Democrats plot using war intel against Bush

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Wednesday, November 5, 2003

[JohnHuang2]

ON CAPITOL HILL
Democrats plot using
war intel against Bush
Memo reveals political motives behind probes into Iraq plans

---

Posted: November 4, 2003
11:46 p.m. Eastern

© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

A memo prepared by a Senate Intelligence Committee Democratic staff member and obtained by radio talk-show host Sean Hannity reveals a plot to use congressional investigations into Iraq war planning for political gain in next year's presidential race.

The memo discusses the timing of a possible investigation into pre-war Iraq intelligence to maximize political embarrassment to President Bush.

It recommends that Democrats "prepare to launch an investigation when it becomes clear we have exhausted the opportunity to usefully collaborate with the 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."

Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., seemed shocked by the memo, saying it may be evidence of a violation of Senate ethics rules.

He told reporters the leaked strategy memo from the staff of Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va, "exposes politics in its most raw form."

The memo also discusses strategy for "revealing the misleading, if not flagrantly dishonest, methods and motives of senior administration officials who made the case for unilateral pre-emptive war." It discussed how Democrats could press for an independent investigation that has already been rejected by the Republican-led Congress or launch their own investigation.

In a statement, Roberts said that the memo "appears to be a road map for how the Democrats intend to politicize what should be a bipartisan, objective review of prewar intelligence."

In his own statement, Rockefeller said the memo was not approved or shared with any member of the committee. He said it "was likely taken from a waste basket or through unauthorized computer access."

He said, however, it "clearly reflects staff frustration with the conduct of the Senate Intelligence Committee investigation and the difficulties of obtaining information from the administration."

"It's very hard for me to come to believe that the White House is going to cooperate on things which potentially could put them in a different light," Rockefeller said.

The last paragraph of the memo reads: "Intelligence issues are clearly secondary to the public's concern regarding the insurgency in Iraq.

The memo as reported by Hannity reads:

"We have carefully reviewed our options under the rules and believe we have identified the best approach. Our plan is as follows:

"1) Pull the majority along as far as we can on issues that may lead to major new disclosures regarding improper or questionable conduct by administration officials. We are having some success in that regard.

"For example, in addition to the President's State of the Union speech, the chairman [Sen. Pat Roberts] has agreed to look at the activities of the office of the Secretary of Defense, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, as well as Secretary Bolton's office at the State Department.

"The fact that the chairman supports our investigations into these offices and cosigns our requests for information is helpful and potentially crucial. We don't know what we will find but our prospects for getting the access we seek is far greater when we have the backing of the majority. [We can verbally mention some of the intriguing leads we are pursuing.]

"2) Assiduously prepare Democratic 'additional views' to attach to any interim or final reports the committee may release. Committee rules provide this opportunity and we intend to take full advantage of it.

"In that regard we may have already compiled all the public statements on Iraq made by senior administration officials. We will identify the most exaggerated claims. We will contrast them with the intelligence estimates that have since been declassified. Our additional views will also, among other things, castigate the majority for seeking to limit the scope of the inquiry.

"The Democrats will then be in a strong position to reopen the question of establishing an Independent Commission [i.e., the Corzine Amendment.]

"3) Prepare to launch an independent investigation when it becomes clear we have exhausted the opportunity to usefully collaborate with the 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 to do so will probably be next year, either:

"A) After we have already released our additional views on an interim report, thereby providing as many as three opportunities to make our case to the public. Additional views on the interim report (1). The announcement of our independent investigation (2). And (3) additional views on the final investigation. Or:

"B) Once we identify solid leads the majority does not want to pursue, we would attract more coverage and have greater credibility in that context than one in which we simply launch an independent investigation based on principled but vague notions regarding the use of intelligence.

"In the meantime, even without a specifically authorized independent investigation, we continue to act independently when we encounter footdragging on the part of the majority. For example, the FBI Niger investigation was done solely at the request of the vice chairman. We have independently submitted written requests to the DOD and we are preparing further independent requests for information.

"SUMMARY: Intelligence issues are clearly secondary to the public's concern regarding the insurgency in Iraq. Yet we have an important role to play in revealing the misleading, if not flagrantly dishonest, methods and motives of senior administration officials who made the case for unilateral preemptive war.

"The approach outlined above seems to offer the best prospect for exposing the administration's dubious motives." [End of Memo Excerpt.]

Hannity said the revelation that Democrats are using the intelligence committee to conduct opposition research for the coming presidential campaign demands an investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee.

Related story:

Democrats to raise doubts about America

[JohnHuang2]

Wednesday, November 5, 2003

Quote of the Day by semaj

[The South Texan]

Do you think the senate GOP will actually do something about this?

Don't hold your breath too long, you'll turn blue like a libertarian.

[ClancyJ]

They sure better - I fully expect them to.

We have senators mounting a war against our president as we are at war. I expect those senators to help fight that war on terrorism and quit assisting our enemy.

Why do I as a taxpayer have to pay for a bunch of power crazed politicians to mount war against President Bush when the nation is fighting a war? I expect them to spend that time protecting this nation.

And why do I have to pay for their stupid special investigations so that they can insinuate there is something that needs investigating?

I will be irate if I find they sweep this under the rug to be "good ole boys" with their senate pals as these "pals" manipulate them to destroy our President.

And - I don't want any intelligence to get in the hands of people merely wanting to destroy us. If they do this - they will leak secrets, they will take bribes, on and on.

[XHogPilot]

Strategy memo from the staff of Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va.

I've got some cash burnin' a hole in my pocket - When is Senaturd Rockefeller's term up?

[JohnHuang2]

Unfortunately, Rockefeller won't be facing the voters til' 08.

[backhoe]

 

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1014682/posts

Dem Intel Committee Memo Reveals Anti-Bush Plot
NewsMax ^ | 11/4/03 | Limbacher
This scoop is this." Say it with flowers or say it with minks but never ever say it in ink. Jimmy Durante.
They said it in ink. It is real hard to deny when it can be read.

A memo circulated among Democrats on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence shows the committee's minority plotting to use classified information against the White House in next year's presidential campaign.

The OTHER memo, DNC war script written for the press ~ PRE-WAR

 

 

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1014660/posts

Sean Hannity has a scoop on dem party corruption (Vanity)
Sean Hannity radio show ^ | 11/04/03 | Unknown Democrat (via Sean Hannity)

 

 

Related:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1014549/posts

Drudge: It's The Beginning Of A Second Media Century
drudgereport.com ^ | November 4, 2003 | Matt Drudge
There are 3 recent events that have changed the political landscape, they are: 1)The internet, 2)cable news stations particulary FNC, and 3) conservative talk radio. Blogs are coming up fast and may qualify as the 4th item...

[Defender2]

DemoCommiecRAT Party....Aiders....Abetters....Comfort Givers....To Our Enemies!!!! Composed of nothing but Boniors and McDermotts!!!!

[Broadside Joe]

This all began the moment we got to Baghdad and after the quagmire screamers were once again discredited. This disgusting little adventure is putting our security at risk and that point needs to be driven home with a sledgehammer.


And yes, that means calling them unpatriotic and un-American. Call a spade a spade.

[PJ-Comix]

In his own statement, Rockefeller said the memo was not approved or shared with any member of the committee. He said it "was likely taken from a waste basket or through unauthorized computer access."

Notice that he didn't deny that he wrote it.

[PogySailor]

Bump.

[beaware]

Hey Broadside-- What you're calling them is pussyfooting around the issue-- What they are planning is treasonous and there are specific penalties for that!

[RandallFlagg]

Actually, this could be a very good thing. Now, before the flame-retardant coveralls are donned, hear me out.

IF they try to use this in the debates, Bush could use a line similar to what you folks have been saying. Something along the lines of this:

Demrat candidate - "In fact, I have received a memo from inside sources that say**insert intelligence operational news here**about what's been happening in your administration concerning Iraq."

President Bush - "I know exactly which memo you're referring to. I know who wrote it and I have read it. I also know that it was something that was supposed to have been kept inside our intelligence circles. You know: "Top Secret"? It's pretty revealing that you're willing to risk American lives in an attempt to gain the office of the Presidency. Luckily, that memo was false, and we made it easily leakable to certain people, knowing that these certain people were unreliable for keeping our national secrets out of the hands of the enemy. Enemies who are most likely watching this debate. By these actions, you have lost all trust you might've had with the American people, and don't deserve to sit in The Oval Office."

[tkathy]

Why am I not surprised? I suspect the dims have a lot more investigations pending for just the right moment.

[G.Mason]

"He told reporters the leaked strategy memo from the staff of Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va, "exposes politics in its most raw form."

Ah ha! Perhaps this is the same source of that most heinous leak, you know, that Wilson guys wife, Valerie Plame-Wilson?

Did you know she was a CIA operative?

[freeangel]

Last night Pat Roberts just kept repeating how it is his job to build a bridge between "the aisle". I guess he just loves playing the fool like so many of our Rep. appeasers.

[Jonathan]

This memo is operative proof of the treasonous intent of Democrats. INVESTIGATE THEM!!!!

[patj]

The fact that the chairman supports our investigations into these offices and cosigns our requests for information is helpful and potentially crucial.

Looks like the Republicans are already playing along with the democrats. Nice to know that Roberts is willing to go along with them. No wonder he was so mad that this got leaked.

[Dog]

The resident DEM on F&F ....E D ....is pi$$ed anout this memo. This is bad news for the DEMs when they lose their own base..

[Dog]

But the wildcard here is the memo....Roberts is shown for what he is....a big dumb dupe. He can build all the bridges he wants... but the memo shows how he was rolled.

Kind of tough to play the peacemaker when a memo shows you were duped to begin with....

[Half Vast Conspiracy]

..."was likely taken from a waste basket or through unauthorized computer access."

Well, that's one hell of a denial.

[ejo]

INVESTIGATE the INVESTIGATORS!!!!!

[dd5339]

Ping!

[smith288]

Those diamonds I stole were hidden! Were you snooping in my room?!?!

[GWB00]

Pat Roberts just kept repeating how it is his job to build a bridge between "the aisle".

What is it with the whimpy Republicans? Do the Democrats have pictures of these guys from their junkets to Thailand?

Forget about building a bridge! The Democrats burn it down everytime.

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

I imagine you are not surprised because this is the modus operandi of both major politicial parties when they are in pursuit of power

[wolf24]

Would you mind providing and example of when the Republicans engaged in this type of behavior while American soldiers were dying and we were in the middle of a war? I'm ignorant regarding this subject-matter. Thanks.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"This memo is operative proof of the treasonous intent of Democrats. INVESTIGATE THEM!!!!"

This will never happen.
Ashcroft STILL refuses to investiagte the klintoons or reno.
He already let reno run against Jeb Bush and is clearing the way for hitlery to make her run.
A Republican controlled Congress does nothing to investigate the US Attorney General.
Too bad Ann Coulter or Ollie North are not the US Attorney General.
Either one would have the courage to uphold the oath of office.

Lack of action against the dims for their crimes leaves the door open for the dims to attack.

[arasina]

Do you happen to have a list of the names of senators currently gracing our Senate Intelligence Committee?

[TankerKC]

I see this story is getting heavy press coverage…in Cleveland, Topeka, Grand Forks, and Deepika, India .

[mtbopfuyn]

Ding, ding. That was the sound of a few more enlightened RATS abandoning the sinking ship. The Dems are self emploding.

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

Though nothing is directly comparable because every era has its own issues and problems, Watergate comes to mind.

[familyofman]

"...proof of the treasonous intent..."

I keep hearing/seeing the word treason used, along with ethics investigation. I don't see any proof.

DD-806

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"...proof of the treasonous intent..."

I'm only concerened with the klintoons and reno being investigated for their crimes.
Treason as we all know would be almost impossible to prove.

DD 817

[Little Pig]

Current Senate Intelligence Committee members:

Republican:

Pat Roberts, Chairman
Orrin Hatch
Mike DeWine
Christopher Bond
Trent Lott
Olympia Snowe
Chuck Hagel
Saxby Chambliss
John Warner

Democrats:
John Rockefeller, Vice-chairman
Carl Levin
Dianne Feinstein
Ron Wydan
Richard Durbin
Evan Bayh
John Edwards
Barbara Mikulski

[Quilla]

Well looky there - eight oxymorons in one place.


Democrats on Senate Intell Committee:
John Rockefeller, Vice-chairman
Carl Levin
Dianne Feinstein
Ron Wydan
Richard Durbin
Evan Bayh
John Edwards
Barbara Mikulski

[mathluv]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1014660/posts?q=1&&page=1



Pat Roberts, Kansas
Chairman

John D. Rockefeller IV
West Virginia, Vice Chairman

Orrin G. Hatch, Utah

Carl Levin, Michigan
Mike Dewine, Ohio

Dianne Feinstein, California

Christopher S. Bond, Missouri

Ron Wyden, Oregon

Trent Lott, Mississippi

Richard J. Durbin, Illinois

Olympia J. Snowe, Maine Evan Bayh, Indiana

Chuck Hagel, Nebraska

John Edwards, North Carolina

Saxby Chambliss, Georgia

Barbara A. Mikulski, Maryland

John W. Warner, Virginia

[TaxRelief]

The Ballad of Senator Pat and the Rats

Senate Select Committee on Intelligence with Web Page Links

Committee Rules

Senate email addresses

[nwrep]

How is this different from the usual politics the Dems play? Exactly what is it in the memo that could be an ethics violation per Senate rules?

[arasina]

Thank you!

[b4its2late]

My perty post from yesterday.....

As Byrd would say.... Pretty, pretty, pretty.... ;-)

[rwfromkansas]

Wow. To get Roberts pissed off, you know it's bad.

[nuffsenuff]

That would be AWESOME... Too bad it won't happen. But just imagining it is enough to bring a smile to my face.

BTW... Is that your real name or is that from SK's "The Stand"?

[wordsofearnest]

"The Canary Trap" as formulated by John Patrick Ryan.

[Naspino]

Don't forget the "Mission Accomplished" banner. That story makes me so sick. Last night CNBC kept using the word -- so and so blames it on... My question is what is their intention? To say the mission was not accomplished? How many soldier died in Japan or Germany after they were defeated? Oh my GOD!?!? WE NEVER WON WWII!!! WE'RE STILL AT WAR PEOPLE!!!

[nuffsenuff]

That ticks me off too...

They use the word "blame" like if putting the banner up was bad...

They should be saying "credited"... since there was nothing wrong with putting the banner up. The ship's crew mission WAS accomplished and they were coming home.

I hate liberals.

[mabelkitty]

He'll be facing criminal charges before that.
When does WV's Governor come up for election?

[mabelkitty]

Colmes was freaked about it last night as well.

[mabelkitty]

Shall I spell it out for you?
They are on a fishing expedition (admitting they don't know what they will find) with the clear intent of using the information to HURT THE LEADER OF OUR COUNTRY!

Calling for IC is only used to sort out high crimes and misdemeaners - IMPEACHMENT!

This was a consistent plan to impeach Bush with anything they could get their hands on, and they understood they could only call for it once, so make it good - election time.

[cookcounty]

A lot of excitement about very little.

1. We don't know the source of even if it's authentic,

2. The Dems can easily turn it around and claim it's probably part of a WH dirty tricks op to help in their stonewalling effort on intel investigation.

3. People don't understand it --hedci, I don't undertans it.

4, There is no evidence of any intel being compromised.

I don't think this will fly.

[mabelkitty]

No, it wouldn't.
This was put down in writing - a little different than hearsay and verbal.

This is clear.

Ashcroft should pull the servers, phone records, and visitors logs immediately. My money's not on this being from Rockefeller at all. He isn't going to take a dive for the real culprit behind it. Put his feet to the fire and this story will spread to UNELECTED EX-PUTZ CLINTON, GORE, AND MCAULIFFE USING MONEY AND INFLUENCE TO CONTROL THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES.