'Washington Post' Visits Downing Street, Probes War Plans

[sabra]

<<SNIP>>
http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/columns/shoptalk_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000969539

'Washington Post' Visits Downing Street, Probes War Plans
The Post 's editorial page has tried to throw cold water on the significance of the so-called Downing Street memos, but in a page one article in paper today, it provides further evidence for both the authenticity of the memos and the centrality of their role in British decision-making leading up to war

By William E. Jackson, Jr.

(June 28, 2005) -- The Washington Post editorial page has tried to throw cold water on the significance of the so-called Downing Street memos. But in a page one article in The Post today ("From Memos, Insights Into Ally's Doubts On Iraq War: Blair's Advisers Foresaw Variety of Risks, Problems")--filed from London by Glenn Frankel, and contributed to by Walter Pincus in Washington-the paper provides further evidence for both the authenticity of the Downing Street Memos and the centrality of their role in British decision-making leading up to war.

Eight secret documents first disclosed by Sunday Times reporter Michael Smith, new interviews conducted by Post reporters, and additional written accounts together reveal that--behind the scenes--British government officials at the highest levels believed in 2002 that the Bush Administration was already committed to a war that they thought was ill-conceived and illegal and could lead to disaster.

Officials foresaw a host of problems that later would surface following the 2003 invasion and occupation. But they could not dissuade their American counterparts--nor their own leader --from moving toward war.

A U.S. official with inside knowledge of events told The Post that the concerns raised by British officials back then "played a useful role." Speaking anonymously, the policymaker added: "Were they paid a tremendous amount of heed? I think it's hard to say they were." An Administration observer somewhat cynically described to The Post the role-playing pigeonhole assigned by the Americans to top British officials: "I'm not saying they were sanguine -- they weren't --but since time immemorial they have always played Athens to our Rome, working hard to remove us from a tendency toward what they consider impetuosity or misguided idealism."

<</SNIP>>

[Totally Committed]

1. I was actually pleasantly shocked to see this in WaPo...

and on the front page, no less!

Maybe this will actually go somewhere finally. I guess we can only hope!

TC