The Downing Street Memo

Fans and friends of this blog know I'm always entreating everyone to write letters to their assemblymen or other lawmakers when something is important. Our voices always need to be heard, and loudly. This subject is no different- but is not being heard by enough people, and should be heard by all.

The Downing Street Memo is minutes of a meeting held in July 2002 and clearly indicate that the United States and Great Britain agreed to attack Iraq, well before Bush and his chickenhawks even sought Congressional authority to engage in military action, and that U.S. officials were deliberately manipulating intelligence to justify their pre-planned war.

A most heinous quote: "he (Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfleld) thought the most likely timing in US minds for military action to begin was January, with the timeline beginning 30 days before the US Congressional elections." Have no illusions, kids, this was planned to the minute politically. But wait- see the Tom Paine article for even more hilarity! John Prados concludes the war was decided by Feb. 2002!

Unfortuntely, main stream media hasn't really gone off on this like they should. This memo should be the smoking gun showing the chickenhawks' deliberate lies, and those in charge should be called to the carpet on it. Are we so cowed that we can't even question authority anymore?

Today I joined Big Brass Alliance, an organization of bloggers who feel the word must go out about this. This group supports AfterDowningStreet.org, "ADS is a coalition of veterans' groups, peace groups, and political activist groups, which launched on May 26, 2005, a campaign to urge the U.S. Congress to begin a formal investigation into whether President Bush has committed impeachable offenses in connection with the Iraq war. " Today I wrote to all the news outlets linked on the BBA's website- they have a few targeted media outlets for each day- and requested they produce detailed reports regarding the DSM. Thursday I mailed letters to my senators and congressman urging a formal investigation. I'll probably email them as well, as mail takes forever to get to their offices (security measures.) I signed Rep. Conyers' letter the other day as well (after Christian reminded me how important this all is.)

And yet, I feel I haven't done enough.

Fans and friends, we were Lied To. We need to get to the truth. Write your own letters, add your blogging voice to the growing crowd, and push for formal legal action. Get active in this.

Our voices need to be heard. And loudly.