Thank you Secretary Rumsfeld. Your remark the other day that
we should all watch what we say is excellent advice. You couldn't be more
right. And I mean that in as many ways as you care to apply.
For instance, if we are all very careful about what we say, every reference to the Downing Street Minutes will refer to them as exactly that. Minutes of a meeting. Vetted, authenticated, doublechecked, incontrovertible, damning MINUTES.
From
Merriam Webster
Minutes
a : a brief note (as of summary or recommendation) b : the official record of the proceedings of a meeting
mem·o·ran·dum
Etymology: Middle English, to be remembered, from Latin, neuter of memorandus, gerundive of memorare
1 : an informal record; also : a written reminder
2 : an informal written note of a transaction or proposed instrument
3 a : an informal diplomatic communication b : a usually brief communication written for interoffice circulation c : a communication that contains directive, advisory, or informative matter
(Emphasis mine)
Notice the word 'Official' in the def. for Minutes.
Notice the word 'informal' in the def for memo.
Notice that John McCain and ScottyMcLickboots both dismissed this hard evidence by discrediting the "memo".
Notice that it worked both times, as there was no follow up like "Uh, Sen. McCain, you can 'disagree' with this all you like, it is however, the Official Minutes of a secret, high level British Cabinet meeting. It therefore represents the facts of what took place at that meeting. So does your 'disagreement' mean you don't like the facts exposed in it?"
Or "Scotty boy, you just said the information contained in a secret official legal document of our chief ally is flat wrong. Does all truth have a liberal bias, or just the secret internal documents of our allies? And by the way, can I see your ID?"
Please, everybody, when you write your LTE's or email the press and media, when you call your reps, when you talk to your kids about this,
1)Refer to this evidence as the Downing street Minutes. Exclusively. 'Memo' is the technicality they're gonna wriggle out of this on if we let them define it that way. They're working that angle already (think 'Death Tax', but with way higher consequences)
2) Warn any reporters/editors/reps that the admin will try this deflection, and to be ready to call it what it is - an UNACCEPTABLE ANSWER.
(How much will your stock go up with that reporter, when it happens just like you said it would?)
Please post this around. It's a quick job, writing sux, but this is too important to let go on a slip o the tongue. Many thanks to Apian for making this distinction first and loudest.
It's a matter of Minutes!!