It appears that American citizens curious about why we went to war in Iraq may soon get some answers . . . from London. The British inquiry into the war is now heading into a more advanced stage after the testimony of Tony Blair. Notably, the English want to interview Bush officials. I discussed the topic on this segment of MSNBC Countdown.
Blair’s testimony was quite revealing, including his confirmation that some basic understanding was reached in April 2002 on Iraq — though he denied specifically agreeing to the invasion. That date is far earlier than the time period previously discussed on the American side and undermines the WMDs as the rationale for the invasion.
John Chilcot, head of the inquiry, confirmed that they will ask to speak to Bush officials. Perhaps they will be more forthcoming with another nation. Blair notably tied the decision to go to war to 9-11, stating that he was no longer will to “take a risk” with Saddam after the attacks. The April meeting can up in the hearing. Former British ambassador to Washington, Christopher Meyer, told an earlier hearing that an agreement had been “signed in blood” by Bush and Blair during a meeting at Bush’s ranch in Crawford, Texas, in April 2002.
What is most striking for me is how these disclosures reinforce the wisdom of the Framers in demanding a declaration of war from Congress. These leaders continue post hoc rationalizations about their decisions while members of Congress continue to deny they ever really wanted to go to war in their resolution.
For discussion of the story, click here.
When I first read this today, I was like ok, what’s the use. They will just use the Cheney tactic and say over and over I do not recall.
Well if you want you can order the Original Can Syrup Dr Pepper from Dublin, Texas. The official home of Dr Pepper. Notice no . after Dr, It was done that way for a reason.
London Homesick Blues
by Gary P. Nunn
Well, when you’re down on your luck,
and you ain’t got a buck,
in London you’re a goner.
Even London Bridge has fallen down,
and moved to Arizona,
now I know why.
And I’ll substantiate the rumor that the English sense of humor
is drier than than the Texas sand.
You can put up your dukes, and you can bet your boots
that I’m leavin’ just as fast as I can.
Chorus
I wanna go home with the armadillo
Good country music from Amarillo and Abilene
The friendliest people and the prettiest women you’ve ever seen.
Well, it’s cold over here, and I swear
I wish they’d turn the heat on.
And where in the world is that English girl
I promised I would meet on the third floor.
And of the whole damn lot, the only friend I’ve got
is a smoke and a cheap guitar.
My mind keeps roamin’, my heart keeps longin’
to be home in a Texas bar.
chorus
Well, I decided that I’d get my cowboy hat
and go down to Marble Arch Station.
‘Cause when a Texan fancies, he’ll take his chances.
Chances will be taken, that’s for sure.
And them Limey eyes, they were eyein’ the prize
that some people call manly footwear.
And they said you’re from down South,
and when you open your mouth,
you always seem to put your foot there.
I wanna go home with the armadillo
Good country music from Amarillo and Abilene
The friendliest people and the prettiest women you’ve ever seen.
And as sung by Gary P. Nunn.
Original CANE Syrup
The Order form and other related info for Dublin Dr Pepper the original formula.
http://www.dublindrpepper.com/
I say the British should take Dick Cheney to the dungeon at Warwick Castle for some enhanced interrogation and see what information they can get out of that chickenhawk–by whatever means at their disposal!
How sad is it that a foreign government is doing what our own should be. Not that I expect McFlightsuit and his Cabal of Criminals to be honest, but, WTF?
I will frankly be surprised if any significant witnesses from the Bush/Cheney administration agree to cooperate in any manner with the inquiry. There is no benefit in doing so and I do not believe that anything will be done to compel any testimony. The only real pressure would have to come from Atty. Gen. Holder, and we already know that Rahm Emmanuel and the political wing of the White House have ruled out any substantive investigations under the false and short-sighted policy of “looking forward.” the false
Since the Obama Justice Department has been following the Bush lead, Obama should declare Bush and Cheney as enemy combatants and then he can send them to a black site near London where the British investigators can have their way with them.
rafflaw,
The British for the most part honor the Hague Convention.
So WHY does the US Congress not take responsibility for declaring WAR and letting the power to do so reside solely in the Presidency? What kind of test case would be the most inviting set of circumstances to encourage Congress to take this power back?
Phil,
Under the War Powers Act, the president could have got us involved without any congressional consent. Cheney being Bush figured that it was probably the most prudent course to follow after all there was one more election to steal.
If he had gotten into it without congressional assent he would not have had anyone else to take the fall with him. Once he did, then everyone was on record as voting for it. They could not really take back that decision without political enigmatic issues. Remember the House election cycle is every two years and the senate’s six which about 1/3 is up for reelection every two years.
They had them by the balls so to speak for the first 2 years. DOD expenditures, cops and prisons issues are political issues that if you vote against it, you are soft on crime or anti-American.
With as much hysteria that the propaganda machine had going who could initially vote against it?
AY,
Didn’t the British join in some of the torture and black site hideaways? They probably have a Yoo memo that calls the Hague quaint!
They are not the only ones that want to talk to them.
El Cid is also on the case …
http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/09/el-cid-vs-joe-six-pack-2.html
Eric Holder!
Feeling any less like a fascist tool with this news?
http://fullnews00.blogspot.com/2010/02/george-w-bush-miss-me-yet-billboard.html
The ‘powers that be” in the US do NOT HAVE THE FORTITUDE to pursue an inquiry of this nature. No politician, no news organization, no lawyer, no legislator, no pundit organization, no one seems to have what it takes to mount an investigation into the WAR CRIMES committed by Bush, Cheeeney, et.al.
So, let’s ALL go out and start committing WAR CRIMES.. No one will ever know !!! That seems to be the prevailing attitude… If it catches on – we’re sunk.
In case any one else can’t stop humming…
Sorry to have to disappoint you all, but one thing our leaders have become very adept at is the art of the “whitewash”. And this is what we have in progress here – everyone gets a chance to have their say, the members of the board of enquirey publish their “findings” and “conclusions” a few months down the line and (surprise surprise) “mistakes were made, but no-one is to blame”.
Anyone who disagrees is labelled a conspiracy theorest or someone who has made up their minds beforehand despite the “facts”.
As for any members of the bush mafia attending, forget it. We have an agreement with the US with regard to national security issues and the like, but it is purely a one way thing. We will send you a mentally ill, harmless computer hacker, but you don’t have to send us your war criminals.
It goes without saying that we won’t send you our war criminals either because they are all part of the same gang that made up the agreement in the first place.
If I have my bets in place and yes you can bet on anything. I think Earl Warren is going to be heading this commission, with Hoover and Ford over looking their shoulders.
Was there really one shooter in Dallas? I don’t know the main part of the report is still sealed. I believe this time at Caroline Kennedy’s request.
Also very important: A court in the UK has ruled that certain materials relating to the “treatment” (read: “torture”) of a detainee must be released:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8507852.stm
The backstory to this and related cases is that UK officials have claimed that US officials threatened that if such materials related to the abuse of detainees was released, then the US would be less cooperative regarding the sharing of intelligence. The UK officials were called on this supposed threat, and it seriously damaged their credibility with the court:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/23/david-miliband-binyam-mohamed-torture
(For all we know, the US really did go through the motions of issuing such a threat in hopes that it would provide cover for the UK government and judges, and that the judges didn’t play along. At whatever level this BS originated, it was pathetic – but in the Bush/Blair era, that kind of crap worked. But it doesn’t any more.)
So, the UK is not only going to do our hard work in investigating the leadup to the Iraq invasion, they are also going to do our hard work with the investigation of torture.
British Torture Summary Released – Binyam Mohamed
By: Bill Egnor Wednesday February 10, 2010 7:00 am
One of the reasons I have always argued for a full investigation of the treatment of prisoners by the U.S. government is that the truths is going to come out sooner rather than later. For those who want to hide from accountability under the law later is always the better goal. The longer it takes for the abuses of the Bush Administration torture program to come to light the less likely there is to be an outcry and the more likely those who ordered and carried out torture are to elderly or dead.
Today the British government lost its appeal and was forced to disclose a new piece of the torture puzzle. In 2002 a British subject by the name of Binyam Mohamed was arrested in Pakistan. He claims he was tortured there, then sent to Morocco where he was also beaten and finally in 2004 sent to Guantanamo Bay. If Mr. Mohamed’s name seems familiar to you, it should. He is the man who claims he was tortured by a scalpel slicing his genitals
http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/29109