The memo, prepared by U.S. intelligence personnel, [b]details a meeting in early 2002 where CIA officer Valerie Plame and other intelligence officials gathered to brainstorm about how to verify reports that Iraq had sought uranium yellowcake from Niger.
The Washington Post article of December 26th 2003 is referring to the original Wall Street Journal Article.
Sources said the CIA is angry about the circulation of a still-classified document to conservative news outlets suggesting Plame had a role in arranging her husband's trip to Africa for the CIA. The document, written by a State Department official who works for its Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR), describes a meeting at the CIA where the Niger trip by Wilson was discussed, said a senior administration official who has seen it.
Then in August 2004 Isikoff himself writes about this classified report. He placed the report with Powell on the Africa trip in the week following Wilson's July 6th op-ed.
A senior State Department official confirmed that, while on the trip, Powell had a department intelligence report on whether Iraq had sought uranium from Niger--a claim Plame's husband, Joseph Wilson, discounted after a trip to Niger on behalf of the CIA. The report stated that Wilson's wife had attended a meeting at the CIA where the decision was made to send Wilson to Niger, but it did not mention her last name or undercover status.
On July 7th 2005 Arianna Huffington refers to the classified document referring to information the White House players had recieved from the State Department.
According to the players, the key to whether this story has real legs -- and whether it will spell the end of Rove -- is determining intent. And a key to that is whether there was a meeting at the White House where Rove and Scooter Libby discussed what to do with the information they had gotten from the State Department about Valerie Plame being Joe Wilson's wife, and her involvement in his being sent on the Niger/yellowcake mission. If it can be proven that such a meeting occurred, then Rove will be in deep trouble -- especially if it is established that Rove made three phone calls leaking the info about Plame and her CIA gig... one to Matt Cooper, one to Walter Pincus, and one to Robert Novak.
These articles link the classified State Department report to Plame in a meeting that would send Wilson to Niger.
I find it very interesting that this probable source is from the State Department.
Here are the Wilson leaks. Wilson is the source in these articles before his July 6th 2003 op-ed.
Missing in Action: Truth
New York Times May 6, 2003
CIA Did Not Share Doubt on Iraq Data
Washington Post Thursday, June 12, 2003
CIA Says It Cabled Key Data to White House
Washington Post Friday, June 13, 2003
White House in Denial
The New York Times Friday, June 13, 2003
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I also found this quote from Senator Specter
Tom Curry, MSNBC
May 24, 2005
In other words, if Bush knew his nominee needed 60, not merely 51, then he might choose a less conservative nominee.
The Senate and Bush "are now back to pre-1987 (before the defeat of conservative Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork). Everything is a little on tippy-toes as to how to proceed and that is the best way for our separation of powers," Specter said.
I knew there was something suspicious when I didn't see Specter in the compromise group. It may be political cover for Frist, but I don't think so. I think Specter did hold this up, all the other moderates were invloved with the compromise. Specter is an enigma and always has been.