Bolton's Big Secret


The Nation
 Date: 03-22-05

Ari Berman

Much has been written about the appointment of unilateralist uber-hawk John Bolton as America's new UN ambassador, but there's been almost nothing regarding Bolton's role in promoting the fantasy that Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) tried to acquire enriched uranium from Niger. In fact, United Press International is the only national news agency or publication thus far to detail Bolton's behind-the-scenes dealings, in a news story by Christian Bourge and a column by Steve Clemons, who's monitored Bolton at his blog The Washington Note.

News of Bolton's involvement in the Niger scandal broke on March 1, when Congressman Henry Waxman sent a letter to Chris Shays, chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security. As part of a larger examination of excessive government secrecy, Waxman wrote that the "State Department concealed classified information about the role of John Bolton, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control, in creation of a fact sheet that falsely claimed that Iraq (news - web sites) sought uranium from Niger." According to Waxman, after Bolton repeatedly advanced a known untruth, his staff tried to squelch an investigation and lied to Congress about their boss's role.

The State Department drew up the fact sheet in response to the Iraqi regime's weapons declaration to the UN Security Council on December 7, 2002. "The Declaration ignores efforts to procure uranium from Niger," State alleged. "Why is the Iraqi regime hiding their uranium procurement?" At the time, State Department and CIA (news - web sites) intelligence experts knew the question's premise was false. When Waxman pressed Colin Powell (news - web sites) on whether Bolton was behind the statement, State responded on September 25, 2003 that "John R. Bolton did not play a role in the creation of this document."

But a subsequent request for the fact sheet's chronology proved that on December 18, 2002--eight months before the denial--State Department spokesman Richard Boucher asked Bolton "for help developing a response to Iraq's December 7 declaration...that could be used with the press." Bolton agreed and put his staff at the Bureau of Nonproliferation in charge. Three different versions of the fact sheet, all emailed to Bolton, included the debunked Niger charge. The chronology was labeled "sensitive but unclassified" and protected from Freedom of Information Act requests. If not for Waxman's persistence, the truth of Bolton's involvement may never have been exposed.

The Bush Administration is rightfully worried about Bolton's confirmation, and the new Niger revelation may be one reason why State unsuccessfully attempted to fast-track public hearings before the Senate recess on March 21. The first hearings of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will instead commence on April 7.

At least one Republican will need to join the Committee's eight Democrats to block Bolton's appointment. The key swing votes are Democrat Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Republican Lincoln Chafee (R-RI). Feingold may run for President in 2008 and has a disturbing history of backing some of the Administration's most controversial nominees (see Ashcroft, John). Chafee faces a tough 2006 re-election challenge in a blue state. Both should have plenty of time to review Bolton's "Affair with Niger" over their spring break.

Source

FAIR USE NOTICE

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.


Home