Spring Break
Former U.S. Ambassador gives his view on Bush administration
Gregory T. Hedgepeth II
Issue date: 4/9/09 Section: News
On Tuesday afternoon, more than 200 students, faculty members and government officials were in attendance for the sixth annual Carolyn Freeze Baynes Memorial Lecture on Social Justice, held in Hendrix Theatre.
This year's speaker was Joseph C. Wilson IV, a former U.S. ambassador, who gave a lecture on "Speaking Truth to Power and the Consequences."
Wilson was the acting U.S. Ambassador in Iraq throughout Operation Desert Shield.
In 2002, Wilson was asked to investigate reports that Saddam Hussein was attempting to acquire uranium from Niger, an action considered to be a threat to the safety of the United States.
Wilson, as well as two other Americans and a Frenchman, reported that there was no truth to the claims. During the State of the Union address that same year, President Bush said, "Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa," stating that the information was confirmed by the British.
On Bush's 57th birthday, Wilson publicly stated his investigation in the form of an article, saying that Bush exaggerated the threat of Iraqi nuclear weapons developments. Eight days later, a covert CIA officer was revealed by White House and State Department officials as retaliation, Wilson said. The CIA officer was Wilson's wife.
Wilson asked those in attendance to raise their hands if they knew the name of the person that leaked the information regarding his wife's position in the CIA. No one raised their hand.
He went on to ask if there was anybody that knew his wife's name. Again, no hands were raised.
"How is it that everyone here knows the name of a covert CIA officer but no one knows who put the lie into the president's mouth [regarding Iraq's threat of nuclear weapons]?" he asked.
Wilson's lecture was a recount of the events in question and reaffirmation of the things he did in his duties as an ambassador for the United States.
"There is no more solemn decision than to put innocent citizens in harm's way," Wilson said. "We failed them."
This year's speaker was Joseph C. Wilson IV, a former U.S. ambassador, who gave a lecture on "Speaking Truth to Power and the Consequences."
Wilson was the acting U.S. Ambassador in Iraq throughout Operation Desert Shield.
In 2002, Wilson was asked to investigate reports that Saddam Hussein was attempting to acquire uranium from Niger, an action considered to be a threat to the safety of the United States.
Wilson, as well as two other Americans and a Frenchman, reported that there was no truth to the claims. During the State of the Union address that same year, President Bush said, "Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa," stating that the information was confirmed by the British.
On Bush's 57th birthday, Wilson publicly stated his investigation in the form of an article, saying that Bush exaggerated the threat of Iraqi nuclear weapons developments. Eight days later, a covert CIA officer was revealed by White House and State Department officials as retaliation, Wilson said. The CIA officer was Wilson's wife.
Wilson asked those in attendance to raise their hands if they knew the name of the person that leaked the information regarding his wife's position in the CIA. No one raised their hand.
He went on to ask if there was anybody that knew his wife's name. Again, no hands were raised.
"How is it that everyone here knows the name of a covert CIA officer but no one knows who put the lie into the president's mouth [regarding Iraq's threat of nuclear weapons]?" he asked.
Wilson's lecture was a recount of the events in question and reaffirmation of the things he did in his duties as an ambassador for the United States.
"There is no more solemn decision than to put innocent citizens in harm's way," Wilson said. "We failed them."
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 12
Mr. Jones
posted 4/09/09 @ 4:05 AM EST
Folks, I may not be a former prosecutor like Nancy Grace, but I have been sued more times than I can count, so I'd say I know my way around the law. In our system, I'm going to remind you that the accused is innocent until proven guilty of the heinous crime that the bastard probably did. (Continued…)
Hmm
posted 4/09/09 @ 8:15 AM EST
Are you even a student here, Mr. Jones? (just curious)
jimbo327
posted 4/09/09 @ 2:25 PM EST
Joseph C. Wilson, IV the Real Story
The story begins with the notorious 16 words inserted--after, be it noted, much vetting by the CIA and the State Department--into Bush's 2003 State of the Union address:
The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa. (Continued…)
Awww
posted 4/09/09 @ 6:19 PM EST
Look who learned to cut/copy and paste.
Well done, little one!
Charles
posted 4/09/09 @ 9:52 PM EST
TEC comments - where unemployed conservatives spend all day commenting on articles written by students half their age. Keep fightin' the good fight, boys!
Buechner
posted 4/14/09 @ 1:56 PM EST
I agree with myself.
jimbo327
posted 4/14/09 @ 2:25 PM EST
To Hmm & Awww which are thee
Colleges are places where pebbles are polished and diamonds are dimmed.
Robert G. Ingersoll, Abraham Lincoln.
Well
posted 4/14/09 @ 3:00 PM EST
Who said it? Robert G. Ingersoll or Abraham Lincoln? One had to be first, the other, a plagiarizer.
Also, my diamond doesn't seem to have the same luster anymore. (Continued…)
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