Rice Says “No”
This is good to see.
The US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said she is unwilling to answer a US House of Representatives subpoena about Iraq’s pre-war weapons.
A House committee wants to question Ms Rice about a White House assertion that Iraq was trying to buy uranium from Niger to build nuclear weapons.
[...]
She said that as President George W Bush’s national security adviser at the time, she was shielded by the constitutional principle of executive privilege.
“There is a separation of powers, and advisers to the president are, under that constitutional principle, not generally required to go and testify in Congress,” she told reporters in Oslo, Norway, during a meeting of Nato foreign ministers.
The Bush Administration needs to put an end to the show trials. This particular issue has been discussed a thousand times. There’s not value is going over it one more time. It’s just a way for the Dems to beat their chests and grunt their disapproval.
But the grilling of Clinton about cigars was OK?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 26, 2007 at 1302 hrs
Show trials by the “Dems”??? The GOP began impeachment proceedings over a SEX SCANDAL!!!
What goes around comes around.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 26, 2007 at 1708 hrs
Except she never really answered the questions.
That war is billions being blown out of cannon. We damn well need to get to the bottom of this and all the Bush administration has done is block this. This has been a total waste of our taxes, which you all seem to be so keen on.
That gap is between her teeth enables the lies to pass easier.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 26, 2007 at 1719 hrs
Was it the sex scandal or the lying about it? Just curious…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 26, 2007 at 1823 hrs
Well let’s see, there were over a 1,000 subpoenas of top ranking Clinton aids. Then when Bush took over the number dropped to six. Isn’t the job of Congress to provide oversight? Of course a dictacratic administration is another step towards fascism.
Looks like we have a little catch-up work to do.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 26, 2007 at 2011 hrs
Seriously…
What will be found with these circus-like investigations? Probably nothing more than what has already been found out - that Joe Wilson fabricated his stories, that intelligence agencies from nearly every Western country believed Hussein to be seeking WMD from willing sellers, and Bush’s execution of the war has been to the dissatisfaction of Democrats in Congress.
I’m shocked - shocked! - that Congressional Democrats don’t approve of the way Karl Rove, er, George Bush, has handled the Iraqi affair.
When the digging is done and they’ve reached the bottom of the hole, they will probably find a mirror.
Let me ask you this, kr (before you start condescending to eveyone how public opinion is on your side - which I don’t argue with): just because something is misalligned to public opinion, does it make it wrong?
Be mindful that when Hillary Clinton proposed HillaryCare, it was opposed by nearly 70% of Americans. Do you believe she was wrong, then?
Conversely, 60% of Wisconsinites think their taxes are too high and we should institute tax-and-expenditure limits on government. So, are politicians who oppose such policies wrong, then?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 26, 2007 at 2141 hrs
Publius -
Try telling that to the Tillman family.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 26, 2007 at 2220 hrs
atari, while I agree that the way the Tillman issue was handled - stupid and clumsy. but, is it such a crime to tell a family that their son died a hero instead of in a horrible accident?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 26, 2007 at 2302 hrs
I feel for the Tillman family. Their pain surely is with due cause and they should be rightfully angry.
But Pat Tillman volunteered for service as has every single other servicemember. Your suggestion that Tillman’s death is emblematic of failed policies is a leap in logic.
Then, any friendly-fire death is justification for an immediate cessation to hostilities?
Or are you concerned with the cover-up? Fine, tell that to the families of all the soldiers who died in Vietnam after the Gulf of Tonkin incident.
Cover-ups unto themselves don’t delegitimize a war effort. They point to errors in judgement that are bound to exist in society - and military officers and politicians are not exempt.
If the allegations of a cover-up are true - which I have no reason to believe they aren’t - then heads should rightfully roll. But does the spectacle of a public hearing with no discernible goal move us ANY closer to a resolution of the Iraq affair? I suspect Harry Reid doesn’t hope that’s the case…
Atari - I suspect that your reference to Tillman was some effort to claim the moral high-ground, a veiled atempt to insert an item into debate that is seemingly undebateable - that any retort back would consequently be seen as heartless. Nice job, but I’m not biting. Shame on you.
I’ve got no problem with hearings and Congressional oversight. But trying to play political gotcha (and you’ve bought into it, atari, with your reference to Tillman), does the debate disservice. Frankly, there are very few adults in Congress, and unfortunately, NONE of them are in leadership positions.
If for one second you believe that calling Rice before Congress is out of altruistic pursuits to “find the truth,” then, my friend, the Kool-Aid has already done its damage.
“We’re going to pick up Senate seats as a result of this war. Senator Schumer has shown me numbers that are compelling and astounding.” - Harry Reid
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 26, 2007 at 2313 hrs
recovered liberal - I don’t necessarily disagree with your thinking, however, I would just add that Tillman is a hero regardless of how he died.
He volunteered to serve his country - fully aware of all risks - and died doing what the vast majority of us could never dream of or have the courage to do.
I, for one, fall short of the example Tillman set. His sacrifice deserves more than a cover-up, regardless of the motive of the cover-up.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 26, 2007 at 2326 hrs
Hello, it was about lying about it, but face it, the Republicans took it to Clinton and he handled himself poorly. Now, what do you think is worse: lying about a blow job or lying about Weapons of Mass Destruction and subsequently starting a war? Just curious….
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 27, 2007 at 0844 hrs
Phil -
That is where the divide occurs…. the left says the WMD issue was a lie. the right says that the entire world thought it was true and that the intelligence at the time was faulty. that makes it a really good case for 20/20 hindsight, but not for intentional malice.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 27, 2007 at 0859 hrs
Quick Question. Does “Niger Yellow Cake” ever go stale?? Talk about about beating a dead horse.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 27, 2007 at 0939 hrs
the right says that the entire world thought it was true and that the intelligence at the time was faulty.
recovered, I’m getting old so maybe I don’t remember this clearly.
Who else was convinced Iraq had WMD?
Who gave that snappy presentation at the UN?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 27, 2007 at 1338 hrs
Apparently pjr and phil have all the answers - case closed. No need for hearings.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 27, 2007 at 1433 hrs
SUre there has to be hearings. Rice nver answered the quesitons at the last “tickle me Elmo” hearing held by the Republicans.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 27, 2007 at 1436 hrs
yup,
the derangement syndrome is alive and well… even the saintly John Kerry and Bill Clinton believed that Iraq had WMDs, lest we forget that Iraq actually USED them on Iran and the Kurds…
But derangement must accompany amnesia, so we will give a pass for medical reasons
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 27, 2007 at 1621 hrs
I get so sick and tired theme about Saddam gassing the Kurds. Yes it happened but it happened 12 years hence. 12 years pass. No gas passed. Why? Saddam was bottled up. Just like voter ID there was no problem. And keeping him bottled up was sure damed cheaper than this waste of a war.
And did ya notice what you said may be true about Kerry and Clinton. Only one little thing missing.
THEY DID NOT INVADE IRAQ!
Keep those stupid arguments caged up in your head where they belong although really these bogus assertions are playing in Peoria like they used to.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 27, 2007 at 1829 hrs
I get so sick and tired theme about Saddam gassing the Kurds. Yes it happened but it happened 12 years hence. 12 years pass. No gas passed. Why? Saddam was bottled up. Just like voter ID there was no problem.
kr, I think you left a few items off your list…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 27, 2007 at 2132 hrs
Yeah, I’m so convinced. Watch George Tenent on 60 Minutes Sunday night.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 27, 2007 at 2305 hrs
kr, first, Tennet is a Democrat, appointed by Clinton. He should have been let go as soon as Bush got into office- stupid on Bush. As far as the 60 minutes go, he’s just CYA.
THEY DID NOT INVADE IRAQ But they voted for the war. At least, you could have mentioned Fiengold- he has been the most consistant senator from the anti-war movement. So, I think you are have those arguments in your head. You may want to have that checked out by a psychiatrist. And photo ID in this debate- some medication may do you some good.Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 28, 2007 at 0147 hrs
The GOP began impeachment proceedings over a SEX SCANDAL!!! Uh- no- they held impeachment hearings over lying to a grand jury- please take a history lesson.
Well let’s see, there were over a 1,000 subpoenas of top ranking Clinton aids maybe Clinton and his staff were too stupid to stop to subpoenas.
Come on liberals, you are smarter than that- maybe not.Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 28, 2007 at 0354 hrs
Sorry Dan, but in post #11, said it (impeachment process) was for lyinh about. Perhaps you need a lesson in reading comprehension.
Publius, I certainly do NOT have all the answers, or some of them for that matter. But like many Americans, I have questions that no one in the Bush administration seem to want to step forward and answer.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 28, 2007 at 0651 hrs
Forget for a minute who “believed” that Saddam had WMD. It has become clear that the Bush administration “knew” that he didn’t and went ahead anyway.
Add to that the criminal waste in the running of this misbegotten adventure and some level of oversight is in order.
As for this from rl:
while I agree that the way the Tillman issue was handled - stupid and clumsy. but, is it such a crime to tell a family that their son died a hero instead of in a horrible accident?Yes it is morally reprehensible to lie to the families of American service men and women. This was not a little sugar-coating to spread some sunshine. This was a series of coordinated fabrications to make the administration look good. How can you support that and still claim to support our troops?
The loyal Bushies have been wrong straight down the line. They didn’t know what they were getting into or how to get out of it. They have destabilized the region and emboldened our enemies. It’s time to let the grown-ups in to end this entire affair.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 28, 2007 at 0736 hrs
re your #20, kr, sorry, that ain’t gonna cut it. Unless Tenet refutes that entire laundry list of UN resolution and other human rights violations, of course. But perhaps you were fine with those violations at the time, in which case I applaud you for your consistency and steely-eyed lack of compassion.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 28, 2007 at 0747 hrs
grumps, Bush knew Saddam didn’t have WMD? Really? Enlighten us as to your evidence, please.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 28, 2007 at 0749 hrs
“is it such a crime to tell a family that their son died a hero instead of in a horrible accident?”
It is when you try to spin it for your own purposes. Ask Jessica Lynch what she thinks about it - actually, you can read about it because of this investigation.
I’m looking forward to the investigations about what all of this money has been going towards - it sure as hell isn’t to help our troops, many of whom still lack adequate armor and supplies.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 28, 2007 at 1121 hrs
Going back to the point of Owen’s original post…
Because atari, grumps, and kr know SO MUCH, then there clearly isn’t a need for more hearings.
It would seem they have all the answers…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 29, 2007 at 1837 hrs
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