THE 'DOMESTICATED' PRESS

"Exhibit A" of a "domesticated" press. That's what former CIA analyst Ray McGovern calls this morning's Washington Post editorial, which describes the main revelation of the Downing Street memo as "vague but intriguing." In other words, it doesn't believe that "intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy" to invade Iraq. McGovern, who ripped into the press for knuckling under to the Bush regime, says there's "nothing vague" about the memo and, far from intriguing, "it's depressing."

McGovern points out further that 1) the head of Iraq's WMD programs -- Saddam Hussein's son-in-law Hussein Kamel, who defected from Iraq, then returned and was executed -- told the U.S. regime that the WMD had been destroyed in 1991 and that 2) Cheney Boy himself claimed he was a fully reliable source of information who proved that Iraq had WMD. But 3) somehow Cheney Boy et al chose not to believe this reliable source's info that the WMD had been destroyed, which, as we all know, has been proven correct. Ain't that cherry pickin' peculiar.

Also, did I speak too soon yesterday when I said I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for an investigation of the Bush regime's headlong invasion of Iraq? The short answer: Yes.

John Conyers Jr., left, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, will hold a hearing Thusday in the Capitol on the Downing Street memo and the regime's "effort to cook the books on pre-war intelligence." The bigger question is whether Georgie Boy violated the constitution in his rush to war.

The long answer: It's not an official committee hearing, because the Republican majority would not allow it. Conyers, who also accuses the U.S. press of a deafening silence, was going to hold the hearing at the Democratic National Committee. But he told Democracy Now! this morning that he finally wangled a room in the Capitol.

Amy Goodman interviewed both Conyers and McGovern on Democracy Now! It's very strong stuff. As soon as DN puts up the video and/or a transcript of the interview, we'll post the link. In the meantime, read McGovern on the SECRET UK EYES ONLY briefing document that preceded the Downing Street memo and on the "proof" (his term) that Georgie Boy "fixed the facts."

The video is now up with a partial transcript. Click: It's very strong stuff.