After new Iraq revelations, Conyers to write Rumsfeld

[rawstory]

DEAR SECRETARY RUMSFELD
As new revelations surface in London, congressman readies new questions for Defense Secretary

RAW STORY

As the rest of Congress shuffles off to their Memorial Day recess, Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) is drafting a letter to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld seeking answers after a report in the Sunday London Times revealed the U.S. and Britain may have sought to goad Iraq into war even as UN negotiations were ongoing, RAW STORY has learned.

A staffer said the congressman called the latest revelations "the smoking bullet in the smoking gun."

Conyers' early draft, leaked to RAW STORY, raises a battery of questions surrounding the Administration's plans for the Iraq war.

"If true, these assertions indicate that not only had our nation secretly and perhaps illegally agreed to go to war by the summer of 2002, but that we had gone on to take specific and tangible military actions before asking Congress or the United Nations for authority," the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee pens.

This time, however, the congressman demands more than answers. In his letter, Conyers will request all computer files relating to questions surrounding the planning stages of the Iraq war.

http://rawstory.com/exclusives/byrne/conyers_downing_street_letter_rumsfeld_529

[phoebe]

1. Conyers needs to subpoena documents from British politicians

that show phone calls/dealings Rumsfeld et al had leading to the Iraq war. Rumsfeld is going to regurgitate his "known unknowns" or is it "unknown knowns" BS until hell freezes over..

[rodeodance]

3. he is not a majority member so can not do supena--

[phoebe]

5. it was a case of wishful thinking on my part..

n/t

[rodeodance]

2. well Scotty M. will have to respond again. te he

.........This time, however, the congressman demands more than answers. In his letter, Conyers will request all computer files relating to questions surrounding the planning stages of the Iraq war.

"In connection with all of the above questions, please provide me with any memorandum, notes, minutes, documents, phone and other records, e-mails, computer files (including back-up records) or other material of any kind or nature concerning or relating thereto in the possession or accessible by the Department of Defense," he writes.

The draft letter follows; staffers say the letter may be revised before it is formally sent to the Defense Secretary Tuesday.

###

[merwin]

4. Letters are nice and all, but he needs to get on the

news shows and make his views known to somebody who cares.

[alfredo]

6. The Hague is going after the Brits, why not the Bush Junta?

[paulk]

19. Bush withdrew from treaty

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1970312.stm

[alfredo]

20. A treaty means nothing to him anyway. Send him anyway.

[franmarz]

7. Hope springs eternal---for any answers-think Cheney-and secret meetings

As far as getting an answer from Rummy- about Iraq revelations, you would probably be able to read an answer from the elves at ENRON or TYCO about their finances. I still cant understand why the RICO laws dont apply to these crooks.

[formercia]

8. RICO does apply

It's just that the Grand Jury, whenever it is seated hasn't brought charges.

[Im with Rosey]

9. Hit 'em hard, hit 'em often!

I wish Rep. Conyers would make this available for all to sign again. I think the more times he has the power of all of us signing, it makes it more difficult to ignore.

[bleever]

10. Rec'd! Big thanks to RawStory for being the kind of media

that makes a difference.

:thumbsup:

[Nancy Waterman]

11. I LOVE JOHN CONYERS

The man is a true hero, not afraid to speak up and go straight to the people.

[Coexist]

12. thanks to Conyers - always a hero - and Rawstory - my fave news source.

[Maraya1969]

13. I don't know were the thread about the Black Angel(?) the radio host

is but I am beginning to think we need to focus on the media. Why is everyone in America so uninformed?

Most Americans have never even heard of the Downing street memo. That is why the Repubs keep getting what they want.

[Coexist]

14. kick

[thebigidea]

15. and if things continue getting worse, he might send a postcard!

I know, I know. I love Conyers too, but this business of letter-writing isn't really going to make much of a dent.

Where are all the other Dems?

[MadisonProgressive]

16. That was the point I was going to make too

These letters are acted upon immediately - by staffers filing them in the circular file cabinet.

I love Conyers, but when is he going to understand that we need to escalate beyond letters on inquiry. The criminals are not going to incriminate themselves just because you write a fucking letter!

[MasonJar]

17. I went to seminar last week-end, given by the Filson Club in

Louisville. Friday night was Bob Edwards talking about his new book about Edward R, Murrow. He also had a few choice answers during the follow-up question period. On Saturday the club had 4 speakers, three men and Molly Bingham of Louisville. Bingham is a photographer, who was arrested by the Iraqis before the troops got to Baghdad. She and her fellow jounrnalists were released after 8 days. She went back later for 14 months to do a story on what the Iraqis think of the invasion, resulting in photos for the top magazines and papers such as the NewYorker, Newsweek, etc. She is a freelance photographer because she does NOT want anyone telling her what to shoot and what angle to investigate. She had pics from Iraq, Rewanda, Afghanistan and others. The first two men to speak were very knowledgeable about what has happened under Bush...lots of facts and figures. The final speaker was the editor of the Dayton, Ohio newspaper. He (although admiitedly liberal) informed us that he had done exposes about some of the abuses...i.e. stories which took months to examine and write. However, his thesis was how in a community which is steadily becoming more conservative he has to really be careful what he decides to cover because he could lose even more customers. I asked him if maybe the city would slow its road to conservatism if the newpaper kept the public better informed about the travesties going on. Another man asked why he and other dailies across the country had not made "the memo" front page news. He said among other things that it was old news. After the audience finished with him after that answer I am sure he regretted being a panel member. Two opposite viewpoints on covering the news.

[oxbow]

18. He and 20 other Congressmen need to take this to the Washington Post

and ask them to publish it on the front page as an OPEN LETTER to Rum Rum. That's the only way he'll get a response, I guarantee it.

[BadGimp]

21. I have long wondered IF or HOW LONG it would take..

For these question to be looked into.

The question is how much military engagement is legal without prior authorizatin of Congress?

The US military was much more heavily engaged in Iraq prior to the Bush administrations lie ladded plea to Congress, than we were allowed to know. And it may be the case that COngress was kept in the dark as well.

sniff, sniff..

[dennis4868]

22. Conyers better be careful.....

he is getting close to revealing the SMOKING GUN/BULLETS. Bush and Cheney dont take to well to people who search for the truth.

[rawstory]

23. Just a kick to mods

(on dupe post)

[Nothing Without Hope]

24. The pile of evidence grows still more. Enough for impeachment? Oh, yes -

- but the rule of law has been suspended by the Administration and its toadies.

I have so much pride in and admiration for Rep. Conyers. He is fighting on multiple fronts and NOT succumbing to the cynicism that is too prevalent among Dems. He has seen it all and he know what counts. The stakes are too damn high to give up now.

[magellan]

25. I know it seems to some that these letters are useless

It bothers me too. But I have to believe that Congressman Conyers is working with what power he has to create a paper trail. This will become important if/when Bush** and his motley crew are ever investigated over their criminal actions in Iraq. They won't be able to say they were never asked to explain the facts contained within the British documents. And when they're asked what response they made to Conyers' inquiries, and they have to say "None", it will only look worse on them.

[splat@14]

26. Our letters are important also.

Everyone on this board should be writing their congressman and senators about the "Downing Street Memo" to either thank them for their signature on the Conyer letter to Bush or stating their dissatisfaction for not signing.

[magellan]

27. Already done.

Not that it's likely to change anything. My rep's a hardline Repuke. But I've been leaving the British minutes lying around along with his local office address and phone/fax numbers. :smoke:

[splat@14]

28. Know the feeling. I'm in Texas where my reps either don't reply or

Send back boiler plate crap (all "lockstep" repubs). I write anyway `cause I think it pisses them off.

Give `em hell Magellan!
Splat!

[magellan]

29. LOL, we sound alike

I'm not on my best behavior when I write my rep anymore. But I figure if he's not going to even pretend to represent me, why be nice about it? Small ball is for wussies!

Keep those flags waving, Splat! :)