Fitzgerald Expands Probe to Prewar Intel

[SHRED]

The noose is being tightened by the albatross around the bushie's necks: Chalabi.
This is getting interesting.

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Fitzgerald Expands Probe to Prewar Intel
Source: Chalabi responsible
for forged WMD documents

As Antiwar.com readers found out on Wednesday, prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald’s investigation into the Plame leak case has broadened to include a probe into the catalyzing event that set off the "outing" of CIA agent Valerie Plame to begin with: the Niger uranium forgeries. These documents, which purported to show that the Iraqis were trying to procure uranium from the African nation of Niger, were utilized by the Bush administration in making the case for war – but, alas, they turned out to be crudely done fakes. The question of who forged them has always been at the heart of this case, and now it looks like Fitzgerald is getting close to the answer.

MORE and VIDEO:
http://www.antiwar.com/news/?articleid=7732

[Skittles]

1. to me Ms. Plame's outing was just a symptom

the real disease was the lies told to get us into a way - and our press collaborating, even particpating in the lies

[SHRED]

2. So very true Skittles

[Lancer]

3. Agreed. Just as the Watergate break-in

was only a small part of the series of scandals that brought down Richard Nixon.

[LiberalinNC]

4. I just hope Fitzgerald has the "balls" to go through w/ the indictments!

I want to see *'s crew go down!!!

[randyconspiracybuff]

5. Before We All Get Too Excited...

It's not clear exactly why Fitzgerald requested the Niger Uranium document. It could be that he is seeking to broaden the investigation...but does he really have the power to do that on his own?

[emulatorloo]

6. yes he does - per his charter

I will bring you supporting evidence in a minute, because I have the internet.

ON EDIT: Here is a pdf from the justice dept website outlining his authority:

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/osc/documents/ag_letter_feburary_06_2004.pdf

I cannot copy and paste from it, but it says he has the authority to investigate and prosecute any and all laws related to the alleged unauthorized disclosure.

[Brotherjohn]

7. I can (cut & paste from Acrobat). Letter says his authority is "plenary".

Defined as "Complete in all respects; unlimited or full".

Further, the actual quote is:
"At your request, I am writing to clarify that my December 30, 2003, delegation to you of "all the authority of the Attorney General with respect to the Department's investigation into the alleged unauthorized disclosure of a CIA employee's identity" is plenary and includes the authority to investigate and prosecute violations of any federal criminal laws related to the underlying alleged unauthorized disclosure, as well as federal crimes committed in the course of, and with intent to interfere with, your investigation, such as perjury, obstruction of justice, destruction of evidence, and intimidation of witnesses;"

Sounds pretty "plenary" to me.

[JPZenger]

8. We Meet Again, Mr. Chalabi

Oh, yes, we meet again, our old friend Chalabi as a likely source for the fradulent documents that supposedly showed the Niger-Iraq deal. He was apparently helped by a couple former CIA agents.

Its amazing that Cheney and company didn't see through Chalabi. He was the person who had the most to gain from a U.S. Occupation, because he pictured himself as President for Life.

The sick thing is that Chalabi has regained some power in Iraq by now taking the political popular view of attacking the U.S. He is the ultimate opportunist. Remember the guy was a fugitive from a fraud conviction in Jordan before this all began.

A very sharp Washington Post reporter was interviewed on NPR yesterday morning. He said that the CIA didn't make that big a deal out of Wilson's report from Niger because the CIA already had TWO PRIOR REPORTS that told them the Niger documents were fradulent. He said that Tenet personally called the White House months before the infamous State of the Union to successfully get a reference to the Niger uranium story removed from a prior speech by Bush.

[underpants]

9. A couple of points from memory

one-the Niger document was about as real as emails promising vast fortunes is Niger and everyone in DC knew it. One ex-CIA type guy (can't remember where I heard it) said that he was talking with another ex-CIA type and they were talking about W's SOTU claim. When the first asked the second where that came from the answer was that it was from that document.... "THAT document??? Oh my god everyone knows that is a piece of ____"

On Tenet- Bush and WHIG originally tried to worm that into his Oct.7th 2002 speech in Cincinnati. They were told NO and then they were told NO every other time they tried to slide it into speeches and basically they just kept asking and finally either Tenet said okay or he missed it-at least that is their story and boy are they sticking with it.