publicly? And the assumption must be that the CIA did not know the answers before sending Wilson - that I find hard to believe. I understand that Wilson was qualified and smart and honest, but if the CIA is finding out valuable WMD intelligence by sending public figures to talk to other public figures openly...I don't know, it just doesn't sound right. Ms Plame was the head of a world-wide WMD proliferation network - did this not fall with in the purview of this or some similar network? But the CIA had to send a high profile, former ambassador to talk to public officials in Niger? Like I said, I may be missing something, but this just doesn't make sense to me...

[Cocoa]

3. he is an expert in the area

former ambassador to both Iraq and at least one West African country.

Speaks French too.

[benburch]

4. Wilson himself may be a CIA operative.

Of course, he won't say that, and nor would anybody else. (Other than Maybe KKKarl Rove)

[kodi]

6. wilson had contacts no one else had in Niger.

he also had experience with checking on press cake sales from an earlier trip to niger in 1999.

there were three intelligence reports on niger press cakes sales in the spring of 2002.....one was by the US military in the form of a 3 star general, one by the state dept in the form of the US ambassador to niger, and wilson's.

[0007]

7. .....absolutely!