Media Failing To Get Straight Answer On Downing Street Minutes
Media Failing To Get Straight Answer On Downing Street Minutes
On ABC’s This Week, George Stephanopoulous asked Condi to respond to allegations in the Downing Street Minutes. Here’s what she said:
STEPHANOPOULOS: As you know, there has also been a lot of talk back here in the United States about these Downing Street memos, the minutes of a meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair in the spring and summer of 2002, where they discussed their meetings with the United States. I want to show you what one mother, Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a U.S. soldier, had to say about that memo this week: “The so-called Downing Street memo dated 23 July 2002 only confirms what I already suspected: the leadership of this country rushed us into an illegal invasion of another sovereign country on prefabricated and cherry-picked intelligence.” How do you respond to Mrs. Sheehan?
RICE: Well, I can only say what the President has said many, many times. The United States of America and its coalition decided that it was finally time to deal with the threat of Saddam Hussein.
That doesn’t answer the question. Secretary Rice had ducked a similar question earlier by saying she didn’t remember the meetings referred to in the memos.
For whatever you believe about the Downing Street Minutes and the British Briefing Papers (whether it’s the smoking gun or not), everyone should at least acknowledge some level of discomfort over an administration that refuses time and again to even answer questions regarding such damaging allegations. No Bush administration official has officially disputed the memos’ authenticity or rejected the claims contained therein.
To recap, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan first said he hadn’t read it, and then later urged people to “go back and look at all the public comments over the course of the lead-up to the war in Iraq.” President Bush then said he hadn’t read the full memo but did not dispute its authenticity nor the charges contained in it. And Vice President Cheney said he hadn’t “seen the so-called Downing Street memo.” Why has it become so difficult to get an answer to the simple question: Do you dispute the authenticity of the memo?
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the worst part is that GS let her get away with it. it was painful to watch.
June 20th, 2005 at 11:56 amGeorge’s follow up questions was…?
June 20th, 2005 at 12:01 pmIs it Groundhog’s Day?
June 20th, 2005 at 12:14 pmWhy are we surprised? This prez and his gangster associates have been doing this for 4+ years. They are in a bind now. . . they can’t destroy the documents and don’t control the English newspapers and can effectively destroy or smear those persons who are bringing this to light. Cheney is smart enough to know their best defense is to simply “act” dumb and hope they can supress the reporting and response to it in America.
June 20th, 2005 at 12:18 pmI wish that I could use the excuse, “I haven’t read that memo,” when I’m called on the carpet for something. Sounds like it really works!
But, in the real world, most of us are expected to read and understand the materials needed for us to do our jobs. I guess the Bush administration doesn’t see it that way…
June 20th, 2005 at 12:30 pmHaha, priceless – this entry just showed up on Connected Coast to Coast on MSNBC. What were they talking about?
The fact that the media is way too focused on missing white girls. Please ignore the humongous headline about the lack of coverage of the DSM.
Hilarious, or frightening? You decide.
-Chris
June 20th, 2005 at 12:45 pmchris@stoptheinternet.org
Thinkprogress: Media failing to get straight answer on Downing Street
June 20th, 2005 at 12:55 pmMSNBC Connected: Coast to Coast just gave Think Progress a glance during their blog review. Were they commenting on how the media is not getting straight answers on the DSM? No, they were commenting on how the media is fixated…
The Administrations refusal to acknowlege the minutes,
is an admission of guilt..
If there’s nothing to them, acknowledge and explain and get on with your life.
GUILTY AS CHARGED!
June 20th, 2005 at 1:14 pmThey may be guilty as charged. But are they in jail yet?
Someone please promise me that I will live long enough to see these guys and gals holed up in the deepest darkets more rat infested prison on the planet. OK? Maybe somewhere like Gitmo or Abu G!
June 20th, 2005 at 2:36 pmMemos? What Memos?
June 20th, 2005 at 5:14 pmThe Downing Street Memos bruhaha can be settled very quickly and very simply. The Democrats want hearings on the memos with Bush administration officials testifying. That, too, can be settled just as quickly and just as simply. Produce the memos.
GS actually asked Condi to respond to Cindy Sheehan’s testimony at the COngressional hearings held on Thursday. (Sheehan is with Gol Star Families, mother of US Soldier killed in Iraq, and speaks out against the war and the Bush admin). Sheehan’s statement was hearfelt and a perfect opportunity for Condi to show appreciation for the “sacrifice for freedom” etc. But NO… I thin kit was a clever move on GS’ part to use the clip from the hearings, but boy did he blow it on follow-up.
June 20th, 2005 at 5:17 pmThe tide is turning. They can’t stay in power, lie, and cheat forever. The truth will be known; I can’t wait. BUT UH OH! Now all of a sudden, CIA knows where our boy bin Laden is.
Hm. So poll numbers tanking, public support crumbling…BA DA BING! It’s Osama hour at the White House!
June 21st, 2005 at 9:56 amIMPEACHMENT TOO GOOD FOR BUSH – IMPRISONMENT WOULD BE SATISFACTORY.
Take ACTION at http://www.downingstreetmemo.com
there are free tools to send faxes to Congress and to send e-mails to media.
WORK TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
June 21st, 2005 at 4:36 pmYou guys a great, at tempests in teapots.
:P
July 1st, 2005 at 9:33 pmforeign currency rates
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November 23rd, 2005 at 9:27 pm