Confidential Memo Reveals US Plan to Provoke an Invasion of Iraq

[G_j]

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/06/21-1

Published on Sunday, June 21, 2009 by The Observer/UK

Confidential Memo Reveals US Plan to Provoke an Invasion of Iraq
by Jamie Doward, Gaby Hinsliff and Mark Townsend

A confidential record of a meeting between President Bush and Tony Blair before the invasion of Iraq, outlining their intention to go to war without a second United Nations resolution, will be an explosive issue for the official inquiry into the UK's role in toppling Saddam Hussein.

The memo, written on 31 January 2003, almost two months before the invasion and seen by the Observer, confirms that as the two men became increasingly aware UN inspectors would fail to find weapons of mass destruction (WMD) they had to contemplate alternative scenarios that might trigger a second resolution legitimising military action.

Bush told Blair the US had drawn up a provocative plan "to fly U2 reconnaissance aircraft painted in UN colours over Iraq with fighter cover". Bush said that if Saddam fired at the planes this would put the Iraqi leader in breach of UN resolutions.

The president expressed hopes that an Iraqi defector would be "brought out" to give a public presentation on Saddam's WMD or that someone might assassinate the Iraqi leader. However, Bush confirmed even without a second resolution, the US was prepared for military action. The memo said Blair told Bush he was "solidly with the president".

.The five-page document, written by Blair's foreign policy adviser, Sir David Manning, and copied to Sir Jeremy Greenstock, the UK ambassador to the UN, Jonathan Powell, Blair's chief of staff, the chief of the defence staff, Admiral Lord Boyce, and the UK's ambassador to Washington, Sir Christopher Meyer, outlines how Bush told Blair he had decided on a start date for the war.
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[Solly Mack]

1. K&R

[madaboutharry]

2. Why are these men walking free?

n/t

[madokie]

5. Because the wheels of justice grinds ever so slowly

and on circumstances as grave as these times are it has to be done right the first time. I feel good in feelings that I know that the criminals will be getting their days in court that I am much happier and at peace with myself. I happen to have faith that the american people will not let this go by without a thorough investigation and prosecution. It's coming just hang in there.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. This "News" is years old. nt

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

4. The relevance is that the UK is conducting an investigation NOW about their role in Iraq

Unlike us, they are willing to look back and see what really happened.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jun/21/iraq-inquiry-tony-blair-bush

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

6. I understand.

I think there is already a pretty solid idea of what happened. From the UN plane to drones with Cox engines. From WMD to torture.

[hileeopnyn8d]

7. True

but that looking back comes a full two years after Blair resigned. And they are still battling each other over whether the inquiry should be private or public.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

8. At least they are keeping the issues alive and their papers are still

reporting. Not like the "No! Let's move forward" attitude in the US.