Since this topic is getting zero play in the US media, here are a couple of excerpts from an internal Cabinet memo recounting Tony Blair's trip to George Bush's ranch in July of 2002 which was leaked to the British press:
"C reported on his recent talks in Washington. There was a perceptible shift in attitude. Military action was now seen as inevitable. Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy. The NSC had no patience with the UN route, and no enthusiasm for publishing material on the Iraqi regime's record. There was little discussion in Washington of the aftermath after military action."
"The Foreign Secretary said he would discuss this with Colin Powell this week. It seemed clear that Bush had made up his mind to take military action, even if the timing was not yet decided. But the case was thin. Saddam was not threatening his neighbours, and his WMD capability was less than that of Libya, North Korea or Iran."
If these statements are true, and Blair has not denied them, then we could have trouble for our president. It could mean the makings of a legitimate impeachment proceeding with the 'high crime or misdemeanor' being systematic lying to Congress (and the american people) to appropriate funds and resources for an illegal regime change. A war crime nonetheless. Or it could mean nothing--where there's no Congressional will, there's no way.
"C reported on his recent talks in Washington. There was a perceptible shift in attitude. Military action was now seen as inevitable. Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy. The NSC had no patience with the UN route, and no enthusiasm for publishing material on the Iraqi regime's record. There was little discussion in Washington of the aftermath after military action."
"The Foreign Secretary said he would discuss this with Colin Powell this week. It seemed clear that Bush had made up his mind to take military action, even if the timing was not yet decided. But the case was thin. Saddam was not threatening his neighbours, and his WMD capability was less than that of Libya, North Korea or Iran."
If these statements are true, and Blair has not denied them, then we could have trouble for our president. It could mean the makings of a legitimate impeachment proceeding with the 'high crime or misdemeanor' being systematic lying to Congress (and the american people) to appropriate funds and resources for an illegal regime change. A war crime nonetheless. Or it could mean nothing--where there's no Congressional will, there's no way.