DSM finally gets into the Houston Chronicle.

[splat@14]

Weak attempt at news. Only explains how both Blair and Bush blow it off without anything stated on behalf of its credibility. It did make the front page.



Bush, Blair try to discredit the Downing Street Memo
Two leaders deny that intelligence was manipulated to justify war on Iraq
By JULIE MASON
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - President Bush denied on Tuesday the substance of a 2002 memo in which a top British intelligence official claimed the administration manipulated facts and intelligence to justify the war in Iraq.....

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3215932

[TexasLawyer]

1. [e-mail]

Here is the writer's e-mail address. Let her know how you appreciate the coverage and suggest further avenues for future articles (e.g., the stepped-up bombing of Iraq when Bush at the same time was arguing that we were trying to resolve the stand-off diplomatically-- these bombing runs were the "spikes of activity" referenced in the memo; and the UN firing engineered by John Bolton).

Let's get more of this in the news!!!

[Richardo]

2. Julie Mason is a pretty good reporter

She used to guest on a (believe it or not) MODERATE radio talk show here a number of years ago (Roger Gray, anyone?).

Anyway, I was always impressed with her takes.

[LunaC]

8. THANK YOU!

I'm encouraging reporters covering the story to dig deeper (See post #7) and you made it very easy to do so. Thanks again.

[Bridget Burke]

3. On the first page, even if it was under the fold.

And I like the title.

[Triana]

4. could send her something like this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3812626&mesg_id=3812669

Just a suggestion.

[splat@14]

5. Thanks to all, will follow it up. Appreciate the insight on the author.

I gotta say that I have sent the letter from John Conyers and the British story when it first broke to the Chronicle several times. I have called them (the foreign news desk, breaking news desk, editor, etc) all many times early in May. My frustration over how long it took to recognize this as news is real. At every conversation I had with them, they always said they thought it was important, didn't see the memo, etc....I sent all that in response to these comments and I'm sure I wasn't alone.

Julie Mason may be a fine reporter and I mean no criticism at her directly. My issue is with the Chronicle for not taking on the story early on. A front page story 6 weeks after the event is hardly a scoop. The fact that its been ignored everywhere else validates the Chronicle's lack of response and is a real shame on all of journalism.

[Spectral]

6. kick and recommended

:kick:

[LunaC]

7. Dear Julie

Please answer ONE question about the Downing Street Memo

On January 26, 1998, Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, Elliott Abrams, Richard Perle, Richard Armitage, and John Bolton (among others) signed a letter to President Clinton issued by the Project for a New American Century (PNAC) urging an attack on Iraq to remove Saddam Hussein from power. All of the aforementioned signators were elevated into the Bush Administration hierarchy immediately after the 2000 Election.

http://www.newamericancentury.org/iraqclintonletter.htm


It is obvious that the PNAC-populated White House intended to attack Iraq years before the actual event.

Why isn't the PNAC policy being connected with the Downing Street Minutes?


For further details on the PNAC see:
http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/index.php/PNAC_101
=============================================================

There is a story here if you're willing to dig a little deeper and look behind the scenes. A modern-day Woodward & Bernstein could have field day!

Regards

[splat@14]

9. Great. I already sent something but more is better. Will add, Gracias!