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Another Bush Aide Apologizes Over Uranium Flap

Deputy National Security Adviser Says CIA Warned Him 3 Times

POSTED: 7:19 p.m. EDT July 22, 2003
UPDATED: 12:41 a.m. EDT July 23, 2003


WASHINGTON -- President George W. Bush's deputy national security adviser apologized Tuesday for his role in allowing a tainted intelligence report into the president's State of Union address in January.
Stephen Hadley said he was warned by the CIA three times that the intelligence was shaky about Iraq's reported efforts to buy uranium in Africa.

Two of the warnings came in memos, while one was in a phone call last October from CIA Director George Tenet. But Hadley failed to keep the uranium-buying charge out of Bush's January speech.

Hadley said he apologized to Bush on Monday for failing to raise objections.

Tenet has already said he, too, should have objected. Documents backing up the claim of Iraq's nuclear ambitions later proved to be forgeries.

The report was based on British intelligence reports that indicated Iraq sought to buy uranium in Niger. The British say they stand by the report. Bush administration officials have said the British have different sources for such information.

The error has raised a storm of controversy on Capitol Hill -- and among U.S. allies abroad -- and has led to charges Bush misled the American people in the run-up to war.

Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The admission was NOT made as part of Hadley's Resignation Letter and therefore is not likely true. Hadley is falling on his Sword to protect his Fuhrer.