The secret Downing Street memo, July 23, 2002

From SourceWatch
(Redirected from 'Smoking Gun' Memo)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

The secret Downing Street memo, July 23, 2002, -- also known as the 'Smoking Gun' Memo -- regarding U.S. President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair's plans for war in Iraq, was revealed by the United Kingdom's The Sunday Times, May 1, 2005.

"It's possible it's less a dud than a bomb with a long, slow fuse," Dan Froomkin wrote May 17, 2005, in the Washington Post. [1]

Corroborating Documents from the National Security Archives

On August 17, 2005, "the National Security Archives at George Washington University released some stunning documents, that seem to further corroborate the Downing Street Minutes, as well as buttress the argument that there was precious little post-war planning in the rush to topple Saddam," according to Richard Cranium, AllSpinZone.

Prime Minister's Meeting Minutes

The document is actually the July 23, 2002, Minutes of the Prime Minister's meeting to discuss Iraq written by Matthew Rycroft, the document was marked "SECRET AND STRICTLY PERSONAL - UK EYES ONLY."

SourceWatch Resources

External links

Smoking Gun

  • "Smoking Gun," according to the Investopedia, is "Something that serves as indisputable evidence or proof, especially of a crime."

Websites

Articles & Commentary

Analysis

News Citations

  • Erik Mattheis has compiled U.S. media citations of the "Downing Street memo" dating from May 1, 2005, to present, which can be viewed at fearofclowns.com (accessed June 8, 2005).

2004

2005