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{{seealso|Plame affair}}
{{seealso|Plame affair}}


On [[14 July]], [[2003]], one week after Wilson's ''New York Times'' op-ed, [[Robert Novak]] identified "Wilson's wife" publicly as "an [[Central Intelligence Agency|agency]] operative on weapons of mass destruction" named "[[Valerie Plame]]" in his syndicated column in ''[[The Washington Post]]''.<ref name=Mission>[[Robert Novak|Robert D. Novak]], [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/20/AR2005102000874.html "Mission to Niger"], ''[[The Washington Post]]'', [[July 14]], [[2003]], A21, accessed [[8 July]], [[2007]].</ref> Novak's public disclosure of Mrs. Wilson's classified CIA identity led to the appointment of a [[U.S. Department of Justice Office of Special Counsel|Special Counsel]]; the [[CIA leak grand jury investigation]]; the [[United States v. Libby|criminal prosecution of Lewis Libby]]; U.S. Congressional investigations in which both Wilsons have testified; political debate about the contexts of Wilson's Niger trip; and a [[Plame v. Cheney|civil lawsuit by the Wilsons]] against former and current officials of the Bush administration.
On [[14 July]], [[2003]], one week after Wilson's ''New York Times'' op-ed, [[Robert Novak]] identified "Wilson's wife" publicly as "an [[Central Intelligence Agency|agency]] operative on weapons of mass destruction" named "[[Valerie Plame]]" in his syndicated column in ''[[The Washington Post]]''.<ref name=Mission>[[Robert Novak|Robert D. Novak]], [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/20/AR2005102000874.html "Mission to Niger"], ''[[The Washington Post]]'', [[July 14]], [[2003]], A21, accessed [[8 July]], [[2007]].</ref> Wilson and others asserted that this disclosure was part of a smear campaign intended to discredit Wilson's report and op-ed.<ref>http://judiciary.house.gov/OversightTestimony.aspx?ID=1030</ref><ref>http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,465270,00.html</ref><ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9904EEDF103DF930A25754C0A9639C8B63</ref> Novak's public disclosure of Mrs. Wilson's classified CIA identity led to the appointment of a [[U.S. Department of Justice Office of Special Counsel|Special Counsel]]; the [[CIA leak grand jury investigation]]; the [[United States v. Libby|criminal prosecution of Lewis Libby]]; U.S. Congressional investigations in which both Wilsons have testified; political debate about the contexts of Wilson's Niger trip; and a [[Plame v. Cheney|civil lawsuit by the Wilsons]] against former and current officials of the Bush administration.


Two former military officials later asserted that Wilson had openly discussed his wife's identity before her supposed "outing". Retired U.S. Army Major General [[Paul E. Vallely]] claimed that Wilson had mentioned his wife's status as a CIA employee on several occasions and that her employment was "pretty common knowledge" among their peers in [[Washington, D.C.]];<ref name=worldnetdaily1>Art Moore, [http://wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47242 "The Plame Game:] Analyst Says Wilson 'outed' Wife in 2002: Disclosed in Casual Conversations a Year Before Novak Column", ''[[WorldNetDaily]]'', [[November 5]], [[2005]], accessed [[September 19]], [[2006]]; see also archived listing for ''[http://www.johnbatchelorshow.com/showDetail.cfm?id=225&start=201&groupStart=6 The John Batchelor Show]'' for [[November 3]], [[2005]].</ref><ref name=MMFA>Cf. [http://mediamatters.org/items/200511090011 "Two Years into Leak Investigation], Gen. Vallely Suddenly Claims, in Contradictory Statements, That Wilson Revealed Plame's Identity to Him", ''[[Media Matters for America]]'', [[November 9]], [[2005]], accessed [[September 23]], [[2006]] (incl. QuickTime video with audio voiceovers).</ref> U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Tom McInerney made similar assertions.<ref name=RedState>John Batchelor, [http://www.redstate.com/story/2005/11/6/235210/851 "West Point Rallies Against Wilson,"] ''[[RedState]]'' (blog) [[November 6]], [[2005]], accessed [[September 19]], [[2006]].</ref><ref name=MMFA/> These claims contradict the [[Plame affair criminal investigation|indictment]] of [[Lewis Libby]], which stated that Valerie Wilson's employment status was classified and not common knowledge outside the intelligence community at all relevant times.<ref name=LibbyIndictment>[http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/osc/index.html Office of Special Counsel]; {{PDFlink|[http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/osc/documents/libby_indictment_28102005.pdf Libby Indictment (28 Oct. 2005)]|152&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 156279 bytes -->}}. "Joseph Wilson was married to Valerie Plame Wilson ('Valerie Wilson'). At all relevant times from January 1, 2002 through July 2003, Valerie Wilson was employed by the CIA, and her employment status was classified. Prior to July 14, 2003, Valerie Wilson’s affiliation with the CIA was not common knowledge outside the intelligence community" ("Joseph Wilson and Valerie Plame Wilson" 3).</ref> Wilson demanded that Vallely retract these allegations, calling them "patently false."<ref name=WorldNetDaily2>[[Joseph Farah]] and Art Moore, [http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47248 "The Plame Game: Joe Wilson Fumes Over Vallely Charges in WND: Demands Retraction of Statements Alleging He 'Outed' Wife in Fox Studio,"] ''[[WorldNetDaily]]'', [[November 5]], [[2005]], accessed [[September 19]], [[2006]].</ref><ref name=MMFA/><ref name=WorldNetDaily4>Art Moore, [http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47289 "The Plame Game: General Wants Wilson Apology: Threatened Again with Lawsuit Over Claim of 'Outing' CIA Wife,"] ''[[WorldNetDaily]]'', [[November 8]], [[2005]], accessed [[September 19]], [[2006]].</ref><ref name=MMFA/> Various liberal political blogs, media outlets, and commentators have offered evidence that they say suggests the conversations could not have occurred as claimed.<ref name=CrooksandLiars>[http://www.crooksandliars.com/stories/2005/11/08/vallelyAndWilsonFoxAppearances.html "Vallely and Wilson Fox Appearances,"] ''[[Crooks and Liars]]'' (blog), [[November 8]], [[2005]], updated [[April 2]], [[2006]], accessed [[September 19]], [[2006]].</ref><ref name=Merritt>[[Jeralyn Merritt]], [http://talkleft.com/new_archives/013048.html "Swift Boating Joseph Wilson Won't Work"], ''TalkLeft'' (blog), [[November 8]], [[2005]], updated [[November 9]], [[2006]], accessed [[September 19]], [[2006]].</ref><ref name=Madsen>[[Wayne Madsen]], [http://www.waynemadsenreport.com/articles/20070413_47 "When Lying Generals Lie,"] ''waynemadsenreport.com'' (column), [[November 15]], [[2005]], accessed [[September 20]], [[2006]].</ref><ref name=noquart>[[Larry C. Johnson]], [http://noquarter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2005/11/trying_to_smear.html "Trying to Smear Joe Wilson,"] ''No Quarter'' (blog) [[November 8]], [[2005]], accessed [[September 19]], [[2006]]. Cf. [[Larry C. Johnson]], [http://noquarter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2005/10/plamegate_updat.html "Plame Update,"] ''No Quarter'' (blog) [[October 5]], [[2005]], accessed [[September 28]], [[2005]].</ref><ref name=MMFA/><ref name=WorldNetDaily4/>
Two former military officials later asserted that Wilson had openly discussed his wife's identity before her supposed "outing". Retired U.S. Army Major General [[Paul E. Vallely]] claimed that Wilson had mentioned his wife's status as a CIA employee on several occasions and that her employment was "pretty common knowledge" among their peers in [[Washington, D.C.]];<ref name=worldnetdaily1>Art Moore, [http://wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47242 "The Plame Game:] Analyst Says Wilson 'outed' Wife in 2002: Disclosed in Casual Conversations a Year Before Novak Column", ''[[WorldNetDaily]]'', [[November 5]], [[2005]], accessed [[September 19]], [[2006]]; see also archived listing for ''[http://www.johnbatchelorshow.com/showDetail.cfm?id=225&start=201&groupStart=6 The John Batchelor Show]'' for [[November 3]], [[2005]].</ref><ref name=MMFA>Cf. [http://mediamatters.org/items/200511090011 "Two Years into Leak Investigation], Gen. Vallely Suddenly Claims, in Contradictory Statements, That Wilson Revealed Plame's Identity to Him", ''[[Media Matters for America]]'', [[November 9]], [[2005]], accessed [[September 23]], [[2006]] (incl. QuickTime video with audio voiceovers).</ref> U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Tom McInerney made similar assertions.<ref name=RedState>John Batchelor, [http://www.redstate.com/story/2005/11/6/235210/851 "West Point Rallies Against Wilson,"] ''[[RedState]]'' (blog) [[November 6]], [[2005]], accessed [[September 19]], [[2006]].</ref><ref name=MMFA/> These claims contradict the [[Plame affair criminal investigation|indictment]] of [[Lewis Libby]], which stated that Valerie Wilson's employment status was classified and not common knowledge outside the intelligence community at all relevant times.<ref name=LibbyIndictment>[http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/osc/index.html Office of Special Counsel]; {{PDFlink|[http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/osc/documents/libby_indictment_28102005.pdf Libby Indictment (28 Oct. 2005)]|152&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 156279 bytes -->}}. "Joseph Wilson was married to Valerie Plame Wilson ('Valerie Wilson'). At all relevant times from January 1, 2002 through July 2003, Valerie Wilson was employed by the CIA, and her employment status was classified. Prior to July 14, 2003, Valerie Wilson’s affiliation with the CIA was not common knowledge outside the intelligence community" ("Joseph Wilson and Valerie Plame Wilson" 3).</ref> Wilson demanded that Vallely retract these allegations, calling them "patently false."<ref name=WorldNetDaily2>[[Joseph Farah]] and Art Moore, [http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47248 "The Plame Game: Joe Wilson Fumes Over Vallely Charges in WND: Demands Retraction of Statements Alleging He 'Outed' Wife in Fox Studio,"] ''[[WorldNetDaily]]'', [[November 5]], [[2005]], accessed [[September 19]], [[2006]].</ref><ref name=MMFA/><ref name=WorldNetDaily4>Art Moore, [http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47289 "The Plame Game: General Wants Wilson Apology: Threatened Again with Lawsuit Over Claim of 'Outing' CIA Wife,"] ''[[WorldNetDaily]]'', [[November 8]], [[2005]], accessed [[September 19]], [[2006]].</ref><ref name=MMFA/> Various liberal political blogs, media outlets, and commentators have offered evidence that they say suggests the conversations could not have occurred as claimed.<ref name=CrooksandLiars>[http://www.crooksandliars.com/stories/2005/11/08/vallelyAndWilsonFoxAppearances.html "Vallely and Wilson Fox Appearances,"] ''[[Crooks and Liars]]'' (blog), [[November 8]], [[2005]], updated [[April 2]], [[2006]], accessed [[September 19]], [[2006]].</ref><ref name=Merritt>[[Jeralyn Merritt]], [http://talkleft.com/new_archives/013048.html "Swift Boating Joseph Wilson Won't Work"], ''TalkLeft'' (blog), [[November 8]], [[2005]], updated [[November 9]], [[2006]], accessed [[September 19]], [[2006]].</ref><ref name=Madsen>[[Wayne Madsen]], [http://www.waynemadsenreport.com/articles/20070413_47 "When Lying Generals Lie,"] ''waynemadsenreport.com'' (column), [[November 15]], [[2005]], accessed [[September 20]], [[2006]].</ref><ref name=noquart>[[Larry C. Johnson]], [http://noquarter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2005/11/trying_to_smear.html "Trying to Smear Joe Wilson,"] ''No Quarter'' (blog) [[November 8]], [[2005]], accessed [[September 19]], [[2006]]. Cf. [[Larry C. Johnson]], [http://noquarter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2005/10/plamegate_updat.html "Plame Update,"] ''No Quarter'' (blog) [[October 5]], [[2005]], accessed [[September 28]], [[2005]].</ref><ref name=MMFA/><ref name=WorldNetDaily4/>

Revision as of 06:09, 13 December 2007

This page is for the diplomat. For others of that name see Joseph Wilson.
For more detail about the political scandal, see Plame affair.
Joseph C. Wilson, IV
File:Joseph Wilson.jpg
Lecturing at Clark University, October 2005
Born
Joseph Charles Wilson, IV

(1949-11-06) November 6, 1949 (age 74)
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Occupation(s)strategic management consultant; retired diplomat
SpouseValerie E. Wilson (3 April 1998)
Childrentwo (with Valerie E. Wilson); two from previous marriage

Joseph Charles Wilson, IV (born November 6, 1949) is currently the Vice Chairman of Jarch Capital, LLC, a firm focused on African natural resources. He is a retired United States Foreign Service diplomat and was posted to African nations and Iraq during the George H. W. Bush administration.

Wilson became known to the general public as a result of his controversial op-ed "What I Didn't Find in Africa," published in the New York Times on July 6, 2003, four months after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. In it Wilson documented his February 2002 Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) mission to Niger to investigate whether Iraq had purchased or attempted to purchase yellowcake. He concluded that the George W. Bush administration "twisted" at least "some of the intelligence related to Iraq's nuclear weapons program ... to exaggerate the Iraqi threat."[1] The next week, on 14 July, 2003, Robert Novak disclosed Wilson's wife's classified covert CIA identity as "Valerie Plame," "an agency operative on weapons of mass destruction," in his syndicated The Washington Post column,[2] precipitating a major political scandal.

Early life and education

Wilson was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1949, to Joseph Charles Wilson III and Phyllis (Finnell) Wilson, and grew up in California and Europe (Wilson, Politics of Truth 32-33).[3]

He was raised in a "proud Republican family" in which "there is a long tradition of politics and service to the farm" and for which "Politics was a staple around the table."[4] His mother's uncle James ("Sunny Jim") Rolph was mayor of San Francisco from 1912 to 1931, "the city's longest-serving mayor," and served as governor of California "until his death in office in 1934."[4] For his mother's brothers, as they told their new brother-in-law (who was to become Wilson's father), Barry Goldwater was "a bit liberal."[4] Military service was also a strong part of his family history: both his grandfathers had served in the two world wars, his paternal grandfather (the "Colonel") receiving both the British Distinguished Flying Cross and the French Croix de Guerre "for his exploits in World War I,"[5] and his son, Wilson's father Joe, "was a Marine pilot in World War II and was among the last pilots to take off from the deck of the aircraft Franklin just before it was hit by two bombs dropped from a Japanese dive-bomber, one of which exploded amid planes waiting to take off," resulting in "the deaths of more than seven hundred American servicemen. . . . He never forgot how lucky he was to have survived––not to mention that my younger brother and I would never have been born."[4]

In 1968, Wilson matriculated at the University of California, Santa Barbara, majoring, he onced joked, in "history, volleyball, and surfing," maintaining a "C" average, and working as a carpenter for five years after his graduation in 1971.[5][6] He became more serious about his education, "won a graduate fellowship and studied public administration."[6]

The Vietnam protests of the late 1960s galvanized him along with much of his generation and "pitted parents against kids in [his] family just as it did in many households around the country."[5]

Diplomatic career

Diplomatic postings:[7]

Having become fluent in French as a teenager, Wilson entered the U.S. Foreign Service in 1976, as "a general services officer -- responsible for keeping the power on and the cars running, among other duties -- in Niamey, Niger."[6]

Wilson served in the U.S. diplomatic corps from January 1976 through 1998, with postings in five different African nations between 1976 and 1988.[7]

From 1988 to 1991, he was the Deputy Chief of Mission (to U.S. Ambassador to Iraq April Catherine Glaspie) at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. In the wake of Iraq's 1990 Invasion of Kuwait, he became the last American diplomat to meet with Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, telling him in very clear terms to "get out of Kuwait".[8] When Hussein sent a note to Wilson (along with other embassy heads in Baghdad) threatening to execute anyone sheltering foreigners in Iraq, Wilson publicly repudiated the dictator by appearing at a press conference wearing a homemade noose around his neck, and declaring, "If the choice is to allow American citizens to be taken hostage or to be executed, I will bring my own fucking rope."

Despite Hussein's threats, Wilson sheltered more than one hundred Americans at the embassy, and successfully evacuated several thousand people (Americans and other nationals) from the country. He was praised by President George H. W. Bush for his actions: "...when I arrived back in Washington on January 13, 1991, the very next day I was in the Oval Office ... The President introduced me to his War Cabinet as a true American hero."[9]

Wilson next served for three years as U.S. ambassador to Gabon and São Tomé and Príncipe. Subsequently, he helped direct Africa policy as Special Assistant to President Bill Clinton and Senior Director for African Affairs, National Security Council.[10][11] This was his final position before his retirement from government service in 1998 after twenty-three years as a diplomat.[12]

Wilson's trip to Niger and ensuing controversy

See also: Iraqi aluminum tubes and Senate Reports of Pre-war Intelligence on Iraq pertaining to Joseph C. Wilson's Niger trip

It was as a private citizen with extensive knowledge of Africa that Wilson was sent to Niger in February and March 2002 on behalf of the CIA to investigate the possibility that Saddam Hussein had a deal to buy enriched uranium yellowcake. Wilson met with the current U.S. Ambassador to Niger, Barbro Owens-Kirkpatrick at the embassy and was informed that she had already debunked that story; however, they agreed that Wilson would interview dozens of officials who had been in the Niger government when the deal had supposedly taken place. He ultimately concluded: "it was highly doubtful that any such transaction had ever taken place."[1] Wilson reported that former Nigerian Prime Minister Ibrahim Assane Mayaki did meet with the Iraqi delegation, but that what was meant by the Iraqi's suggestion that the two countries "expand[] commercial relations" was never discussed, and that Mayaki steered conversation away from the topic of Iraqi trade because Iraq was under United Nations sanctions.[13][14][15]

After President Bush's January 2003 State of the Union Address, in which Bush stated that "The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa,"[16][17] Wilson contributed an op-ed to the July 6, 2003, New York Times entitled "What I Didn't Find in Africa," in which he asserted that "some of the intelligence related to Iraq's nuclear weapons program was twisted to exaggerate the Iraqi threat."[1] The op-ed attracted attention to the contents of Wilson's original report and whether it was paid enough heed by the administration.

George Tenet, the director of the CIA during Wilson's trip, has said that the administration was not directly briefed on Wilson's report "because this report, in our view, did not resolve whether Iraq was or was not seeking uranium from abroad, it was given a normal and wide distribution (within the intelligence community), but we did not brief it to the President, Vice-President or other senior Administration officials."[18] In his memoir, At the Center of the Storm: My Years at the CIA, Tenet writes, "This unremarkable report was disseminated, but because it produced no solid answers, there wasn't any urgency to brief its results to senior officials such as the vice president ... As far as we could tell, the Wilson summary was never delivered to Cheney. In fact, I have no recollection myself of hearing about Wilson's trip at the time."[19]

Commentators differed as to whether Bush's statements were supported by the conclusions of Wilson's reports. A July 2004 Wall Street Journal editorial found that Wilson's claims of distortion were justified,[20] though a July 2005 WSJ editorial, on the other hand, asserted that Wilson lied in the editorial about "what he'd discovered in Africa, how he'd discovered it, what he'd told the CIA about it, or even why he was sent on the mission."[21] Likewise, an April 2006 Washington Post editorial claimed that "Mr. Wilson was the one guilty of twisting the truth and that, in fact, his report [to the CIA] supported the conclusion that Iraq had sought uranium."[22] A July 2006 Washington Post news report, however, suggested that Bush's speech and selective declassification gave the impression that the intelligence was more certain than it truly was, supporting Wilson's claims.[23] David Corn has also supported Wilson's editorial.[24]

Valerie Plame leak and aftermath

See also: Plame affair

On 14 July, 2003, one week after Wilson's New York Times op-ed, Robert Novak identified "Wilson's wife" publicly as "an agency operative on weapons of mass destruction" named "Valerie Plame" in his syndicated column in The Washington Post.[2] Wilson and others asserted that this disclosure was part of a smear campaign intended to discredit Wilson's report and op-ed.[25][26][27] Novak's public disclosure of Mrs. Wilson's classified CIA identity led to the appointment of a Special Counsel; the CIA leak grand jury investigation; the criminal prosecution of Lewis Libby; U.S. Congressional investigations in which both Wilsons have testified; political debate about the contexts of Wilson's Niger trip; and a civil lawsuit by the Wilsons against former and current officials of the Bush administration.

Two former military officials later asserted that Wilson had openly discussed his wife's identity before her supposed "outing". Retired U.S. Army Major General Paul E. Vallely claimed that Wilson had mentioned his wife's status as a CIA employee on several occasions and that her employment was "pretty common knowledge" among their peers in Washington, D.C.;[28][29] U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Tom McInerney made similar assertions.[30][29] These claims contradict the indictment of Lewis Libby, which stated that Valerie Wilson's employment status was classified and not common knowledge outside the intelligence community at all relevant times.[31] Wilson demanded that Vallely retract these allegations, calling them "patently false."[32][29][33][29] Various liberal political blogs, media outlets, and commentators have offered evidence that they say suggests the conversations could not have occurred as claimed.[34][35][36][37][29][33]

In August 2006, the New York Times reported that Richard Armitage acknowledged that it was his conversation with Novak that spurred the leak controversy.[38] Some commentators used this revelation to criticize Wilson, arguing that no political conspiracy existed to smear Wilson, and that Wilson himself was ultimately responsible for the disclosure of his wife's identity.[39][40]

On July 13, 2006, Joseph and Valerie Wilson filed the civil lawsuit Plame v. Cheney against Dick Cheney, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Karl Rove, and other unnamed senior White House officials (among whom they later added Richard Armitage[41]) for their role in the public disclosure of Valerie Wilson's classified CIA status.[42] Judge John D. Bates dismissed the Wilson's lawsuit on jurisdictional grounds on July 19, 2007;[43][44][45][46] the Wilsons have since appealed.[47]

Employment, books, and movie deal after retirement from foreign service

Wilson manages JC Wilson International Ventures Corporation, a consulting firm specializing in strategic management and international business development.[48][3]

(New York: Carroll & Graf, 2005.)

In 2004, Wilson published a political and personal memoir entitled The Politics of Truth: Inside the Lies that Led to War and Betrayed My Wife's CIA Identity: A Diplomat's Memoir. The book describes his diplomatic career, his personal life and family, and his experiences during the Valerie Plame affair.

In March 2007, it was reported the Wilsons had sold their rights to Warner Bros. for the development of a movie about the Plame Affair based in part on Valerie Wilson's book Fair Game.[49] The film, reportedly a co-production between Weed Road's Akiva Goldsman and Jerry and Janet Zucker with a screenplay by Jez and John Butterworth, was scheduled for release in August 2007.[49]

Political history and views

At the midpoint of his career as a diplomat, Wilson served for a year (1985–1986) as a Congressional Fellow in the offices of Senator Al Gore and Representative Tom Foley; his working for Democrats was simply a matter of "happenstance."[50] That experience helped him to achieve his position as Special Assistant to President Bill Clinton and Senior Director for African Affairs, National Security Council, in 1997-1998.

In 2000, Wilson had donated US$2,000 to Gore's presidential campaign and US$1,000 to Bush's presidential campaign.[51] Though he voted for Gore and criticized the flawed election, he believed that Bush would nonetheless be a responsible president once in office--a belief he would later call "naive[]." In 2003, Wilson began to support and formally endorsed John Kerry for president, donated $2,000 to his campaign, and served as an advisor to and speechwriter for the campaign in 2003 and 2004.[52] He has made contributions to the campaigns of Democratic candidates, such as Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts and Congressman Charles B. Rangel of New York, and to Republican Congressman Ed Royce of California.[53] According to a New York Times article by Scott Shane and Lynette Clemetson, despite "conservatives' efforts to portray him as a left-wing extremist" and Wilson's own statement that "it will be a cold day in hell before I vote for a Republican, even for dog catcher," he remained a "centrist at heart."[54] On July 16, 2007, Wilson endorsed New York Democratic Senator from Hillary Clinton for President of the United States in 2008.[55]

After the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Wilson supported activist groups like Win Without War, a nonpartisan coalition of groups united in opposition to the Iraq War; this anti-war activism has drawn criticism from conservatives.[56]

Personal life and family

Wilson's first marriage was to his "college sweetheart," Susan Otchis. In 1979, the couple a set of twins, Sabrina Cecile and Joseph Charles. The marriage ended in an amicable divorce in 1986, toward the end of his service in Burundi. Wilson married his second wife, "a Frenchwoman who had been raised in Africa" named Jacqueline, in 1986.[57] Though Wilson and Jacqueline began to live separate lives in the 1990s, they did not divorce until 1998 because Wilson "was never in one place long enough to complete the process." Wilson had met Valerie Plame in 1997, while working for President Bill Clinton; they married in 1998, after Wilson's divorce from Jacqueline.[58] Currently, Wilson lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with Valerie Wilson (the former Valerie Plame) and their two children, twins Trevor Rolph and Samantha Finnell Diana, born in 2000.[9] Among Wilson's hobbies are golf, bicycling, and fitness.[59][50]

Honors

Public service awards

Decorations

  • Commander in the Order of the Equatorial Star (Government of Gabon)
  • Admiral in the El Paso Navy (El Paso County Commissioners)

Other awards

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Joseph C. Wilson IV, "What I Didn't Find in Africa", The New York Times, July 6, 2003, accessed September 17, 2006. Cite error: The named reference "wilsonoped" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Robert D. Novak, "Mission to Niger", The Washington Post, July 14, 2003, A21, accessed 8 July, 2007.
  3. ^ a b "Wilson: From Envoy to Accuser: Profile of the Diplomat at the Center of the CIA Leak Dispute", CBS News, October 1, 2003, "Special Report: Iraq After Saddam", accessed July 27, 2007.
  4. ^ a b c d Wilson, Politics of Truth 31.
  5. ^ a b c Wilson, Politics of Truth 32.
  6. ^ a b c Richard Leiby, "Man Behind the Furor: Wilson: Envoy With an Independent Streak" Washington Post October 1, 2003, A01; rpt. in u-r-next.com, accessed September 26, 2006. Cite error: The named reference "Leiby" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b "Diplomatic Career of Ambassador Joseph Wilson", Politics of Truth 451.
  8. ^ See Chapter Five, "How to Shake Hands with a Dictator," 107-27 in the 2005 paperback ed. of Wilson,The Politics of Truth.
  9. ^ a b Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, "'He Has Subverted the Rule of Law and the System of Justice' -- Former U.S. Ambassador Joseph Wilson Reacts to Bush's Commutation of Lewis 'Scooter' Libby Jail Sentence in Outing of Valerie Plame", "Rush Transcript" of interview with Joseph C. Wilson, IV, on Democracy Now!, July 5, 2005, accessed July 23, 2007.
  10. ^ See Chapter Eight: "Watching the War from a Distance", Chapter Nine: "All in a Diplomat's Life––from Gabon to Albania", Chapter Ten: "Diplomats and Generals", and Chapter Eleven: "Coming Home for Good", 182-210 in the 2005 paperback ed. of Wilson, Politics of Truth.
  11. ^ Wilson, Politics of Truth, 261-73.
  12. ^ Wilson, Politics of Truth 274.
  13. ^ See particularly Part B ("Former Ambassador") of Sec. II: "Niger" in United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Template:PDFlink, July 7, 2004, revised July 9, 2004, (Washington: Government Printing Office, 2004) 36-83, accessed July 29, 2007. Cf. Congressional Reports: Report of the Select Committee on Intelligence on the U.S. Intelligence Community’s Prewar Intelligence Assessments on Iraq, Together with Additional Views, online posting, gpoaccess.gov, July 7, 2004, rev. July 9, 2004, accessed July 29, 2007. (Provides PDF links to full texts in "Table of Contents".)
  14. ^ Cf. II.B.: "Niger": "Former Ambassador", rpt. globalsecurity.org, accessed July 29, 2007.
  15. ^ Cf. "Full Text: Conclusions of Senate's Iraq Report: Report on the Prewar Intelligence Assessments", MSNBC, July 9, 2004, accessed July 23, 2007.
  16. ^ "President Delivers "State of the Union: The U.S. Capitol", press release, The White House, January 28, 2003, accessed July 23, 2007. (Full transcript of the speech.)
  17. ^ See, e.g, "16 Words" and "previous" link as provided by CNN.com, March 7, 2003, accessed July 23, 2007.
  18. ^ Quoted from George Tenet, "Statement by George J. Tenet, Director of Central Intelligence," official press release, Central Intelligence Agency July 11, 2003.
  19. ^ George Tenet, At the Center of the Storm: My Years at the CIA (New York: HarperCollins, 2007) 454. ISBN 0061147788 (10); ISBN 978-0061147784 (13).
  20. ^ "On the Record: Saddam, Uranium and Africa: What Two Investigations Say about Bush's Statements on Iraq, Yellowcake and Niger"], The Wall Street Journal, July 15, 2004, accessed September 22, 2006.
  21. ^ "Karl Rove, Whistleblower: He Told the Truth about Joe Wilson", The Wall Street Journal July 13, 2005, Review & Outlook: Editorial.
  22. ^ "A Good Leak: President Bush Declassified Some of the Intelligence He Used to Decide On War in Iraq. Is that a scandal?" The Washington Post, April 9, 2006: B06, accessed September 18, 2006.
  23. ^ Dafna Linzer and Barton Gellman, with research contributed by Julie Tate, "A 'Concerted Effort' to Discredit Bush Critic: Prosecutor Describes Cheney, Libby as Key Voices Pitching Iraq-Niger Story", The Washington Post, April 9, 2006: A01, accessed July 29, 2007.
  24. ^ David Corn, "A White House Smear", The Nation, July 15, 2003, accessed September 23, 2006.
  25. ^ http://judiciary.house.gov/OversightTestimony.aspx?ID=1030
  26. ^ http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,465270,00.html
  27. ^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9904EEDF103DF930A25754C0A9639C8B63
  28. ^ Art Moore, "The Plame Game: Analyst Says Wilson 'outed' Wife in 2002: Disclosed in Casual Conversations a Year Before Novak Column", WorldNetDaily, November 5, 2005, accessed September 19, 2006; see also archived listing for The John Batchelor Show for November 3, 2005.
  29. ^ a b c d e Cf. "Two Years into Leak Investigation, Gen. Vallely Suddenly Claims, in Contradictory Statements, That Wilson Revealed Plame's Identity to Him", Media Matters for America, November 9, 2005, accessed September 23, 2006 (incl. QuickTime video with audio voiceovers).
  30. ^ John Batchelor, "West Point Rallies Against Wilson," RedState (blog) November 6, 2005, accessed September 19, 2006.
  31. ^ Office of Special Counsel; Template:PDFlink. "Joseph Wilson was married to Valerie Plame Wilson ('Valerie Wilson'). At all relevant times from January 1, 2002 through July 2003, Valerie Wilson was employed by the CIA, and her employment status was classified. Prior to July 14, 2003, Valerie Wilson’s affiliation with the CIA was not common knowledge outside the intelligence community" ("Joseph Wilson and Valerie Plame Wilson" 3).
  32. ^ Joseph Farah and Art Moore, "The Plame Game: Joe Wilson Fumes Over Vallely Charges in WND: Demands Retraction of Statements Alleging He 'Outed' Wife in Fox Studio," WorldNetDaily, November 5, 2005, accessed September 19, 2006.
  33. ^ a b Art Moore, "The Plame Game: General Wants Wilson Apology: Threatened Again with Lawsuit Over Claim of 'Outing' CIA Wife," WorldNetDaily, November 8, 2005, accessed September 19, 2006.
  34. ^ "Vallely and Wilson Fox Appearances," Crooks and Liars (blog), November 8, 2005, updated April 2, 2006, accessed September 19, 2006.
  35. ^ Jeralyn Merritt, "Swift Boating Joseph Wilson Won't Work", TalkLeft (blog), November 8, 2005, updated November 9, 2006, accessed September 19, 2006.
  36. ^ Wayne Madsen, "When Lying Generals Lie," waynemadsenreport.com (column), November 15, 2005, accessed September 20, 2006.
  37. ^ Larry C. Johnson, "Trying to Smear Joe Wilson," No Quarter (blog) November 8, 2005, accessed September 19, 2006. Cf. Larry C. Johnson, "Plame Update," No Quarter (blog) October 5, 2005, accessed September 28, 2005.
  38. ^ Neil A. Lewis, "Source of C.I.A. Leak Said to Admit Role", The New York Times, August 30, 2006.
  39. ^ "End of an Affair: It Turns Out That the Person Who Exposed CIA Agent Valerie Plame Was Not Out to Punish Her Husband", The Washington Post, September 1, 2006: A20.
  40. ^ Robert Novak, "Armitage's Leak", TownHall.com, September 14, 2006, accessed September 17, 2006.
  41. ^ "Armitage Added to Plame Law Suit", CBS News, September 13, 2006, accessed September 25, 2006; includes PDF. Cf. Amended complaint at FindLaw.com.
  42. ^ Proskauer Rose LLP, "Valerie Plame Wilson and Ambassador Joseph Wilson Initiate a Civil Action Against Vice President Cheney, Karl Rove, and Scooter Libby for Violations of their Constitutional and Other Legal Rights", Yahoo Business Wire (Press Release), July 13, 2006, accessed July 15, 2006; cf. Template:PDFlink, rpt. in How Appealing (blog), July 13, 2006, accessed July 15. 2006.
  43. ^ Associated Press, "Valerie Plame's Lawsuit Dismissed", USA Today, July 19, 2007, accessed 19 July, 2007.
  44. ^ "Judge Tosses Out Ex-Spy's Lawsuit Against Cheney in CIA Leak Case", CNN.com, July 19, 2007, accessed July 19, 2007.
  45. ^ Carol D. Leonnig, "Plame's Lawsuit Against Top Officials Dismissed", The Washington Post, 20 July, 2007, accessed 20 July, 2007.
  46. ^ "Memorandum Opinon", in "Valerie Wilson, et al., Plaintiffs, v. I. Lewis Libby, Jr., et al., Defendants", "Civil Action No. 06-1258 (JDB)", United States District Court for the District of Columbia, 19 July, 2007, accessed 20 July, 2007.
  47. ^ Joseph and Valerie Wilson Legal Support Trust Home Page, [July 20, 2007], accessed July 27, 2007. Cf. "Statement on Ambassador Joseph and Valerie Wilsons' Appeal Filed on July 20", Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), July 20, 2007, accessed July 27, 2007.
  48. ^ "Joseph Wilson", biography at Greater Talent Network Inc. (Speakers Bureau), accessed July 26, 2007.
  49. ^ a b Michael Fleming, "Plame Film in Works at Warner Bros.: Studio Sets Movie about CIA Leak Scandal", Variety, March 1, 2007, accessed March 18, 2007.
  50. ^ a b c Vicky Ward, "Double Exposure", Vanity Fair, January 2004, accessed September 23, 2006.
  51. ^ Wilson, The Politics of Truth 278-80, 282; cf. Newsmeat: Campaign Contributions Search.
  52. ^ Wilson, Politics of Truth 410-12; cf. Newsmeat. See also Joseph Curl, "Spouse of Outed CIA Officer Signs On with Kerry," Washington Times February 14, 2004.
  53. ^ Joseph C. Wilson search at opensecrets.org, n.d., accessed September 17, 2006.
  54. ^ Scott Shane and Lynette Clemetson, contributors to "Private Spy and Public Spouse Live At Center of Leak Case", The New York Times, July 5, 2005, National Desk: A1, col. 2 (Late Ed. - Final).
  55. ^ "Frm. Ambassador Joseph Wilson Endorses Clinton", press release, online posting, Hillary Clinton.com (official site), July 16, 2007, accessed July 23, 2007.
  56. ^ See Wilson, Politics of Truth 381 and press release, winwithoutwarus.org, September 24, 2003; cf. Joseph Curl, "Spouse of Outed CIA Officer Signs On with Kerry", The Washington Times, February 14, 2004.
  57. ^ Wilson, Politics of Truth 68-69.
  58. ^ Wilson, Politics of Truth 242
  59. ^ See entry on Joseph C. Wilson in Marquis Who's Who.
  60. ^ Template:PDFlink.
  61. ^ Past Award Winners
  62. ^ "Ambassador Joseph Wilson Updates BuzzFlash on the Bush Administration's Betrayal of Our National Security: A BuzzFlash Interview", buzzflash.com September 12, 2006, accessed September 19, 2006. (Extensive interview with Joseph C. Wilson on the occasion of the award.)

References

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