Roberts: Intel Cmtee Could Finish Iraq Probe Without Dems

NewsMax ^ | 11/9/03 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kans., left open the possibility on Sunday that committee Republicans may complete their probe into pre-war Iraq intelligence without Democrats unless minority members disavow a memo outlining plans to politicize the investigation.

"Somebody has to disavow this memo or it's going to be very difficult to put this committee back together again," an angry-sounding Roberts told "Fox News Sunday."

"We are going to finish the inquiry - that's our primary duty right now," he added, saying that the probe was "about 90 percent done."

Asked if he thought it "would be possible to work with the Democrats on the committee to complete the job in a manner you see [as] proper," the Kansas Republican pointedly left the door open to a Republican-only finish to the Iraq probe, telling FNS host Tony Snow, "It's up to [the Democrats]. I hope so. It's up to them."

But Roberts reiterated, "It's going to be very difficult to put the committee back together again without somebody saying, 'We're not going to launch this attack plan - this partisan attack plan,' not only on me, but on the entire committee."

The Intelligence Committee chief excoriated the blatantly political language of the memo, first revealed by radio host Sean Hannity last Tuesday, including phrases like "pull the trigger [on an independent investigation]", "castigate the majority" and "wait till next year," when President Bush runs for reelection.

"Now we have this very partisan attack memo with some members of the Senate actually embracing it, reveling in it," he complained, adding, "They are destroying the non-partisan history of the history of this committee. That really bothers me."

[MEG33]

Roberts was rightfully angry on Fox this morning ,then Levin came on saying the crime was stealing the memo and basically defending it while accusing the White House of hyping the intelligence.The WH has been found guilty by the Dems and they are waiting to "pull the trigger" at the right time.Snow could not get him to answer questions or get him to stop the spin.Levin is an odious partisan.

[jmstein7]

Yup.

[Laserman]

You are exactly right. Levin's defense of the Dem's actions, and his repugnant spinning of the issue destroyed any respect for the man and showed his first concern is getting power, and his last concern is the security of the American people and our men and women in uniform. Truly disgusting!

[Salvey]

Levin is an odious partisan.

And, don't forget: he's an odious partisan with a large Arab constituency.

[MEG33]

He was extrememly defensive,though loudly and passionately,now that I think about it.

I have no faith in this man studying the intelligence problems fairly..only for Dem propaganda purposes.This is for improving the strength of America 's intelligence gathering.This is not a game of gotcha.

I shudder to think this man has my country's well being in his hands.

[nathanbedford]

Our intelligence assets are so broken they missed 9/11 and the WMDs in Iraq. Intelligence must be fixed. But how can it be fixed when the Democrats' own smoking memo has betrayed them as unfit to manage America's intelligence services because they were caught trying to turn the Senate Intelligence Committee into an arm of the DNC. It is the responsibility of that committee to manage, oversee, and, if necessary lead the reforms which will gain us the intelligence which will keep us safe.

This is why the petty factionalism of the Democrats is so damaging to the nation in time of war. But this message is not being well articulated by Roberts et. al. All the public is hearing is, there they go again, Republicans and Democrats are squabbling.

That was precisely the impression Levin was trying to sell on Fox and McAuliff on CNN. In my judgement they suceeded in their object which was to kick up enough dust to divert all but us junkies. Snow challanged Levin but Blitzer gave McAuliff a salute.


How to make the country understand that the liberals are trying to make the Intelligence Committee into the clone of the Civil Rights Commission? How to make them understand that Americans, their children included, might die as a result?

[kitkat]

***I have no faith in this man studying the intelligence problems fairly..only for Dem propaganda purposes.This is for improving the strength of America 's intelligence gathering.This is not a game of gotcha.***

Well said. I wish the Republicans would shout that on every TV and radio show they can get on. And that "gotcha" is one the dems haven't even "gotten," but are working hard to make it look as though they do.

[Valin]

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kans., left open the possibility on Sunday that committee Republicans may complete their probe into pre-war Iraq intelligence without Democrats unless minority members disavow a memo outlining plans to politicize the investigation.

And why should we believe them if they do disavow it?

[The Wizard]

Levin was an asshole and DRUDGE is hiding this story....why

[Samwise]

How to make the country understand

Rework that post and turn it into a Letter to the editor for every publication you can think of.

[Valin]

Because.

[Ann Archy]

Jon Kyl is much better than Roberts.

[Ann Archy]

Maybe because it was a Sean Hannity EXCLUSIVE! The memo I mean.

[Mia T]

ROCKEFELLER NOT MEMOGATE PRIME MOVER: SEN. EVAN BAYH (D-IN)
Put Rockefeller & clinton lackey staffer, Mellon, under oath
MEMOgate reeks of the clintons