Rep Crowley: The tragedy is that the American public will never know what

[understandinglife]

... really happened ...

Downing Street Secrecy

By Rep. Joseph Crowley

On a day when more than 150 people were killed in Iraq, the White House was given a free pass to continue hiding information in regard to the Downing Street Memo. The Memo, which was leaked to reporters a few months ago, outlines the specific concerns the British government has in regard to the post-Iraq planning of the United States.

The tragedy is that the American public will never know what really happened because this decision was made during a meeting of the International Relations Committee when members voted along largely partisan lines to kill three pieces of legislation that would have required the White House to release the documents that led to the Downing Street Memo.

I joined many of my colleagues Democrats and Republicans in voting for the War in Iraq almost two years ago. I have done my best to support what I can of the agenda, but I also recognize the importance of questioning the Administration when we are in a state of chaos. It is important to be forthcoming that Congress and the American people were misled about the reasons to invade Iraq by the President and his Administration.

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As was the case after September 11th and will be the case following Katrina, it is impossible to move forward without looking at past mistakes. The constant cover-ups and unwillingness to share information does nothing to help the issue of creating stability in Iraq.

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It is time for the President to do something he has yet to do, which is to stand up in front of the country to tell the truth and finally provide a transparent and fully accountable disclosure of the information that led us to this war and the deaths of more than 1800 US troops, countless Iraqi citizens and the aid and humanitarian workers trying to bring basic services to the people of Iraq. What members of Congress need to do is hold this Administration accountable and take back our oversight role.

Link to the full posts and comments (might enjoy reading them and I encourage you to post your views):

http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/9/14/175347/011

So, we have a Member of Congress who voted for the war, got a clue, and is willing to admit it and do his job trying to force Bush to be truthful.

That's progress. Please call him and say thank you.

If we had a Congress full of folk who took responsibility for their actions, admitted mistakes and tried to correct them, we'd be doing much better than we are now.


Peace.

[rodeodance]

1. Is any group sueing to get these memos?

[Erika]

2. If it helps, Bush is now known as a liar

and known for hiding the truth.

[orwell]

3. Why...

did these Dem cowards vote to give the American Psycho the power to attack Iraq in the first place? Try as they may to backpedal, the blood washes over all of them.

Let us all remember the eloquent Senator Byrd, a true hero in the face of craven cowardice, or the magnificent Congressman Kucinich, or the early standout, Congresswoman Barbara Lee.

They got it before it was "easy."

[meow2u3]

8. Because Bushco is a gang of professional con artists

capable of deceiving all but the most liberal Democrats who distrusted the regime from Day One.

[oasis]

4. Please get Hans Blix an invitation to speak Sept. 24th.

[DemReadingDU]

5. a worse tragedy is that many Americans

are so busy in their own world, they don't pay attention to what is going on around them, until they are clobbered by a disaster such as Katrina.

[NoBushSpokenHere]

6. Recommeded n/t

[babylonsister]

7. Kick!

[Steven_S]

9. He's my rep...

Time to swap some emails with him again. Give credit where credit is due. I wonder if he believes me now.

[understandinglife]

10. Thank you for taking the time to let him know we appreciate what he ..

.... did and encourage him to keep at it.


Peace.