Saturday, June 18, 2005

That "memo"

I said if and when I find the actual "Downing Street Memo" that I would have a comment on it. Well, here it is. Maybe I'm just stupid, but I can't see anything in this thing that indicates President Bush was planning anything underhanded. In fact, it seems to me, that it proves him right.

The memo does mention this, which some might construe as plans to illegally wage war with Saddam: "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 neighbours, 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 UN 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-defence, humanitarian intervention, or UNSC authorisation. The first and second could not be the base in this case. Relying on UNSCR 1205 of three years ago would be difficult. The situation might of course change.


The Prime Minister said that it would make a big difference politically and legally if Saddam refused to allow in the UN inspectors. Regime change and WMD were linked in the sense that it was the regime that was producing the WMD."

But, notice that it does say: "it would make a big difference politically and legally if Saddam refused to allow in the UN inspectors." That means that the decision to go to war was in Saddam's court. History tells us he did exactly what he needed to do to ensure war. He refused, again, to let the UN inspectors into the country. Another related thing I would like to bring up here: Common sense tells us, that if Saddam DIDN'T have WMD's, then he would certainly have avoided war by LETTING IN THE INSPECTORS! In my opinion, Bush has once again proven that he is a man of integrity, and his detractors have proven they are not.

8 comments:

The WordSmith from Nantucket said...

Michael Medved devoted an hour of his program a week ago, to this (he also linked up the memo, and wanted listeners to read it themselves, because like you, he felt it exonerated Bush and Blair if anything). The memo shows that Bush and Blair really did believe WMDs were a real threat. There's also a portion that says, "the intelligence and facts" being "fixed around the policy." Well, in British parlance, the word "fixed" doesn't have the same connotation as it does in the States. It commonly is taken in the definition of "attached to", "centered around"; not "it was made up" or deliberately and deceptively fabricated.

The WordSmith from Nantucket said...

Also, you might want to take a look at this: http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/004709.php

Anonymous said...

Hi, Dad. Just checked out your website. I don't really care about politics or much about current events. But you are a lot smarter than I think. You are a good writer too. Maybe i'll comment on something later.

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Mark said...

wow, that is so cool that my daughter visited my site. thabks for your kind words. i love you

Mark said...

wordsmith, I neglected to add your site to my favorites or link it in this one and now i don't remember what the name is. usually i could link to it off your name but it won't let me on yours for some reason. please send me a link or a addy for your blog and i will return to it.

Dana said...

Thanks for reading further into my blog. I'm glad that you saw that we agree and that you we are on the same side. Come back whenever you want. I always appreciate comments from like-minded individuals.

The WordSmith from Nantucket said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
The WordSmith from Nantucket said...

I clicked on my name, and it worked for me. I don't know if there are occasional glitches here. I'm still getting used to the features. I actually tried to post a response to your previous post, last night, and it just wouldn't let me.

Anyway, the link to my new blog is: http://hammeringsparksfromtheanvil.blogspot.com/

I was amazed to see your comment on my blog's first post, right away, as I just finally got something posted up after a week of mulling over what to say in my very first post; and so far, I have not even advertised my blog to any of my friends. It's funny, too, because I live in a blue state (Southern California), and some of my friends do not know how far I lean to the right, politically.