] The intelligence officials offered a tantalizing coda for
] conspiracy-mongers. They said the "crude forgery"
] received by U.N. weapons inspectors suggesting the Iraqis
] were trying to buy uranium from Niger as part of their
] nuclear program was originally put in intelligence
] channels by France. The officials wouldn't speculate on
] French motives.

Last paragraph of the article which I found particularly interesting.

Tipping Points (washingtonpost.com)