Final Version: Any thoughts on the distribution list?

[Pacifist Patriot]

Dear _______:

The American media may be too intimidated to openly challenge the Bush administration regarding the “Downing Street” document—containing meeting minutes transcribed during the British Prime Minister's meeting on July 23, 2002, a full eight months prior to the invasion of Iraq on March 20, 2003—but the American legislature has a constitutional obligation to investigate. This document demonstrates President Bush's pre-emptive state of mind and his flagrant disregard for his legal obligations to Congress and the American people.

I am disturbed by the media silence regarding this issue, particularly the claim by producers and editors that the document does not constitute a primary source. Their motivation for asserting this false claim is suspect as they know full well a primary source reflects the individual viewpoint of a participant or observer. Examples include: diaries, journals, speeches, interviews, letters, memos, manuscripts, minutes and other papers in which individuals describe events in which they were participants or observers.

More importantly, the contents of the document has already been corroborated by key individuals such as Paul O'Neill, Richard Clarke, Joseph Wilson, etc... We are not being presented with an opinion piece, but a recounting of a meeting. The authenticity has been verified as a report from a high-ranking source to the highest levels of the British government.

As required by H.R.Res. 114, Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002, the administration was required to report to Congress that diplomatic options had been exhausted before or within 48 hours after military action had started.

Within 48 hours after the attack on Iraq, President Bush supposedly informed Congress in writing that Iraq posed a serious and imminent threat to national security. (see enclosure dated 03/21/03). The “Downing Street” document shows that President Bush knew this was not true. This is a clear violation of the False Statements Accountability Act of 1996, and would constitute a premeditated illegal act by our President.

Surely a legislative body with the courage to impeach President Clinton for his semantic gymnastics before a federal grand jury can find it within themselves to investigate a president whose suspected illegal actions resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of our fellow human beings.

The United States Constitution

Article II Section. 4. The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Article I Section 2. Clause 5: The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

Article I. Section 3. Clause 6: The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.

I am by no means a constitutional scholar, but I am a citizen with a vested interest in preserving American representative democracy. I interpret our founding document to mean that Congress has a duty to preserve that democracy by serving as a check and balance for the Executive branch. Surely the evidence suggesting President Bush’s administration engaged in illegal warfare constitutes valid suspicion of treason and other high crimes warranting a full public investigation. I urge you to work with your colleagues in Congress to restore integrity and dignity to the American government.

Regards,

---

Enclosures:
· Remarks by the President in Address to the Nation The Cross Hall 03/17/03
· Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President Pro Tempore of the Senate 03/21/03
· Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives 03/25/03
· Memo from Matthew Rycroft Re: IRAQ: PRIME MINISTER'S MEETING 07/23/02

Distribution:
Senator Bill Nelson, Senator Mel Martinez, Representative Dave Weldon, Terry Eberle (Exec. Editor Florida Today)


Anyone else I should copy? Should I send a packet to Conyers? Not that he needs the information, just so he can see what other people are up to / receiving.

[BigBearJohn]

1. I think I am going to snail mail this to EVERY rep in both houses.

[Octafish]

2. Sign, seal, send and call a few days later to make sure it's delivered.

Thank you VERY much, Pacifist Patriot.

I'm sending this to both my friends.

[Robbien]

3. Great letter. Recommended

The only suggestion I would have is to send it to the other local papers in your area.

[understandinglife]

4. Excellent letter. Bookmarked, Recommended.

Peace.

Relevant DU thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3742495


www.missionnotaccomplished.us - How ever long it takes, the day must come when tens of millions of caring individuals peacefully but persistently defy the dictator, deny the corporatists cash flow, and halt the evil being done in Iraq and in all the other places the Bu$h neoconster regime is destroying civilization and the environment in the name of "America."

[oxbow]

5. This is going to be very helpful when the story finally breaks

that's when the smear campaign starts. bookmarked & nominated!

[AuntiBush]

6. Sendings to my state reps asap!

Little did the Chimp realize that the very thing (Internet) he thought would keep us "off the streets, marching" would be the very thing that would keep us united across the country.

Take that Smirkin' Chimp and Co!

Good ltr. Thank you soooo much!

:bounce:

[Pacifist Patriot]

7. FYI: Here are the links for the Enclosures

· Remarks by the President in Address to the Nation The Cross Hall 03/17/03

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030317-7.html

· Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President Pro Tempore of the Senate 03/21/03

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030321-5.html

· Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives 03/25/03

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030325-3.html

· Memo from Matthew Rycroft Re: IRAQ: PRIME MINISTER'S MEETING 07/23/02

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1593607,00.html

[Pacifist Patriot]

12. The Times no longer links to the memo. Use this link.

http://www.downingstreetmemo.com/memoplain.html

[Pacifist Patriot]

8. UPDATED: To fix a grammatical error

June 1, 2005

Dear____

The American media may be too intimidated to openly challenge the Bush administration regarding the “Downing Street” document—containing meeting minutes transcribed during the British Prime Minister's meeting on July 23, 2002, a full eight months prior to the invasion of Iraq on March 20, 2003—but the American legislature has a constitutional obligation to investigate. This document demonstrates President Bush's pre-emptive state of mind and his flagrant disregard for his legal obligations to Congress and the American people.

I am disturbed by the media silence regarding this issue, particularly the claim by producers and editors that the document does not constitute a primary source. Their motivation for asserting this false claim is suspect, as they know full well a primary source reflects the individual viewpoint of a participant or observer. Examples include: diaries, journals, speeches, interviews, letters, memos, manuscripts, minutes and other papers in which individuals describe events in which they were participants or observers.

More importantly, key individuals such as Paul O’Neill, Richard Clarke, and Joseph Wilson have already corroborated the contents of the document. We are not being presented with an opinion piece, but a recounting of a meeting. The authenticity has been verified as a report from a high-ranking source to the highest levels of the British government.

As required by H.R.Res. 114, Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002, the administration was required to report to Congress that diplomatic options had been exhausted before or within 48 hours after military action had started.

Within 48 hours after the attack on Iraq, President Bush supposedly informed Congress in writing that Iraq posed a serious and imminent threat to national security. (See enclosure dated 03/21/03). ; The “Downing Street” document shows that President Bush knew this was not true. This is a clear violation of the False Statements Accountability Act of 1996, and would constitute a premeditated illegal act by our President.

A legislative body with the courage to impeach President Clinton for his semantic gymnastics before a federal grand jury should easily find it within themselves to investigate a president whose suspected illegal actions resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of our fellow human beings.

The United States Constitution

Article II Section. 4. The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Article I Section 2. Clause 5: The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

Article I. Section 3. Clause 6: The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.

I am by no means a constitutional scholar, but I am a citizen with a vested interest in preserving American representative democracy. I interpret our founding document to mean that Congress has a duty to preserve that democracy by serving as a check and balance for the Executive branch. Surely the evidence suggesting President Bush’s administration engaged in illegal warfare constitutes valid suspicion of treason and other high crimes warranting a full public investigation. I urge you to work with your colleagues in Congress to restore integrity and dignity to the American government.

Regards,

_________________

Enclosures:
· Remarks by the President in Address to the Nation The Cross Hall 03/17/03
· Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President Pro Tempore of the Senate 03/21/03
· Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives 03/25/03
· Memo from Matthew Rycroft Re: IRAQ: PRIME MINISTER'S MEETING 07/23/02

Distribution: Senator Bill Nelson, Senator Mel Martinez, Representative Dave Weldon, Terry Eberle (Executive Editor Florida Today)

[MadisonProgressive]

9. Is it just me or does everyone else see this:

“Downing Street”

The extra symbols!

[Theres-a]

10. I see it,too

[Pacifist Patriot]

11. Are you referring to the words Downing Street being in

quotation marks? If so, that is deliberate because it is how they are being dubbed but is not a genuine description of their contents.

[MadisonProgressive]

13. They don't look like quotation marks to me!

[Pacifist Patriot]

14. Strange. I know that a lot of times I see question marks where

apostrophes should be when reading these boards. I don't know why some characters get messed with and others don't. Afraid my computer expertise is limited to making sure the bloody thing is plugged in. :)