joseph charles wilson iv (november 6, 1949 – september 27, 2019) was an american diplomat. he was best known for his 2002 trip to niger to investigate allegations that saddam hussein was attempting to purchase yellowcake uranium. his "new york times" op-ed piece, "what i didn't find in africa"; and the leaking by the bush administration of information about the identity of his wife valerie plame as a cia agent.