by Tina Grazier.
President George Bush repeatedly told the American people that the war against terrorists would be fought in many ways and on many fronts. One important tool in such a war is tight lipped security regardless of what it might mean in terms of the presidents popularity. Security during a time of war is one of many essentials.
Opponents of the president, and of this war, have been adamant in their claims that no WMD were found in Iraq. They have used this claim to discredit and malign both the president and his staffand they have gotten away with it even though there was irrefutable evidence that Saddam Hussein had WMD prior to the war. Its time for a little reality check:
US removes uranium from Iraq, by Brian Murphy AP Writer, AP Exclusive
The last major remnant of Saddam Hussein’s nuclear program – a huge stockpile of concentrated natural uranium – reached a Canadian port Saturday to complete a secret U.S. operation that included a two-week airlift from Baghdad and a ship voyage crossing two oceans. ** The removal of 550 metric tons of “yellowcake” – the seed material for higher-grade nuclear enrichment – was a significant step toward closing the books on Saddam’s nuclear legacy. It also brought relief to U.S. and Iraqi authorities who had worried the cache would reach insurgents or smugglers crossing to Iran to aid its nuclear ambitions.
This information, though limited in scope, demonstrates Saddams intentions moving forward. It suggests that administration concerns about what Saddam might do if left in power were well-founded. It represents further evidence that many in the main stream media have purposefully slanted stories to weaken or undermine the administration and the war effort.
But twisting the realities about WMD isnt the only egregious move made by Bush enemies and doubters. Rather, it is one of many in a string designed to harm the reputation of the Bush Administration. Does anyone recall the investigation into the outing of Valerie Plame? At issue in the case was an accusation that Saddam had tried to purchase yellowcake from Niger:
Accusations that Saddam had tried to purchase more yellowcake from the African nation of Niger – and an article by a former U.S. ambassador refuting the claims – led to a wide-ranging probe into Washington leaks that reached high into the Bush administration.
***
None of the facts about the Valerie Plame case mattered much to the main stream media or the leftist nuts out to get the president and his staff. Findings from both US and British Intelligence agencies regarding Valerie Plame, her husband Joe Wilson, and the yellowcake/Niger connection were largely ignored:
The Yellowcake Con – The Wilson-Plame scandal was political pulp fiction.
But the part that may prove most salient in the U.S. is that, like the Senate Intelligence findings, the Butler report vindicates President Bush on the allegedly misleading “16 words” regarding uranium from Africa: “We conclude also that the statement in President Bush’s State of the Union Address of 28 January 2003 that ‘The British Government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa’ was well-founded.” *** We’re awaiting apologies from former Ambassador Joe Wilson, and all those who championed him, after his July 2003 New York Times op-ed alleging that Mr. Bush had “twisted” intelligence “to exaggerate the Iraqi threat.” The news is also relevant to the question of whether any crime was committed when a still unknown Administration official told columnist Robert Novak that Mr. Wilson’s wife, Valerie Plame, was a CIA employee and that’s why he had been recommended for a sensitive mission to Niger. A Justice Department special prosecutor is investigating the case, with especially paralyzing effect on the office of the Vice President. *** In that New York Times piece, readers will recall, Mr. Wilson outed himself as the person who had been sent to Niger by the CIA in February 2002 to investigate claims that Iraq might have been seeking yellowcake ore for its weapons program. Vice President Dick Cheney had asked for the CIA’s opinion on the issue after reading a Defense intelligence report. *** Mr. Wilson wrote that “It did not take long to conclude that it was highly doubtful that any such transaction had ever taken place.” He claimed he informed the CIA of his findings upon his return, was certain reports of his debrief had circulated through appropriate channels, and that the Administration had chosen to ignore his debunking of the story. *** But very little of what Mr. Wilson has said has turned out to be true. For starters, his wife did recommend him for that trip. The Senate report quotes from a February 12, 2002, memo from Ms. Plame: “my husband has good relations with both the PM [prime minister] and the former Minister of Mines (not to mention lots of French contacts), both of whom could possibly shed light on this sort of activity.”
(The investigation that resulted in the conviction of Scooter Libby was a sham from beginning to end. Neither citizen, nor servant of the people, should have to endure such a terrible injustice at the hands of political activists.)
Many things will be revealed after we have moved beyond the war. Some of what we learn may even shock or amaze us. Ive said it before and I will say it again. The President has served the people well by defending this country with honor, integrity, and steadfast resolve. The administration has valiantly adhered to the tight lipped security rule. The President and his staff will be remembered with praise and thanksgiving for their consistent and tireless efforts in the wareven with respect to Saddams WMD.