The background info to understand the DS Memo (DSM Timeline)

[paulthompson]

Some of you may know me as the creator of the 9/11 Timeline, which has been turned into the Harper Collins book, the Terror Timeline. As a matter of fact, a big new update of my timeline has just been posted, which you can see here:

http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/searchResults.jsp?events=on&dosearch=Updates&project=911_project&periodlastchanged=June+2005

But our website, the Center for Cooperative Research, has been growing, and we've got all kinds of political timelines now, including a very big on one the decision to go to war with Iraq.

Because of all the recent Downing Street Memo news, we've combined all the most relevant Iraq timeline entries to those memos on one page, which you can see here:

http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/timeline.jsp?timeline=complete_timeline_of_the_2003_invasion_of_iraq&key_events=DSM

That gives the background to see that the DSM didn't come out of the blue, but in fact is just one piece of a larger picture showing that the decision to go to war was made by mid-2002, if not much earlier.

Please check it out and spread the word!

[paulthompson]

1. PS...

If there's any key bits of DSM-related information you think we've missed, please let us know so we can add it to this page. We'll probably already have it elsewhere on the many other Iraq timeline pages, but we're trying to keep this page relatively short.

We'll also be making it a priority to keep this DSM timeline updated with the latest information, though it make take a few days to get the info from the front pages to the timeline. If you're interested in volunteering to help, please contact me.

[teach1st]

2. Great work!

Still skimming it. Thanks for what you've done - the timeline looks to be an invaluable resource.

[kentuck]

3. Bookmarked !

Thanks! Excellent work !

[LizW]

4. Paul, you're awesome.

Every time I think, "Someone really should research this and do a timeline..." I find out you've already done it!

:thumbsup:

[Karenina]

5. AUSGEZEICHNET!!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[paulthompson]

6. Is that a sneeze?

[Karenina]

8. Na, ja...

:blush: Just clearing the nasal passages to access the olfactory nerve.

[frictionlessO]

7. Invaluable research put up for free, Paul you're a blessing!!

Thanks for what you do....

[Tinoire]

9. Excellent work! n/t

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

10. I have always been awe inspired by your work Mr. Thompson

Thank you for everything, all of your timelines and hard work. You are incredible.:yourock:

[KoKo]

11. Thank you Paul for jumping in here. Many of us know your contributions

in pulling together the most incredible links and info on the "9/11 Timeline" so this is a treat to see you.

:thumbsup: and many thanks!

[sabra]

12. Paul, thank you!

kick

[Overseas]

13. Kick and thanks for your work ! n/t

[paulthompson]

14. Thanks for all the thanks, but...

Does anyone have any comments about the actual content?

[Karenina]

15. It's fabulous!

:kick:

[leftchick]

17. It is excellent!

Talk about connecting the dots! I can't think of one you missed.
I certainly hope John Conyers has seen this.

Thank you Paul!

:hi:

[paulthompson]

19. Thanks!

And thanks for checking.

[mogster]

16. Hey, paulthompson!

You rock! :toast: That 911 timeline is one of the most important pieces of info this side of Wategate IMHO.

[leftchick]

18. gee, just 4 mos after the Sept. 11 attacks...

The US starts bombing Iraq. I had no isea it started that soon.

In January 2002...

~snip~

The aggressive tactics were ordered by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, who disclosed in September that he had urged commanders to focus their retaliatory strikes not just on Iraqi radar and missile systems but also on air defense communications centers in an attempt to degrade Iraq's air defense network.

Last month, U.S. military officials acknowledged that they used an incident of Iraqi fire on jets patrolling the northern no-fly zone to justify a retaliatory strike in the south. The tactic represented another escalation of enforcement activity by the Bush administration.

"The Iraqi regime has increased its attacks on the coalition, so the coalition has increased its efforts to protect its pilots," said Jim Wilkinson, a spokesman for the U.S. Central Command in Tampa. "Every coalition action is in direct response to Iraqi hostile acts against our pilots, or the regime's attempts to materially improve is military infrastructure south of the 33rd parallel."

[fishnfla]

20. kick and comment

very detailed and very thorough, which makes it lengthy (prints out at 22 pages)

Would it be possible to present source and player lists in footnotes at the end? Placing them within the narrative distracts, IMO

Also the 'behind the scenes' portrayal is excellent, would it be possible, where applicable, to present the official administration position which contradicts the private scenes? This would bolster the public deception angle. Cross index public statements (the lies) with the private scenes

all in all great reference material

[realFedUp]

21. I heard that State Dept. contracts to rebuild were signed in Oct 02

sorry I can't give you definite info.
Finding out when those contracts were agreed
to would be helpful.

Great work! This prints out to be 23 pages
btw.

[paulthompson]

22. does anyone...

know morea bout this state department thing?

[magellan]

23. Here are the threads that discuss the contracts

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=125&topic_id=43607

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=125&topic_id=43490

The contracts might not be anything other than tangentially relevant; it seems Gitmo was built for one purpose and used for another. But a subsidiary of KBR is involved, and that immediately sends up red flags. Worth looking into more deeply.

Thanks for all your terrific work, Paul!

[realFedUp]

24. I would imagine agreements were made in preparing troops

and troop logistics with Halliburton. Does it
take a subpoena to get those or FOIA?