The document contains an early version of the executive summary of the next draft, which was attributed to Intelligence chief John Scarlett. The document places a spin doctor at the heart of the process of drafting the dossier and blows a hole in the government’s evidence to the Hutton Inquiry.
Last month the Foreign Office was ordered by the Information Tribunal to hand over the Williams draft, which I first requested under the Freedom of Information Act in February 2005.
From the time that the row first erupted over Andrew Gilligan's allegations that the dossier had been sexed-up, the government has claimed that Scarlett's draft, produced on 10 September 2002, was the first full draft and produced without interference from spin doctors. But the Williams draft, dated a day earlier, shows that spin doctors were sexing up the dossier at the time the notorious 45 minutes claim was included.
The above is from Chris Ames' "Secret Iraq dossier published" (New Statesman). That's in England. Remember how the leadup to the November 2006 US mid-term elections promised so much including investigations? Not only have they not taken place but the House Armed Service Committee embarrassed itself twice last week -- here and here -- by treating current issues (including the awful health care that the wounded are receiving) as a big ha-ha. They get away with that nonsense -- those Democratically controlled committees -- because no one's watching. That's why the subcomittee chair Susan Davis could stop in the midst of her question related to the scandals such as Walter Reed and chuckle. That's disgusting and they'll get away with that crap as long as no one's watching. There's not only been no investigation into how a nation was lied into war, they treat very serious issues, ones that appall the American people as jokes. They do that because no one's watching.
In some of today's reported violence there are at least 14 reported deaths so far today. That doesn't include a Sunday incident in which an official was targeted (by gunfire or a roadside bombing) and may or may not be dead.
Bombings?
Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports a Diyala Province car bombing that left
"[t]wo members of the guards of Sheikh Abdul Kareem Khalaf al Nidawi" wounded while, dropping back to Sunday, Maj. Nahi Khalaf Ahmed (Iraqi police) is dead as a result of a Sunday bombing in front of his Tikrit home. Reuters notes a Baghdad mortar attack claimed 3 lives and left fifteen injured and a Mosul roadside bombing that claimed 3 lives and left four wounded.
Shootings?
Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports the latest targeting of officials included an unsuccessful assassination attempt on Capt. Mohammed Nouri ("officer in the department of the internatl affairs") in Basra -- three bodyguards were wounded by the gunfire. Reuters notes 3 "Awakening" council members shot dead by unknown assailants in Kan Bani Saad and they state that Nahi Mohammed (their spelling) did die in the assassination attempt (they state the three bodyguards were wounded, but Mohammed died) and that it was a roadside bombing, not gunfire.
Kidnappings?
Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports that Khalid Ahmed Abdul Qadir has been released by his kidnappers who "were arrested" to the south of Basra while a woman kidnapped was also released and her kidnappers were also arrested.
Corpses?
Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports 5 corpses discovered in Baghdad today.
In today's New York Times, Mudhafer al-Husaimi and Richard A. Oppel Jr. contribute "Suicide Bomber Is Spotted and Shot, but Kills 3 in Baghdad" on A4. How worth noting is it? We noted Steve Lannen and Hussein Khadim's "Another female suicide bomber kills 3 in Iraq" (McClatchy Newspapers) which clearly states that contrary to US military propaganda, Iraqi soldiers were not the ones who shot the woman (how sad is the current state of the world that there's competition for bragging rights over shooting dead someone?). Apparently grasping that there was no way to continue that lie, a new story is created -- one that the Times retells -- which is, okay, a shop owner did shoot the woman but an Iraqi soldier shot her first! Pathetic.
From "The War Stops Here" (Infoshop):
This is a project that I've long been thinking about, and unfortunately, nobody else has stepped up to help me out with it. So, here goes nothing. The basic premise is this: we're finally at a stage in the antiwar movement where there is something to report in terms of creative, militant direct actions against the occupation of Iraq happening right here in the US. It's happening on campuses, at ports, in the Capitol, in small towns and in big cities. Therefore, there ought to be a regularly-updated hub for those of us who take this work seriously, want to learn what other people are doing, and to let new people know that there are ways to tangibly grind this war to a halt.
The War Stops Here
http://thewarstopshere.wordpress.com
An online hub and journal for a DIRECT ACTION strategy against the occupation of Iraq… because it's about time!
This is a project that I've long been thinking about, and unfortunately, nobody else has stepped up to help me out with it. So, here goes nothing. The basic premise is this: we're finally at a stage in the antiwar movement where there is something to report in terms of creative, militant direct actions against the occupation of Iraq happening right here in the US. It's happening on campuses, at ports, in the Capitol, in small towns and in big cities. Therefore, there ought to be a regularly-updated hub for those of us who take this work seriously, want to learn what other people are doing, and to let new people know that there are ways to tangibly grind this war to a halt.
I have long been a movement critic, a partisan, always with something to complain about in terms of how the movement is run and the tactics it has or hasn't employed. That tendency is likely to surface in the midst of this endeavor. But the main purpose is to put forward the alternatives that myself and others have been advocating for a long time that are now taking shape. It's really a wonderful time to be a part of this movement; it is not hard to feel a re-awakening and a shift in movement politics. The time when a handful of groups and individuals can monopolize the direction of the movement is coming to a close.Instead, new organizations like Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) and Students for a Democratic Society (the latter of which I am a member) are changing the tone and dynamics of the movement, in ways that the heavyweights can't ignore, and it's amazing to see previously-immovable parties jump on the bandwagon (for whatever their reason might be). We have initiatives like the Port Militarization Resistance that have asserted their right to decide what will and will not pass through their community; the Bay Area group Direct Action to Stop the War has resurfaced 5 years after their amazing mass direct actions at the open of the war that shut down the city; IVAW has asserted itself in the movement and requested that their Winter Soldier hearings take precedent for the March war anniversary actions.
It's already on the permalinks in place of the organization for "Let's read my play around the world and every two and a half years or so I'll organize an event and then forget about it" site. It becomes more and more apparent why real activitsts like Arundhati Roy needed to take a breather from the crap coming out of 'left' 'leadership.' So check out the site and if it speaks to you, great. It will be updated more often than the site it replaces -- but then 'updating' requires adding something -- anything -- since 2005.
On the subject of organizations, IVAW is organizing a March 2008 DC action:
In 1971, over one hundred members of Vietnam Veterans Against the War gathered in Detroit to share their stories with America. Atrocities like the My Lai massacre had ignited popular opposition to the war, but political and military leaders insisted that such crimes were isolated exceptions. The members of VVAW knew differently.
Over three days in January, these soldiers testified on the systematic brutality they had seen visited upon the people of Vietnam. They called it the Winter Soldier investigation, after Thomas Paine's famous admonishing of the "summer soldier" who shirks his duty during difficult times. In a time of war and lies, the veterans who gathered in Detroit knew it was their duty to tell the truth.
Over thirty years later, we find ourselves faced with a new war. But the lies are the same. Once again, American troops are sinking into increasingly bloody occupations. Once again, war crimes in places like Haditha, Fallujah, and Abu Ghraib have turned the public against the war. Once again, politicians and generals are blaming "a few bad apples" instead of examining the military policies that have destroyed Iraq and Afghanistan.
Once again, our country needs Winter Soldiers.
In March of 2008, Iraq Veterans Against the War will gather in our nation's capital to break the silence and hold our leaders accountable for these wars. We hope you'll join us, because yours is a story that every American needs to hear.
Click here to sign a statement of support for Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan
March 13th through 16th are the dates for the Winter Soldier Iraq & Afghanistan Investigation.
Dee Knight (Workers World) notes, "IVAW wants as many people as possible to attend the event. It is planning to provide live broadcasting of the sessions for those who cannot hear the testimony firsthand. 'We have been inspired by the tremendous support the movement has shown us,' IVAW says. 'We believe the success of Winter Soldier will ultimately depend on the support of our allies and the hard work of our members'." As part of their fundraising efforts for the event, they are holding houseparties and a recent one in Boston featured both IVAW's Liam Madden and the incomprable Howard Zinn as speakers. IVAW's co-chair Adam Kokesh will, of course, be participating and he explains why at his site, "But out of a strong sense of duty, some of us are trying to put our experiences to use for a good cause. Some of us couldn't live with ourselves if weren't doing everything we could to bring our brothers and sisters home as soon as possible. The environment may be unking, but that is why I will be testifying to shooting at civilians as a result of changing Rules of Engagement, abuse of detainees, and desecration of Iraqi bodies. It won't be easy but it must be done. Some of the stories are things that are difficult to admit that I was a part of, but if one more veteran realizes that they are not alone because of my testimony it will be worth it."
And Kokesh is quoted in Mike Ferner's "'Sick of It Day' campaign begins" (Online Journal):
Veterans For Peace yesterday kicked off its March 19, 2008, "Sick of It Day" campaign to end the war in Iraq.
March 19 is the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, and the campaign is designed to give every person sick of the corruption, the lies and the war an opportunity to join with others in the classic civil resistance tactic of "withdrawing consent" from the system.
Based on the principle taken from the Declaration of Independence that government requires the consent of the governed, everyone who joins Sick of It Day will be actively withdrawing their consent, one by one, until the collective economic impact reverberates through Washington and politicians are faced with a choice: end the war or have an ungovernable country. (Read more about this powerful form of civil resistance . . . )
Giving his personal reason why he is "sick of it," campaign originator and member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, Adam Kokesh said, "I am sick of seeing America in denial about how much we have been lied to."
Isaiah's latest goes up after this posts. Kat is finishing her latest CD review which she plans to have posted here at some point today. (She says to add that she's sitting at the table writing it right now for anyone saying, "Yeah right.")
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
iraq
adam kokesh
chris amessteve lannen
mcclatchy newspapers
iraq veterans against the war
mike fernerthe world today just nuts
kats kornerthe new york times
