Actually, I think what Baldimo was saying was that why didn't they send someone with experience in tracing yellowcake or uranium sales or movements to try to find out. After all, there are plenty of fine diplomats sent by other countries to the USA but they wouldn't know how to go through whatever channels it takes to monitor uranium here.
For one thing, I don't know that there are such things as international weapons movements experts. I imagine that for big coountires, which Niger is not, there are experts in the field of tracing arms shipments for that country. But I don't know if there are experts in tracing arms shipments in every country-I would imagine such tracing would require a person expert in the workings of that particular country.
Also, Niger is not that big a country and the government isn't that big. Plus, as one of the world's poorest nations, there is not that much industry besides urnanium mines.
Here is the article written by Joseph Wilson. Below is an excerpt.
Quote:Given the structure of the consortiums that operated the mines, it would be exceedingly difficult for Niger to transfer uranium to Iraq. Niger's uranium business consists of two mines, Somair and Cominak, which are run by French, Spanish, Japanese, German and Nigerian interests. If the government wanted to remove uranium from a mine, it would have to notify the consortium, which in turn is strictly monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Moreover, because the two mines are closely regulated, quasi-governmental entities, selling uranium would require the approval of the minister of mines, the prime minister and probably the president. In short, there's simply too much oversight over too small an industry for a sale to have transpired.
