Congress to Debate Pre-War Intelligence
September 13th, 2005The House International Relations Committee will debate and vote on a resolution of Inquiry introduced by Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) that calls on the Bush administration to give Congress all information relating to communication with officials of the United Kingdom relating to U.S. policy in Iraq between January 1.
The resolution has bipartisan support and 70 cosponsors. The measure is a privileged resolution, meaning if it is not taken up by the International Relations Committee in a defined period of time, Representative Lee would be entitled to request that it be brought to the House floor for a vote.
Where: 2172 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
When: Wednesday. September 14th. 10:30 AM EDT
Background: On May 1. 2005. The Sunday Times (UK) published the leaked minutes from a US-British meeting on July 23rd. 2002. The “Downing Street Memo.” as the minutes came to be known. as well as other documents that came to light subsequently have raised serious questions as to whether the Bush administration manipulated intelligence data in order to justify the invasion of Iraq; the UN weapons inspection process was manipulated to provide a legal pretext for the war; and that pre-war air strikes were deliberately ramped up in order to soften Iraqi infrastructure in preparation for war. prior to the October Congressional vote authorizing the use of force. The Bush administration has not disputed the authenticity of these documents.
Since the publication of the memo, 131 Members of Congress have written the President, asking for answers to the questions it raises. Rep. Lee and Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) delivered more than 575.000 petition signatures to the White House. demanding answers. All of these inquiries have gone unanswered.
“The American people deserve to know the truth about the circumstances under which our troops were sent to war.” Lee said.
The memo and subsequent documents raise questions not only about the administration’s case for war, but also the constitutional separation of powers, specifically whether Congress’ power to authorize the use of force was circumvented through the manipulation of intelligence.
“The U.S. is currently at war in Iraq under an authority conferred to President Bush by the U.S. Congress.” Lee said. “It is not only Congress’ prerogative. it is our responsibility to make sure that the authority to use force was not granted under circumstances that were deliberately misleading.”
Contact: Nathan Britton Communications Director Office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee 1724 Longworth House Office Bldg. ph 202 225-2661 fax 202 225-9817.
Hearing and Rally on Thursday:
On Thursday. September 15. in Washington. D.C.. Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey will hold a hearing on exit strategies for Iraq.
A coalition of organizations demanding an end to the war will hold a rally at 5 p.m. that evening in front of the White House.
HEARING: WHEN: Thursday. September 15. 2005. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. (may change once location is determined)
WHERE: TBD (there will be a room and a large overflow room)
WITNESSES: U.S. Senator Max Cleland. former member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. former head of the Veterans Administration and triple amputee from his military service in the Vietnam War; General Joseph Hoar (Ret. USMC). former Commander in Chief of U.S. Central Command; Ambassador David Mack. former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Near East. former U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. and current Vice President of the Middle East Institute; Dr. Ken Katzman. Middle East analyst and Iraq specialist at the Congressional Research Service; Anas Shallal. an Iraqi-American and founder of Iraqi-Americans for Peaceful Alternatives.
Both Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate have been invited. Some 25 Democratic Members are expected. and several Republican Members. including Rep. Walter Jones Jr. (N.C.). have indicated they will participate for at least a portion of the hearing.
Rep. Woolsey’s Advisory. Sept. 6 Article in Roll Call.
RALLY: Rally at Lafayette Square Park (in front of White House) at 5 p.m. ET on September 15. 2005. sponsored by Progressive Democrats of America. After Downing Street. Code Pink. Peace Action. Democrats.com. and Democracy Rising.
SPEAKERS: Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey and other Congress Members; Gold Star Families for Peace Member Tia Steele; Founder of American Families United. Gold Star Mother. Member of Military Families Speak Out. and star of “Farenheit 9-11″ Lila Lipscomb; Veterans for Peace Board Member Ellen Barfield; Family member of U.S. soldier serving in Iraq Jawaid Khan; Co-Founder of Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) Tom Hayden; Code Pink Co-Founder and United for Peace and Justice organizer Gael Murphy; Peace Action Organizing and Policy Director Paul Kawika Martin; U.S. Labor Against the War Co-Founder Gene Bruskin; Center on Conscience and War Executive Director J.E. McNeil; PDA Board Member and After Downing Street Co-Founder John Bonifaz; Pastor of Pasadena. Calif.. All Saints Church Ed Bacon; PDA Exec! utive Director and After Downing Street Co-Founder Tim Carpenter; PDA Board Member and After Downing Street Co-Founder David Swanson; Democracy Rising Director and likely U.S. Senate candidate from Maryland Kevin Zeese; Pacifica Radio Washington Bureau Chief Verna Avery Brown; Co-Founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity Ray McGovern; PDA Board Member and President and CEO of Hip Hop Caucus Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr; Research Fellow. Institute for Policy Studies. Erik Leaver; Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg.
Also the same day. A coalition of organizations will hand in to Congress a petition for an exit strategy. See http://www.peoplespetition.org (Note that not all sponsors of and participants in the rally are participants in or supporters of the petition or the hearings.)
Tags: Downing Street Memo
