Folks, the Downing Street memo story is being squelched hard...

[tex-wyo-dem]

and one primary reason is Iran.

Iran is an important next step in the overall neocon/PNAC mission for domination of the Middle East and its oil resources, and the war drums are just starting to soften up the American public for an inevitable attack.

An unforeseen problem for the administration is the Downing Street memo. If a significant % of the public knew about this evidence, that * manipulated the intelligence on Iraq to create a justification for war, public support of any further military action would become very difficult.

You can bet the thumb screws are being turned hard on the media as we speak.

We have to do our best to get the word out.

[pnutchuck]

1. Squelched? It's not even getting air time....

I haven't seen it on any news programs here in the US. It's primary play is coming from overseas, as usual, our M$M is ignoring it.

[tex-wyo-dem]

2. My point is that someone very high up is turning the screws hard

on the media. As far as the administration is concerned, this story CANNOT GET OUT! If it does, their plans for any further military aggression could very possibly be stopped in its tracks.

This absolutely cannot happen as far as they are concerned.

[pnutchuck]

9. How do we get out to main stream America?

I've written my congresswoman, CNN, MSNBC, Washington Post, NY Times, et al and the most we're getting on the story is a 5 second scroll. The pukes have successfully labeled the media as "liberal" and, alhough we know that's not true, half of the US thinks this. So, my question is, how can we make this story a story if the only people talking about it are the one's who already know that Bush is a liar? How do we get this out if the media is owned and run by members of this fascist party?

[Vincardog]

20. There is only one way. Direct Mail. we should form a PAC and

get $20,000 to mail out the memo to the whole state of NY,
Then repeat for California. Billboards could be next.

[pnutchuck]

22. I'll volunteer to lick envelopes if you organize the letters and the lists

Ok?

[Vincardog]

25. We need to go industrial. You know presorted Bulk rate. COMMERCIAL rate

[pnutchuck]

27. OK, how do we get started? Shouldn't we be using someone like MoveOn?

[Vincardog]

28. It is up to us. First get the memo. Then find a DUer who has a

commercial mail operation. Raise the money and get on with it. DU raised 50 large over the weekend for Andy. That is admirable. It is also an example of what we can do for a good cause. The question is is this a good cause? I think so how about you?

[lildreamer316]

85. Count me in

..even though I have nothing to offer except time and hands.

[JRob]

94. Yes! But we should also push for a Country wide campaign to

bombard Congress, the Senate, the Media and their sponsors with the same.

Right-wingers can push a button and generate millions of calls, letters and emails to anyone. From here (DU) we can start and post the same action notice and message (along with the target recipients) in other forums and blogs etc.

[grasswire]

46. I never thought of using bulk mail.

We need to find someone on DU who is an expert in this tool.

[Clark2008]

59. Why start in NY and California?

Most people in those states are against the PNAC agenda to begin with.

Shouldn't the efforts start in Texas and whatever the next largest "red" state is (I guess, what Virginia or North Carolina?)

Those are the people who aren't getting this information because they only HAVE right-wing media choices - they aren't, obviously, reading left-wing and moderate blogs.

[shance]

97. This is a fantastic idea.

How can we get this going?

[AmBlue]

40. Bumper stickers???

Possibly directing people to a website??? Lots of direct mail goes in the trash. People look at bumper stickers....

[calimary]

39. So maybe we have to FORCE the issue...

Did you see this thread?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1772656#1773013

Hey, it's worth a try, isn't it?

[rodeodance]

56. Cnn had a short clip about it a few days ago (prob. in Greatest forum)

[ClassWarrior]

3. Yes - keep calling and writing. This HAS to get out.

NGU.

[splat@14]

4. Saw it on the little news scroll at the bottom of the screen

on CNN yesterday but that was all. Also, nothing about the letter to the White House from 88 congressmen asking for an explanation either. Is Joesph Goebbels back or what?

[pnutchuck]

6. I wrote my congresswoman about it after not seeing her name on the

letter from Conyers. Unfortunately, the media is controlled by the pukes so, this is just going to be another conspiracy theory by those crazy dems.

If the media won't play it, how can this letter gain the legitimacy it deserves if only "liberal" bloggers are covering it?

[bennywhale]

8. Get people to watch BBC world

they're covering it.

[pnutchuck]

12. When I lived in France, I'd watch BBC World but, my cable company

here in CA only carries BBC America. Go figure...

It's really sickening, I've only been back a month and I already feel like my knowledge of world events as reverted to early stages of childhood.

[bennywhale]

16. A Belgian

politician once said America could do magic.

"Go there and watch your country disappear"

[pnutchuck]

23. Good one, and too true.... nt

[AspenRose]

42. BBC World is on our PBS station here (NM)

eom

[TexasLawyer]

5. Recommended!

Good post. Think "ripple effect."

Tell people about the smoking gun memo.

Post articles on the memo (what few there are) on other forums.

Blast the media with e-mails complaining about their deafening silence.

Write LTTEs explaining the significance of the memo and complaining about the lack of media coverage.

Write to your senators and representatives and tell them you support John Conyers' request for an investigation, and that they should support it too.

Start talking impeachment. The "war will be a last resort" promise from Bushco was a blatant lie! The memo is "Exhibit A" that Americans have been grievously lied to, manipulated and robbed. Too many people already died because of Bush's lies. The killing won't stop until the American people make it stop.

[pnutchuck]

13. The funny thing is that this memo IS the smoking gun needed to impeach

Bush and yet, we can't get one major US news organization to run the story in it's entirety. I've done everything you suggested the second I found out about this last Monday. But I think the only way we're going to get this out is if we organize some protests on Washington. We're going to have to hang the memo across Dupont Circle, or dig up some dirt on Katy Couric and black mail her with it in order for anyone to give this memo legitimacy.

I know I sound pessimistic, but after 2 elections and all the other media black outs, I just hold little hope that they can be defeated.

[ClassWarrior]

18. The national desk editor at my local newspaper wasn't even AWARE...

...of the Conyers letter. He said they covered the memo story when it broke, in the context of Blair's election, but he didn't know about any letter signed by 88 Congresspeople. I asked if I could email him some links and he gladly gave me his email address.

Sometimes you have to whack these people over the head time and time again, but eventually you raise a bump or two.

Don't give up people!!

NGU.

[TexasLawyer]

21. Way to go!

[ClassWarrior]

48. Thanks.

I'll have to check tomorrow's paper. The editor emailed me back with a thank-you, so that's hopeful.

NGU.

[hvn_nbr_2]

33. He said they "covered" it!!!!

He said they covered it when it broke!!! What a crock! When Clinton lied about a blowjob, they covered it as the lead story every day for more than six months (one break for a hurricane, one for a tornado). So Bush lies repeatedly about reasons and justifications for going to war and about when the decision was made, and they *covered it* by running a story once.
:wtf: x( :mad: :grr: :puke: :argh:

[ClassWarrior]

47. Yeah, and purely for its relevance to Britain's election.

These people need training reeealll bad. And I'm just the one to give it to them. :evilgrin:

NGU.

[lala_rawraw]

7. Paper Chase it people

[tex-wyo-dem]

10. Let's get this done!

If we can get some critical mass of people aware of this, we might just be able to get a snowball effect going. I've already emailed everyone I know and have talked to a few people at work about it.

We still have time...attack on Iran will happen sometime in June is my guess.

[Al-CIAda]

11. Why didn't the Dems & Kerry pound the PNAC cabal into the

American consciousness? They had the ear and chance during the campaigns. Everything, EVERYTHING proceeds from the new Mein Kampf of the Christo-fascists.

Until this FACT that they exist and dictate policy is exposed, the idiot Americans will not connect to the larger picture.

Why did they not expose what we all KNOW to be true?

[ClassWarrior]

15. Ask them, not us.

We're too busy trying to expose this to hold your hand.

NGU.

[Al-CIAda]

19. It is good that you do not extend your hand, for I would bite it off.

I have no need of coddling or hand holding, but ask only to force the truth of the matter to be realized. We are being sold out by complicitors and traitors.

Carry on.

[ClassWarrior]

29. Good luck with that. And thanks for helping keep the thread kicked.

NGU.

[Al-CIAda]

30. I am not the enemy, and I will keep threads like this kicked

so, no 'thank you' to me is needed.

:nuke: :thumbsup:

[ClassWarrior]

44. I'm glad we share common ground...

:kick:

NGU.

[ClassWarrior]

62. kick

:kick:

NGU.

[democrat_patriot]

14. Please send an email to these people:

[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]

[pnutchuck]

24. Thanks for the list, I've started my bombardment.

I just have to do it in chunks of 25 or my email accuses me of spamming.

[TrogL]

67. Um...maybe that's because you are spamming

[pnutchuck]

26. A lot of these are coming back as undeliverable.

Not all, but most of the one's from NPR and Fox.

[Dinger]

17. Kick!

:kick:

[BigBearJohn]

31. WE SHOULD SPONSOR OUR OWN TELEVISION SPOT

Get everyone's creative idea on how it should be presented.

[demo dutch]

34. Can't we get Moveon involved???

[BigBearJohn]

36. that REALLY is the way to go. I wrote them already.

[rucky]

32. Here are some links...

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=&q=memo+blair+iraq

Rep. Conyers follows up on British leaked memo
Guerrilla News Network - 1 hour ago
... 23, 2002, meeting of Prime Minister Tony Blair with top ... US visit was paraphrased by the memo: “There was a ... mass destruction have been found in Iraq since the ...
British Report: Bush Administration Cooked Facts About U.S. Politics
A New Memo-gate? Knight Ridder Covers Leaked British Document That ... Editor & Publisher
all 3 related »
Memo: Bush manipulated Iraq intel
Newsday, NY - 12 hours ago
... meeting of British Prime Minister Tony Blair with his ... The memo said, "the intelligence and facts were being ... mass destruction have been found in Iraq since the ...
British memo: US data manipulated for Iraq war Chicago Tribune (subscription)
The Leaked UK Memo - Red State thoughts? Red State
Secret British Memo Shows Bush Tampered with Iraq Intelligence uruknet.info
OCRegister (subscription) - uruknet.info - all 9 related »

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0505080295may08,1,1916602.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

British memo: U.S. data manipulated for Iraq war

By Warren P. Strobel and John Walcott
Knight Ridder Newspapers
Published May 8, 2005


WASHINGTON -- A Michigan congressman is seeking more information from President Bush about a classified British memo, leaked during Britain's recent election campaign, that claims the president decided by summer 2002 to overthrow Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and was determined to ensure that U.S. intelligence data supported his policy.

The memo, in which British foreign policy aide Matthew Rycroft summarized a July 23, 2002, meeting of Prime Minister Tony Blair with top security advisers, reports on a U.S. visit by Richard Dearlove, then head of Britain's MI-6 intelligence service.

The memo does not specify which Bush administration officials met with Dearlove.

The visit took place while the Bush administration was saying publicly that no decision had been made to go to war.

Rep. John Conyers, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, is circulating a letter asking Bush for an explanation, an aide said.

[demo dutch]

35. Anyone seen this piece on yahoo.com

Link

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/s/ep/20050506/en_bpiep/anewmemogateknightriddercoversleakedbritishdocumentthatdisputesbushclaimsoniraq

[BigBearJohn]

38. No I didn't!! Thanks for posting it! Spread the word!

[tex-wyo-dem]

37. Thanks for the links!

How about the smaller media like smaller town newpapers and news outlets who might not be so beholden to tow the corporate line?

[BigBearJohn]

41. or this one from FOX NEWS reporter

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3626089#top

[MazeRat7]

43. Hummmm.. Spam ? Of the political variety rather than commercial...

Don't flame me I am just making a "counter" suggestion. I am so sick and tired of getting crap for viagra, penis enlargement, and MMF schemes I would love to use this truly evil tactic for some other kind or purpose.

Certainly, there would be opt out and all that... but why not ? A well crafted message with documented links and a statement that this was a one time mailing... might work. It has been documented that it works for the commercial interest... you never know......

Naaaa.... too many people hate spam.....besides its too "republican" ...

never mind.

MZr7

[LifeDuringWartime]

45. i wrote a LTTE

late, late last night. they called today to confirm that i was who i said i was, and that i had actually written it (e.g., not an automation). it seemed from what the woman said that theyre actually going to run it. ill post if it happens.

[redacted]

49. From Jay Bookman at AJC (read tonight by Mike Malloy on AAR)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ajc.com > Opinion > Bookman

OMINOUSLY, ARMY RECRUITING TUMBLES
Published on: 05/09/05

<snip>

. . .On an issue like this, the public eventually leads and the leaders will rush to follow. And if the public is growing increasingly disenchanted with this war, top-secret British documents recently leaked to the British press help explain why.

The primary document is an internal summary of a meeting held on July 23, 2002, by British Prime Minister Tony Blair and a handful of his top foreign policy, intelligence and military advisers. At that point, most Americans had no idea that a war with Iraq was even being considered, but apparently, Blair and President Bush had agreed to invade Iraq as far back as an April 2002 meeting in Crawford, Texas.

In the July meeting, Blair and his aides discussed the Americans' plan to create an international crisis around Iraq and its weapons of mass destruction. The idea was to set the stage for war by demanding that Saddam Hussein re-admit U.N. weapons inspectors; when Saddam refused, that would be the excuse to invade.

However, as British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told Blair in that July meeting, "The case is thin. Saddam was not threatening his neighbors, and his WMD capability was less than that of Libya, North Korea or Iran."

Blair was also told that the "most likely timing in U.S. minds for military action to begin was January, with the timeline beginning 30 days before the U.S. congressional elections."

That description is damning, indicating that the Bush administration cynically manipulated its war plans to create maximum political advantage for Republican congressional candidates.

The document's most devastating paragraph, however, summarizes a report by the head of British intelligence, known as "C." "C" has just returned from meetings in Washington, and he's telling Blair what he learned there:

"Bush wanted to remove Saddam through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD," "C" tells Blair. "But the intelligence and the facts were being fixed around the policy. . . . There was little discussion in Washington of the aftermath after military action."

The intelligence was being fixed . . . Little discussion of the aftermath. Amazing.

So yes, a nation can be fooled into war by its own leaders. We've learned that much. But unless that war is short and successful, there's a price to be paid.

In this case, what began as an optional war has morphed into a war of great importance. But now, when our leaders tell us that, fewer Americans believe them, and fewer still are willing to die for it.

• Jay Bookman is the deputy editorial page editor. His column appears Mondays and Thursdays.

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/bookman?UrAuth=`N\NUOcN]UbTTUWUXUTUZTYU_UWU]U`UZUbUZUcTYWYWZV

[Jo March]

79. Wow. Thanks for posting that!

It's a great read.

[redacted]

50. Santa Rosa Press-Democrat Letter to the Editor

Letters to the Editor
Saturday, May 7, 2005
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050507/NEWS/50507003/1044/OPINION

Power plan

EDITOR: So it's official. George Bush fancies himself our king, not our president. Though the American press has largely not seen fit to print this bombshell, British newspapers recently released an internal memo obtained from their government officially laying out in July 2002 Prime Minister Blair and President Bush's plan to remove Saddam Hussein from power. This in contrast to our president's insistent claim to the American people until March 2003 that he still hoped to avoid a military conflict with Iraq.

The British confidential memo lays all of that balderdash to rest. Our president didn't "respectfully disagree" with half of the citizenry over whether or not to invade Iraq. To the contrary, he arrogantly insisted on it.

GREG ICE

Santa Rosa

[NAO]

51. There is a corporate media deafening silence - utter blackout

we MUST get this story into the public awareness. It is the most damning thing to have come out about Bush.

Bush has lied lots before, but people who wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt were able to speculate that possibly he did not know, or he did not MEAN to mislead.

The "facts were fixed" memo is CONCLUSIVE PROOF of INTENT to deceive.

We have to use whatever channels are available - LTE's to paper newspapers, xerox/wood-paste, tracts, email, billboards, radio spots, anything, everything - to get this into the public awareness.

[ClassWarrior]

52. Yup, keep calling and writing your local media outlets!!

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution article cited above proves we ARE having an effect. KEEP GOING!!

Never Give Up.

[redacted]

53. THE MEMO is the final straw (Bellaciao, France)

THE MEMO IS THE FINAL STRAW: BUSH AND BLAIR MUST BE PROSECUTED
by : Ben Frank
Monday 9th May 2005

We’re not talking circumstantial evidence anymore. It is now verified fact that George Bush and Tony Blair agreed to go to war in early 2002, and that they "fixed the facts" to make the case for war. If this isn’t a case for impeachment, then nothing is.

What facts did they fix?
In Britain, Blair’s henchmen fabricated the "fake dossier" (1991 grad student’s thesis) and soon-to-be interim Iraqi PM Ayad Allawi supplied the 45 min claim.

Bush threatened America with mushroom clouds (mp3) - backed by the forged Niger-Uranium Documents and the lie.

John Conyers highlighted these key facts from The Memo :

<snip>

It is time to apply intense pressure to every member Congress:
Vote for impeachment or you will go to prison right alongside the war criminals. Failing one’s sworn duty to uphold and defend The Constitution is TREASON. Make no mistake about it, the evidence calls for impeachment.

MORE

http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=5996

[redacted]

54. KICK and see also this DU discussion on John Conyers:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1773725

He is a patriot and a great American!

[magellan]

55. Okay, I've no idea about the legality behind this idea

...but what about doing something via Ebay? I was thinking along the lines of writing a short, concise rant about how Bush** lied and now we have the proof but our CON isn't covering it, and providing repeated links to the memo on the London Times site throughout. Get people to bid to make "the seller" stop spreading the truth. lol, not logical, but it might attract some attention?

[rodeodance]

57. I sent to email addresses above. did this a few days ago but no

responses so far from anyone (other than thank you for contacting us)

[unhappycamper]

58. kick

:kick:

[sendero]

60. Cold water..

... there is nothing here that

1) most people didn't already know and

2) that directly implicates Bush**

I understand the frustration y'all feel, but this is going no where and it's because Americans know full well the case for war was concocted and as of yet they don't give a damn.

[Terre]

72. Yup, let's throw in the towel

nothing to see here, so move along folks  :sarcasm:

From my point of view:

What "most people" are already aware of is, that they had no WMD, but think 'What the hey, Saddam was a baddie anyway and deserved to be taken out.' I think that's were many Americans are right now.

Most people DON'T KNOW about this memo. How could they? It's only just now been released, and has had pretty much jack shit in the way of coverage on this side of the pond.

The information that is now in the leaked OFFICIAL B&W memo, basically states that Bush KNEW he would be taking us to war, even while he was publicly stating that no decision had been made.

I don't think most Americans "don't give a damn". If it would just be reported, give them at least a chance to determine for themselves.

[sendero]

80. Well....

.... I'm not saying that folks shouldn't write the media and try to get some coverage of this. I'm just saying that you'd be nuts to think that the average American is going to have the same reaction to this revelation that you do. If that were the case, the war would have never happened. You'd better get your head around this FACT, Americans don't give a shit whether the war in Iraq was justified or not, they just wanted to kick some ass in a 9/11 inspired infantile temper fit.

Bush** merely took advantage of this fact.

The fact that the Iraq war was planned well in advance of 911 is not exactly unknown. I've talked to random folks visiting my place of business who "have an uncle that was working on Iraq war planning back in 2000".

The problem I have with this memo is that it has too much "indirection" and doesn't directly implicate Bush**. You know what it means and I know what it means, but in a court of law or the court of public opinion, that doesn't count.

[OneTwentyoNine]

61. The reason they won't let the lame ass "runaway bride" story die...

I saw yet ANOTHER follow up story on that BS last night. God...over 1600 of our soldiers DEAD over made up,trumped up,bullshit to get us into Iraq and the MSM could care less.

Yep,much more important to see if that wild eyed runaway bride will come to her senses and marry that baffoon she ran out on. There's your continuing story of the day. BTW,welcome to Nazi America.....

[Al-CIAda]

63. kick

[Doctor_J]

64. More like a total blackout

I haven't seen nor heard word one about this. :shrug:

[No Michael Savage]

65. Figures

[bvar22]

66. There is only ONE WAY this gets coverage in MSM.

BIG Name celebrity Democratic Leaders MUST call press conferences and speak in a UNIFIED voice and simple language.

Clinton (Hillary and Bill), Kerry, Reid, Pelosi, Clark, Dean and others need to STAND UP before America and clearly state that this MEMO is PROOF that bush*/republicans LIED, and that this is IMPORTANT.
They NEED to REPEAT it at EVERY opportunity and DEMAND time on the morning talk shows!!!

Snail Mail to the Media is USELESS, E-Mail to the Media is LESS than useless. Our LEADERS MUST be must somehow be convinced to SPEAK FOR US!!!!

[ClassWarrior]

70. You'd better join us and pick up that phone then...

And by the way, please don't use "MSM." There's nothing "mainstream" about the Corporate Media's sick agenda of greed and manipulation.

NGU.

[Dr Fate]

74. BULLSEYE. Keep spreading this message.

n/t

[IChing]

68. I just got freeped on my Post on signatories to his letter

It must be striking a nerve.

[Stinky The Clown]

69. My letter to my local paper, The Baltimore Sun

to: [e-mail]

The European press has been reporting on the release of a memo written for high level use only by the British government of Tony Blair. The memo purportedly outlines a plan to invade Iraq. It also discusses the plan to 'fix the intelligence' to match the war decision long before the public case was even begun to justify the war. Has The Sun done any coverage at all of this memo?

Thank you,
(Subscriber) <Stinky the Clown>
Ellicott City, Maryland

[Dr Fate]

71. Why cant Dean, Kerry or Reid speak up about it?

????????????

[Al-CIAda]

76. Good question. n/t

[brindis_desala]

73. Who is likely to be more responsive. The corporate press or

the people we elect? Think People!

[redacted]

75. Molly Ivins: Meanwhile, back in Iraq

May 10, 2005
<snip>

. . .However, I cannot let this astounding Downing Street memo go unmentioned.

On May 1, the Sunday Times of London printed a secret memo that went to the defense secretary, foreign secretary, attorney general and other high officials. It is the minutes of their meeting on Iraq with Tony Blair. The memo was written by Matthew Rycroft, a Downing Street foreign policy aide. It has been confirmed as legitimate and is dated July 23, 2002. I suppose the correct cliche is "smoking gun."

"C reported on his recent talks in Washington. There was a perceptible shift in attitude. Military action was now seen as inevitable. Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy. (There it is.) The NSC (National Security Council) had no patience with the U.N. route, and no enthusiasm for publishing material on the Iraqi regime's record. There was little discussion in Washington of the aftermath after military action."

After some paragraphs on tactical considerations, Rycroft reports, "No decisions had been taken, but he (British defense secretary) thought the most likely timing in U.S. minds for military action to begin was January, with the timeline beginning 30 days before the U.S. congressional elections.

"The foreign secretary said he would discuss this with Colin Powell this week. It seemed clear that Bush had made up his mind to take military action, even if the timing was not yet decided. But the case was thin. Saddam was not threatening his neighbors, and his WMD capability was less than that of Libya, North Korea or Iran. We should work up a plan for an ultimatum to Saddam to allow back in the U.N. weapons inspectors. This would also help with the legal justification for the use of force.

"The attorney general said that the desire for regime change was not a legal base for military action. There were three possible legal bases: self-defense, humanitarian intervention or UNSC authorization. The first and second could not be the base in this case."

There is much more in the memo, which can be found easily online. What's difficult now is placing the memo in the timeframe. Can you remember how little you knew about a war with Iraq in July 2002? Most of us who opposed the war concluded some time ago this was the way it went down. There was plenty of evidence, though nothing this direct and cold. Think of the difference it would have made if we had known all this three years ago. Now? The memo was a huge story in Britain but is almost unreported here.

The memo does get us some forwarder. At least it finally settles this ridiculous debate about how Dear Leader Bush just wanted to bring democracy all along and we did it all for George Washington.

MORE
http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/1/2005/1124

[redacted]

77. British Report: Bush Administration Cooked Facts (About.Com Politics)

Kathy Gill
May 09, 2005

A highly classified British intelligence report, which was released during the latest political campaign, asserts that "intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy." Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), ranking minority member of the House Judiciary Committee (pdf) has written President Bush, noting that"If the disclosure is accurate, it raises troubling new questions regarding the legal justifications for the war as well as the integrity of your own Administration" and asking a series of questions to the President.

Do you or anyone in your Administration dispute the accuracy of the leaked document?

Were arrangements being made, including the recruitment of allies, before you sought Congressional authorization go to war? Did you or anyone in your Administration obtain Britain’s commitment to invade prior to this time?

Was there an effort to create an ultimatum about weapons inspectors in order to help with the justification for the war as the minutes indicate?

At what point in time did you and Prime Minister Blair first agree it was necessary to invade Iraq?

Was there a coordinated effort with the U.S. intelligence community and/or British officials to "fix" the intelligence and facts around the policy as the leaked document states?

The document summarizes a July 23, 2002 meeting between British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his advisers; at this point in time, the Bush Administration was stating publicly that no decision had been made to go to war.

The memo was first reported by the Sunday Times of London. A Knight-Ridder report says that the National Security Council, headed by now Secretary of State Rice, "had no patience with the U.N. route."

According to news.google.com, the story has been reported only in these US newspapers: Chicago Tribune, Dallas-Ft Worth Star-Telegram, San Jose Mercury News, St. Paul (MN) Pioneer Press, Seattle Times, Spokane (WA) Spokesman Review.

http://uspolitics.about.com/b/a/168387.htm

[bvar22]

78. Target the people we PAY to speak for us.

Don't waste your time asking the RICH REPUBLICAN talking heads of the MEDIA to spread the MEMO. They are PAYED by the other party to cover bush*s ass..

Instead, target your mail and phone calls to:

*the Congressman from your district.

*Both of your state's Senators

*In addition, contact your Party Leaders:

Senator Harry Reid, minority leader Senate
http://reid.senate.gov/

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Minority leader House
http://www.house.gov/pelosi/

Dr. Howard Dean, Chairman DNC
http://www.democrats.org/


Also contact these celebrity Democratic Leaders who are darlings of the Talk Show circuit.

Sen Hillary Clinton (most readily identifiable Democrat on TV)
http://clinton.senate.gov/

Senator Joe Biden (never met a camera he didn't like)
http://biden.senate.gov/

Senator Joe Lieberman (talk TV champion of Democratic Party)
http://lieberman.senate.gov/

Senator John Kerry (de facto spokesman for Democratic Party)
http://www.johnkerry.com/

Bill Clinton (by himself) in ONE press conference could inject this issue into the national spotlight.


Snail Mail has the MOST weight but is slow.
Phone Calls are quick and logged in, but not as weighty as snail mail.
E-Mail to Washington is mostly useless and most is deleted.

Letters to Local Papers (and opinion pages) are more productive than letters to the National Rags.



Be polite and supportive, but INSIST that they speak out on this issue.
Any one could DEMAND National coverage for a press conference.
As a GROUP, SPEAKING in ONE VOICE, they could DEMAND TIME and COVERAGE!
Most of these people have chairs with their NAMES on them at the Morning Political Talk Shows.
These PEOPLE could easily FORCE the media to cover the MEMO.

Why are they keeping the MEMO a secret?

[magellan]

83. It stuns me that we have to tell these people to speak out.

Why do our Senators and Congressmen need us to tell them the memo leaked by the British government proves Bush** lied to America and that that's grounds for impeachment??? Why do they need us to tell them that the Corporate Media is suppressing this information from the public at large?? What ROCK do they all live under??

The Dems should have been ALL OVER the memo by now. It is not difficult to call a press conference. They (apart from Conyers) are failing us.

Again.

[redacted]

81. KICKing and screaming for more attention

[redacted]

82. Smoking Gun Memo? Iraq Bombshell Goes Mostly Unreported (FAIR.org)

Media Advisory (5/10/05)

Journalists typically condemn attempts to force their colleagues to disclose anonymous sources, saying that subpoenaing reporters will discourage efforts to expose government wrongdoing. But such warnings seem like mere self-congratulation when clear evidence of wrongdoing emerges, with no anonymous sources required-- and major news outlets virtually ignore it.

A leaked document that appeared in a British newspaper offered clear new evidence that U.S. intelligence was shaped to support the drive for war. Though the information rocked British Prime Minister Tony Blair's re-election campaign when it was revealed, it has received little attention in the U.S. press.

The document, first revealed by the London Times (5/1/05), was the minutes of a July 23, 2002 meeting in Blair's office with the prime minister's close advisors. The meeting was held to discuss Bush administration policy on Iraq, and the likelihood that Britain would support a U.S. invasion of Iraq. "It seemed clear that Bush had made up his mind to take military action, even if the timing was not yet decided," the minutes state.

The minutes also recount a visit to Washington by Richard Dearlove, the head of the British intelligence service MI6: "There was a perceptible shift in attitude. Military action was now seen as inevitable. Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy."

MORE
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=2511

[Al-CIAda]

84. kick

[Al-CIAda]

86. .

[bush_is_wacko]

87. We have to do our best to get ALL the available information out

every day! I can see a turning tide everywhere I look. I had a discussion in a coffee house today with a man from Morocco and a man from Saudi Arabia. they both understand that America has an uphill battle to fight and they ALSO understand that not ALL Americans are ignorant. Actually I was surprised by the Saudis response to me. he understood I disagreed with the way women were treated in his culture but he was STILL willing to listen to a white American woman that didn't even know his name. It is so funny that ultimately both of those men and me came to the same conclusion. world peace is about "family" and if more people did what it took to keep their "families" together we would NOT be in this mess.

[Al-CIAda]

88. .

[Al-CIAda]

89. .

[Al-CIAda]

90. .

[tex-wyo-dem]

91. The media just doesn't want to touch this, but why?

I mean, we are talking about the most unpopular president at this point in his term than any other in American history. If you think of other more popular presidents that went through Watergate, Iran-Contra and Monicagate, it just doesn't make sense why Shrub would be getting a free pass.

Are they afraid of the backlash, the "liberal media" label?

Do they not feel the risk vs. "legs of the story" is not worth it?

Do they feel this would damage the "war on terrorism" and risk being labeled traitorous?

Or is their something more sinister working behind the scenes?

One thing's for sure, unlike other scandals no prominent opposing party leaders are stepping up to the plate. I can only hope that they are putting this in their hip pocket to pull out at the right moment.

[Al-CIAda]

92. Complicity, cover-up, and treason of omission.

Welcome to 1984, fascism, and the police state

[tex-wyo-dem]

93. Yep, agree....

that is what I meant by sinister.

Sometime in the future, when the neocons go on trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity, the entire American media should be charged as accomplices.

[JRob]

95. An answer ! See Will Pitts article at this thread,,,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1777823&mesg_id=1777823

"Whenever I get asked to speak about the media and its role in our world, I always remember something that happened to me in the fall of 2002..."

[Catherine Vincent]

96. I have a question regarding this memo.

Yes that is damaging evidence against Bush and his cronies but what I don't understand is that everyone that's paying attention knew the Bushies were going to war with Iraq before they planted him in the White House. Remember the Frontline documentary? Word was out that Saddam would be toppled. So if the media ignored that information, what makes you guys think they'll pay attention to the memo.

[Al-CIAda]

98. .