[mewzilla]

The blog goes on to suggest that even if the memos could be authenticated, "they're still meaningless." That they simply do not contain any smoking-gun evidence of lies by the Bush administration or the British government of Tony Blair.

But the destruction of the originals IS a smoking gun.

If the two versions were identical, why destroy the originals?

Inquiring minds want to know....

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

why destroy the originals?

The British Official Secrets Act has teeth and the courts in Old Blighty don't entertain a lot of tolerance for claims by journalist about protecting sources. Under current conditions prosecution may not be politically possible, but with a shift of political winds, it could very likely happen.

[jd777]

What if the original indicated who leaked it...? So you give a copy out that can't be traced. Maybe to protect someone ?