Guardian' Reports New Memo on Bush and Blair and Plans for Iraq Invasion i

[Jon8503]

Published: February 03, 2006 10:05 AM ET

LONDON A newly-revealed memo, according to a British newspaper, records President Bush as saying the United States would "put its full weight" behind efforts to secure a second U.N. resolution early in 2003 on Iraq, but that "military action would follow anyway."

Britain's prime minister Tony Blair, in addition, is alleged to have told Bush in January 2003 he was "solidly behind" U.S. plans for military action, despite the continuing negotiations, according to reports in the Guardian newspaper and on a British television station. They both quote a new version of a book due to be published Friday. During the talks, it is claimed Bush told Blair the "diplomatic strategy had to be arranged around the military planning."

The book, "Lawless World," is by lawyer Philipe Sands, who practices at the same law firm as Blair's wife. The newspaper, which published the report on its Web site, and Channel 4 News claim to have seen a memo recording a meeting between Blair and Bush at the White House on Jan. 31, 2003. The reports claim Blair said he was "solidly with the president and ready to do whatever it took to disarm Saddam."

A spokesman at Blair's office, speaking on the customary condition of anonymity, said Thursday he could
not confirm the contents of the memo and said officials "don't comment on the prime minister's conversations with other leaders."

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001956961

(Video Link To Channel 4 London News Report On This Below)

http://www.channel4.com/player/playerwindow.html?id=2815&vert=news