Going Downing

Jun 22, 2005 at 12:00 am

Last week, U.S. Rep. John Conyers held a forum in D.C. on the infamous Downing Street Memo. (If you don’t know what it is by now, just go away.) Some of the best testimony at that event came from someone who wasn’t there. We’re talking about journalist Greg Palast, who couldn’t attend, but nonetheless submitted written comments for the record.

We particularly liked the opening of his missive to Conyers, which begins:

“It’s official: The Downing Street memos, a snooty New York Times ‘News Analysis’ informs us, ‘are not the Dead Sea Scrolls.’ You are warned, Congressman, to ignore the clear evidence of official mendacity and bald-faced fibbing by our nations’ leaders because the cry for investigation came from the dark and dangerous world of ‘blogs’ and ‘opponents’ of Mr. Blair and Mr. Bush.”

Palast goes on to provide a fascinating timeline regarding what he describes as “confidential skullduggery dug up and broadcast by my own team for BBC Television and Harper’s on the secret plans to seize Iraq’s assets and oil.”

To read his testimony in its entirety, direct your Web browser to gregpalast.com. It makes for fascinating reading.

News Hits is edited by Curt Guyette. Contact the column at 313-202-8004 or [email protected]