The Downing Street Memo

As Washington got swept up in the memories of Watergate and the recent revalation that ‘Mark Felt, then the number two man at the FBI, was the informant known as Deep Throat‘ who helped Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein break the story, it’s sad to reflect how little comparison can be made between journalists today.

More than a month ago the Sunday Times of London reported on a classified memo that revealed the Bush administration ‘fixed’ intelligence to suit their needs and build their case for war against Iraq eight months before it began. But with Tony Blair visiting Washington for the first time since the memo’s revelation, it remains essentially a non-story. Perhaps it’s because we Americans are just too jaded to care. We accept the reality that our War in Iraq was one of choice, rather than necessity. George Bush wanted to go to war in Iraq, he used 9/11 as his springboard, trumped up a case, and got what he wanted. And each day we read about the latest fatalities in Bush’s war in Iraq.

Democrats.com is offering a $1000 reward to anyone who can get Bush to answer the question,

In July 2002, did you and your administration “fix” the intelligence and facts about non-existent Iraqi WMD’s and ties to terrorism – which were disputed by U.S. intelligence officials – to sell your decision to invade Iraq to Congress, the American people, and the world – as quoted in the Downing Street Minutes?

Don’t bet on any payouts. This administration is not capable of telling the truth, or admitting failure. Go ahead and tell me again about Clinton’s lies. He didn’t leave 1600+ Americans dead in his wake.

Read On With Hope:
The Downing Street Memo Story Won’t Die
The Washington Post, 6/7/05

Update:
The Washington Post reports today on the memo, and Democrats.com explains why the reporter didn’t earn the whole prize.

Seldom-Discussed Elephant Moves Into Public’s View
The Washington Post, 6/8/05