The Downing Street Memo

According to a July 2002 memo leaked by the British press, President Bush and his administration planned, even then, to invade Iraq and were working to fix intelligence to support their actions. The site linked to above contains the memo, a catalog of quotes from the administration as measured against the memo, and information on what actions members of the public can take. Congress has sent a letter (PDF) signed by 89 members to the White House, asking for an investigation into the validity of the document. The British government has declared the memo "nothing new" and said nothing to deny its validity. There doesn't seem to have been a conclusive statement from the White House at this time.My House representative was one of the members to sign the letter sent to Bush, but I felt that it was appropriate to send her my thanks and encourage her to keep at the issue.Dear Ms. Tubbs Jones,As a registered voter of Cleveland, I would like to thank and commend you for signing the letter from Congress to President Bush regarding the Downing Street memo of 23 July 2002. When the war in Iraq began, I supported the President's decision, though I had a few misgivings; it has become clear to me over time, however, that our President did not enter into this conflict for the appropriate reasons--nor has he provided due support and respect for the American men and women whose lives have been placed in danger in Iraq.With the leaking of the Downing Street memo, it is becoming clearer that the current administration has and may continue to be lying to the American people, doing so in a fashion that will cost us dearly in blood, in money, and in respect from the rest of the world. Such behavior should not and cannot continue unquestioned and unabated. Requesting an investigation to determine this memo's validity is only the first step. I urge you to continue the fight. The American public needs to know what is being done in our name.Respectfully yours, [my name]I urge all of you, especially those who are American registered voters, to look at this memo and consider taking action. There has been little media coverage of this issue, and that needs to change before more of our men and women--and more Iraqi men and women--lose their lives.