John Conyers: DSM – The Story that We Wouldn’t Let Die

[paineinthearse]

http://www.conyersblog.us/

DSM – The Story that We Wouldn’t Let Die

Things may seem smooth and uneventful on the surface, but beneath the surface, the turmoil over the Downing Street Minutes continues to grow.

Just today, Molly Ivin’s excellent editorial on the growing scandal was reprinted in Common Dreams. http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0622-22.htm

The San Jose Mercury News, the key technology paper in the country, has a good article on the efforts of Gina and Bob Fesmire, who developed the invaluable downingstreetmemo.com site. http://www.downingstreetmemo.com/

None other than the Kennebec Journal, Maine’s oldest newspaper, from Augusta, carries yet more coverage on the issue, and notes that on the day after our DSM hearings more than 1,700 news articles ran on the issue. http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/view/letters/1722075.shtml

Finally, my new favorite domestic paper, the Minneapolis Star Tribune (registration required), ran my rebuttal to the Washington Post’s coverage of the hearings. http://24hour.startribune.com/login/?goto=http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/5475084.html

Lest I forget, the LA Times ran a Michael Smith commentary (that's Michael Smith from my new favorite international paper, the London Times), explaining how the real bombshell in the DSM was the revelations concerning the increase in bombing activity in the summer of 2002. http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-smith23jun23,1,5711167.story?ctrack=1&cset=true (registration required).

This is just a sampling. Every day there are up to scores of articles and web stories. We may not have subpoena power yet, but we do have the power of the people – and the Internet – and we will not let this story die until we receive answers.

Blogged by JC on 06.25.05 @ 09:39 PM ET

[autorank]

1. Conyers opened Pandora's Box. Try as they will, no one can close it.

CM (Corporate Media) doesn't like this story. Actually, what they like doesn't matter. They have marching orders (just like they did on election fraud) to let this one die. Well, judging from the drop in *'s popularity, enough is getting out to show that he and his crew are complete, premeditated liars. People don't like that.

The above collection shows that the 'blocking action' by CM won't work and, perhaps, that CM has no choice but to allow some of the TRUTH to get out.

It's all very simple really, * planned to invade Iraq from 2002 on, at least, and the shifting justifications were just a side show to block attention from the truth -- this IS a ruthless war of aggression, poorly conceived and executed, to serve the degraded needs of the * benefactors, big oil, and *'s own unfathomable ego needs.

Great post!

[Nothing Without Hope]

2. Here is another important DSM-related article - let's add some more

to JC's excellent blog entry.

On June 16 there was a long online Q & A session between Michael Smith (the Times of London reporter who first broke the DSMs) and people around the US. It was moderated by the Wash Post and is still available at their site. (I already have one of their free subscriptions, so I don't know if that is required for access to it.) I downloaded a copy for my own reference, and evem put into my standard small font, it still runs 18 pages. Well worth reading through.

I'll give a four-paragraph excerpt here. Note in the last paragraph that Smith explains EXACTLY what "fixed" means in British English. This is a good quote to give when someone tries to claim it means something different:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2005/06/14/DI2005061401261.html

(snip)

Fredericksburg, Va.: Every reason given by the Bush administration for the Iraq war has either been proven to be imaginary or questionable at best. At what does someone bring up the issue of oil as the principle motivation for the conflict? I've rarely heard anyone, other than a die hard Republican, deny it as a significant factor but no one ever publicly addresses the possibility. Outside the United States it is pretty much seen as the only reason.

Michael Smith: I honestly believe it is more complex than that, but yes the control of the Middle-East as a whole, of which this is only a part, is about oil, no question. What we need are the memos that say that to make people realise it. But interestingly it was never mentioned in any of those leaked UK memos so as I say there were a lot of reasons for Iraq and it is more complex. I really do believe, as Peter Ricketts, the Foreign Office Policy Director says in one of the memos that have come back into vogue this week, "it looks like a grudge match between Bush and Saddam."

_______________________
Fairfax, Va.: Do you expect we will see more leaks which further corroborate the assertion that Bush lied to justify the neoconservatives' aggressive stance against Iraq? Also, what are your thoughts on the semantics argument of the Iraq war supporters (i.e., in the U.K., "fixed around" doesn't mean what you think it means...)?

Michael Smith: There are number of people asking about fixed and its meaning. This is a real joke. I do not know anyone in the UK who took it to mean anything other than fixed as in fixed a race, fixed an election, fixed the intelligence. If you fix something, you make it the way you want it. The intelligence was fixed and as for the reports that said this was one British official. Pleeeaaassee! This was the head of MI6. How much authority do you want the man to have? He has just been to Washington, he has just talked to George Tenet. He said the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy. That translates in clearer terms as the intelligence was being cooked to match what the administration wanted it to say to justify invading Iraq. Fixed means the same here as it does there. More leaks? I do hope so and the more Blair and Bush lie to try to get themselves off the hook the more likely it is that we will get more leaks.

(snip)

Recommended.

[corbett]

3. Keys To Impeachment

Thanks for posting that excerpt! Here's some more recommended reading:

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20050601/the_key_to_impeachment.php

[Imagevision]

19. Agreed! DSM should be main topic until we get some results

from an independant investigation

[understandinglife]

4. No, we will not allow the story to die. And, we will deliver Bu$h and ....

.... his fellow war criminals to a court of law.


Peace.

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."

[mzmolly]

5. I'm so Thankful for "JC"

:toast:

[bleever]

6. It's hard to get people to understand how much is happening.

A lot of people, if they've even heard about the memo, think the story isn't going anywhere.

I tell them: just wait. It's happening, and it can't be stopped.

Bless JC and all the people insist that this is THE news.


:thumbsup:

[dxstone]

7. Kick/nom!

Even if this doesn't bring about direct and speedy changes in DC, it's changing hte attitudes of many out there...
d

[Nothing Without Hope]

8. After Conyer's blistering letter to the WaPo about the stupid, insulting

Dana Milbank article on the DSM hearing, plus a "torrent" of complaining emails, the WaPo ombudsman gives a sort-of explanation:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3950951
Thread title: WP ombudsman blasts combat death coverage, Milbank's Conyers coverage

(snip)
I thought it was a serious mistake for editors to assign a columnist to cover a news event. There are large numbers of people who oppose the war and care about what Conyers was trying to accomplish, and a reporter should have covered the event as news. If a columnist wants to write a separate piece with his take on it, that's fine. But it is not enough by itself...
(snip)

This ombudsman response does not mention the Conyers rebuttal AT ALL, nor does it apologize or even admit the insulting, distorting content of the Milbank article. It does point out that sending an op/ed columnist to report on a news event is not a good idea - but what also goes unsaid is that doing so reveals the underlying assumption that opposition to Bush administration policies and actions is just "partisan politics," not really newsworthy at all. Which is, of course, a message that Rove has been trying to impose all along. It assumes that the Bush cartel is a dictatorship, so that opposition is stupid and meaningless posturing.

If you would like to point out a few home truths to the WaPo ombudsman after reading his full article at the link in the other thread, you can reach him here:
Michael Getler can be reached by phone at 202-334-7582 or by e-mail [e-mail] .

[IndyOp]

9. Kick for good news...

:kick:

[Nothing Without Hope]

10. kick n/t

[katinmn]

11. I'm glad he saw the Star Tribune yesterday.

They ran his entire rebuttal on the opinion page. Took up darn near the whole page.

It was beautiful to see!

[Imagevision]

12. Waiting for the word of the march on Washington regarding DSM...!

[paineinthearse]

13. Has there been talk?

I'm away from civilization for a few days but stopped in at a library to catch up. A march on DC would be something, but would need to be done before Congress recesses. Maybe on their return.

[paineinthearse]

14. JC" "I am pushing forward on a number of fronts..."

See http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1888975

[corbett]

15. Ed Naha Has The Perfect Parallel Post!

A must read for every Democrat. He really goes nuke-ya-ler on the Presidunce

http://mkanejeeves.com/?p=125

[Nothing Without Hope]

16. kick! n/t

[autorank]

17. This thread has become a resource. Thanks again paine!

:yourock:

[ChiciB1]

18. Glad To See That You Are Keeping This Out There

Thanks, it's much needed. We can't let this die on the vine!

[Nothing Without Hope]

20. The DSMs are finally getting through to Republicans. See this thread

on an LTTE from a 25-year Republican who has now quit his party. He cites many Bush cartel crimes and specifically mentions the DSMs as showing the lying and intent to deceive. The truth is finally breaking through the wall of suppression. Here's the thread - read it and congratulate yourselves for helping to make such breaktrhoughs possible:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1890603

[Nothing Without Hope]

21. kick n/t

[Independent_Liberal]

22. Impeachment City!!!

I'm telling you, it's Watergate times a thousand!

:)