downing street memo

Ever since good old r.s.d. was spammed by a GregPalast article about the Downing street memo, I've been mistakenly waiting for the media to address the issue. Today the NYTimes published an article about it... but I don't know where it appeared in the print edition. Online, click Washington News, then 'All Headlines' then 'British Memo on Us Plans for Iraq War Fuels Critics.' It's prominence on the website can only lead me to believe that it appeared over the fold. That's sarcasm. I learned it from my students. That and how to debate.

"Your Mom"

According to the Palast site, they were hacked, leading to the dissemination of the article (from BBC, I think).

The CSM has a nice article with links to a variety of perspectives, if you want to see some different opinions on the issue.

The historical lesson of 'meddlin' is visible in the conflict w/ radical muslim fundamentalism. Wait. Isn't that an oxymoron? Anyway. We are complicit in the creation of this tarbaby -- or at least it's growth. Our support of the Mujahaddeen vs. the Soviets created a motivated confident force, not to mention directly leading to the installation of the Taliban.

And while the US may not have been involved with the Coup that led to Saddam's rise to power, there was a long relationship prior to and after the coup. Which leaves us here. Now.

The real nut of the issue is this. Bush and Co. despite the rantings of many, are not in fact idiots. They ARE ideologues. Zealots. They want to change the region, believe with a religious fervor that they should (literally, perhaps, but that is not the main reason of neocon), and are willing to pay the price. My biggest fear is what climate will result from prolonged military occupation... Particularly for the one real democracy in the region. However, I certainly don't claim to be able to predict the ramifications, I'll just say bad. We're not in a position to make a new Marshall plan. It's not necessary that Iraq be 'Vietnam' or Afghanistan, or whatever.

Might it not have been enough to destroy their ability to wage war and threaten isreal? (done, and done), offer humanitarian financial assistance to the new regime, and get the hell out? Maybe that's still the plan, and it's just going to take time... I'm not convinced.

Serious digression.

Back on point. What are the legal ramifications of the 'downing street memo' if any? Is this significant? If so, what is the meaning of the 21 day (or so) period of non-reportage?

Monday: Recap of HS State Tournament.