Jan. 12, 2003 – The Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) in the State Department sends an ICE-mail to CIA, expressing concerns that the documents pertaining to the Iraq-Niger deal were forgeries. (Libby trial document DX64.7)

 
As noted before, the CIA had probably already arrived at the same conclusion.

Jan. 13, 2003 -- The INR Iraq nuclear analyst sends another ICE-mail to several Intelligence Community analysts, outlining his reasoning “why the uranium purchase agreement probably is a hoax.” The CIA analyst, a WINPAC officer, who receives the email realizes he does not have the documents referred to and takes steps to get them from State/INR. (Libby trial document DX64.7)

Jan. 14, 2003 – In a joint photo op with Poland’s President Kwasniewski, Bush comments on, of all conceivable topics, Iraq:

“Question: The weapons inspectors say they need until March, maybe six months, maybe a year. Is this what you had in mind when you went to the U.N. back in September?

PRESIDENT BUSH: What I have in mind for Saddam Hussein is to disarm. The United Nations spoke with one voice. We said, we expect Saddam Hussein, for the sake of peace, to disarm. That's the question: Is Saddam Hussein disarming? He's been given 11 years to disarm. And so the world came together and we have given him one last chance to disarm. So far, I haven't seen any evidence that he is disarming.

Time is running out on Saddam Hussein. He must disarm. I'm sick and tired of games and deception. And that's my view of timetables.”

Jan. 15, 2003 – Thirteen days before the State of the Union address, CIA analysts again try to broaden language in ‘A Grave and Gathering Danger,’ from the White House, to say ‘Africa’ rather than ‘Niger.’ The paper is never published.

Jan. 16, 2003 -- CIA finally receives copies of the forged foreign language documents on Niger uranium. (SSCI Report, 62)

Jan. 16, 2003 – The Weapons Intelligence Non Proliferation and Arms Control Center (WINPAC) in CIA receives a copy of the forged documents.

 
Same day -- Bush comments on Iraq in a photo op while signing a bill limiting medical liability:

“We will continue to confront problems before they become acute. We understand that the world was changed on September the 11th. Oceans no longer protect us from threats that may mass overseas. And that's why I've been clear about my desire to keep the peace by confronting Mr. Saddam Hussein. It's his choice to make.

    It's up to Mr. Saddam Hussein to do what the entire world has asked him to do. The world overwhelmingly, through the U.N. Security Council, said, Mr. Saddam Hussein, disarm for the name of peace. It's his choice to make. So far, the evidence hasn't been very good that he is disarming. And time is running out.

    At some point in time, the United States' patience will run out. In the name of peace, if he does not disarm, I will lead a coalition of the willing to disarm Saddam Hussein.”

Jan. 17, 2003 – Eleven days before the State of the Union speech, analysts publish an Iraq paper for the Joint Chiefs of Staff that includes the uranium allegation. (SSCI Report, 62) A SWPR prepared in response to a request for additional evidence of Iraq’s nuclear weapons program notes, “Fragmentary reporting on Iraqi attempts to procure uranium from various countries in Africa in the past several years is another sign of reconstitution. Iraq has no legitimate use for uranium.” The CIA is re-examining the issue, but does not yet have translations of the documents. (Libby trial document DX64.8)

Jan. 17, 2003 – Engineered Support Systems, Inc., a major military contractor based in St. Louis, MO, with the President’s uncle William H. T. “Bucky” Bush on its board of directors since 2000, announces orders from the Air Force and Marines for its “Field Deployable Environmental Control Units.” The FDECUs are specially designed for dealing with weapons of mass destruction and are procured with the expectation that they will be used by troops in Saddam’s Iraq, rounding up and destroying WMDs. William Bush, George W. Bush’s uncle, is later reported by the Los Angeles Times to make hundreds of thousands of dollars from stock and other compensation for his board membership at Engineered Support Systems.

Jan. 20, 2003 – The Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) in the State Department advocates passing the actual Niger documents obtained from the Embassy to the United Nations’ INVO. INR proposes adding points on the Niger uranium issue to the information to be shared to agencies, not including judgment on the authenticity of the documents. (Libby trial document DX64.8)

Same day -- Bush submits a report to Congress about Iraq WMD noncompliance, including mention of the uranium. “The CIA and the White House have told Committee staff that the IC did not coordinate on this draft.” Meanwhile, the Intelligence Community is again being pressed by the National Security Council, under Condoleezza Rice, for additional details on Saddam’s WMD. (Sen. Select Committee on Intelligence Report, 63)