I admired him.
Joe Wilson, whose challenge to Bush administration set off Plame scandal, has died
SANTA FE, N.M. — Joe Wilson, a diplomat whose public questioning of whether the George W. Bush administration was manipulating intelligence before the Iraq War set off a firestorm that engulfed his then CIA-operative wife, has died at age 69 in Santa Fe.
Valerie Plame, Wilson’s former spouse, posted Friday on Facebook: “It is with deep sadness that I share with you the passing of an American hero – Ambassador Joe Wilson. He had the heart of a lion. He was the father of four beautiful children and I wish him nothing but peace in his next journey.”
In a subsequent statement, she added: “As a patriot, Joe had the courage to write an Op Ed that told the truth about the justification for the Iraq war because he knew that with the privilege of citizenship comes great responsibility.”
“He is already deeply and painfully missed,” she added.
Wilson wrote a New York Times op-ed in 2003 that attacked Bush’s claim that Iraq’s former President Saddam Hussein had purchased the makings for a nuclear weapon. Wilson had traveled to Niger for the CIA to investigate whether Saddam had purchased uranium yellowcake.
In retribution, the Bush administration leaked to a journalist that Wilson’s spouse Plame was an undercover CIA operative, setting off a political scandal.
An aide to former Vice President Dick Cheney, I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, was convicted of obstruction of justice and lying to investigators following the 2003 leak of Plame’s identity. Libby was pardoned last year by President Donald Trump.
Plame and Wilson moved to Santa Fe several years ago. Plame is now running for the U.S. House seat in New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District.
U.S Rep. Ben Ray Luján, the 3rd District incumbent who is running for a Senate seat next year, issued a statement calling Wilson “a friend and fellow New Mexican for whom I had deep respect.”
“Ambassador Wilson was a devoted patriot who put country and duty before politics and who had the courage to speak the truth in the face of extreme criticism.” Luján said. “With his passing, our country lost a faithful public servant.
“Today, my thoughts and prayers are with Joe’s family and friends. He will be missed by all those who loved and respected him.”
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-NM, said, “Joe Wilson was a dear friend and a true statesman dedicated to serving our country at home and abroad. My thoughts are with his family as they mourn Joe’s passing and we honor his incredible legacy of public service.”
Many tributes to Wilson were posted on line.
New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof tweeted: “Joe Wilson, who challenged Pres. Bush’s narrative about Iraq seeking uranium, is dead at 69. Joe first told me the story of his trip to Niger and let me write about it without using his name. When officials denied it, he went public. RIP, brave man.”
http://www.abqjournal.com/1371740/joe-wilson-whose-challenge-to-bush-administration-set-off-plame-scandal-has-died.html
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