To the editor:

The June 19 Journal-World report by Warren P. Strobel of Knight Ridder Newspapers reviewed “highly classified documents leaked in Britain,” which “appear to provide new evidence that President Bush and his national security team” had decided by mid-March 2002 to invade Iraq. The memo also expresses concern that there was not a just and legal cause for military action.

This information was “forcefully denied” by Bush and Prime Minister Blair. Bush reported “we worked hard to figure out how we could do this peacefully.” Despite reports, there was no significant evidence of a link with al-Qaida or connection to 9-11.

Bush reported the importation of uranium by Iraq for nuclear weapons after such information was found to lack credibility. The administration repeatedly discredited United Nations inspectors and accelerated the bombing of Iraq prior to the invasion. Was this an effort at peace or (as the memos imply) an effort to justify the invasion?

If the “Downing Street memos” are legitimate, there is clear evidence that Bush has intentionally lied to Congress and the American people. Blaming the decision on “poor intelligence” becomes a diversion for an administration decision already made by mid-March 2002. The president would thus have violated his oath of office to uphold the Constitution by lying to Congress. Further secrecy and denial will only add to public doubts. An independent investigation would go a long way to show that the administration is willing to be accountable for the decision to invade Iraq.

Jim Hasselle,

Lawrence