There are a couple of critical problems with Wilson's argument. The first is that the President's words are absolutely true and to this day, the British government stands by the intelligence assessment the President cited. Second, Wilson's oral brief to the CIA upon returning from his short trip to Niger reported that Iraq had tried to obtain uranium yellowcake from Niger, though Niger declined Iraq's overtures. The CIA believed Wilson's report substantiated suspicions about Iraqi intentions. Third, Wilson self-aggrandizingly told the press that his report had debunked forgeries about Niger uranium sales. These papers had turned up in Italy. The timing for this claim of Wilson does not tally. The US did not come into possession of those forgeries until months after Wilson's trip and report. This timeline can be found in the 9/11 Commission Report.
In 2003, Wilson was polluting political waters with inaccurate information and the Administration was clearly trying to deal with Wilson's charges. Wilson claimed that he was sent to Niger on behalf of the Vice-President. The natural question was why Wilson. He was a critic of the Administration and a Gore supporter. He was not qualified in proliferation matters. Why would the Vice-President send him? He didn't. In the course of refuting Wilson, presumably Scooter Libby and perhaps others said the Wilson's wife, an employee of the CIA, was responsible for the trip. This was repeatedly denied by Wilson, whose pride as a former ambassador may have been wounded by the need for nepotism. The 9/11 Commission unequivocally concluded that Ms. Plame recommended Wilson for the trip.
There was concern in 2003 that perhaps the identity of a CIA employee at been illegally compromised, but that particular charge seems not to have borne scrutiny. Libby, if he is found guilty, committed the crime obstructing an investigation premised on crime for which there is no prosecution.
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