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Home Front
Democrats Mull Politicizing Iraq War Intelligence
2003-11-04
Fox News has obtained a document purportedly written by a Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee that outlines a Democratic strategy for exposing what the document calls "the administration’s dubious motives" with regard to the war against Iraq.
If it’s in the nation’s, rather than the Dems’ interests, fair game
The memo, provided late Tuesday by a source on the Senate Intelligence Committee, discusses the timing of a possible investigation into pre-war Iraq intelligence in such a way that it could bring maximum embarrassment to President Bush in his re-election campaign.
Ohhhhh... sorry, temporary attack of naivete
Among other things, the memo recommends that Democrats "prepare to launch an investigation when it becomes clear we have exhausted the opportunity to usefully collaborate with the [Senate] majority. We can pull the trigger on an independent investigation of the administration’s use of intelligence at any time — but we can only do so once ... the best time would probably be next year."
right before the election.....hmmmm what could possibly be the reason for that?
The last paragraph of the memo reads, "Intelligence issues are clearly secondary to the public’s concern regarding the insurgency in Iraq."
so, blow away any intel assets in the interest of partisan gain, right?
Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., appeared clearly shocked by the memo, which Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W. Va. (sock puppet to R.KKK. Byrd), ranking member on the Intelligence Committee, acknowledged was written in draft form and not meant for distribution.
"Cripes! who the F&*k let this out???"
"The draft memo leaked to the press today was written by staff and was likely taken from a waste basket or through unauthorized computer access," Rockefeller said in a statement.
not addressing the fact it was a Dem staffer writing this traitorous tripe
Rockefeller did not say who wrote the memo. "The draft memo was not approved nor was it shared with any member of the Senate Intelligence Committee or anyone else. Having said that, the memo clearly reflects staff frustration with the conduct of the Senate Intelligence Committee investigation and the difficulties of obtaining information from the administration."
Waaaahhhhhhhh
Roberts said he believes the strategy outlined in the memo may constitute a violation of Senate ethics rules, an issue he may pursue with the ethics committee. "I have no idea how this became public. I am a little stunned. You can’t politicize the Intelligence Committee. The memo is blatantly partisan. Members of the committee on the Republican side are frustrated, outraged and indignant. I hope we can get past this," Roberts said.
Lessee, here. I expect pious denials that it was ever a really, truly, signed off on plan. There will be massive indignation over the fact that someone leaked the document in a most unauthorized manner, eventually overshadowing the actual content of the memo. And a Dem-led investigation into 9-11 intel, probably starting next August...
While the memo does not appear to be written as a straight political strategy piece, the memo does appear to be playing Roberts, who is described in the memo as helpful and going along with Democratic requests. The memo advises continuing to seek concessions from Roberts until and as long as it is useful.
"Then we can dump his ratty ass."
Despite the memo’s backhanded praise of Roberts, Rockefeller said Democrats are frustrated with the cooperation they are receiving from the chairman. "Exploring or asserting the rights of the minority under the intelligence committee rules in no way amounts to politicizing intelligence. The American people deserve a full accounting of why we sent our sons and daughters into war," he said.
Heads better role or this becomes a campaign issue earlier than the Dems thought - and not the way they hoped
Don't discount attention span...
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