Posted on 11/01/2005 12:59:32 PM PST by frankjr
Democrats forced the Republican-controlled Senate into an unusual closed session Tuesday, questioning intelligence that President Bush used in the run-up to the war in Iraq and accusing Republicans of ignoring the issue.
"They have repeatedly chosen to protect the Republican administration rather than get to the bottom of what happened and why," Democratic leader Harry Reid said.
"The Libby indictment provides a window into what this is really all about, how this administration manufactured and manipulated intelligence in order to sell the war in Iraq and attempted to destroy those who dared to challenge its actions," Reid said before invoking Senate rules that led to the closed session.
Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., said Reid was making "some sort of stink about Scooter Libby and the CIA leak."
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
OK, Harry, why don't you tell us what happened and why? Give him a soapbox, and let him make a fool of himself.
That's not an "Iraq" meeting. It's a dumbass looney left meeting.
Harry, it's the water.
http://www.johnston.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RS20145.pdf
The proceedings of a secret session are not published unless the relevant chamber votes, during the meeting or at a later time, to release them. Then, those portions released are printed in the Congressional Record.
...
If the Senate does not approve release of a secret session transcript, the transcript is stored in the Office of Senate Security and ultimately sent to the National Archives and Records Administration. The proceedings remain sealed until the Senate votes to remove the injunction of secrecy.
There's a party going on over at DU - you'd think this was the second coming. Reid's running for President apparently.
Joe Wilson: A Man On A Mission In A Media Vehicle Posted by Mithridate Ombud on November 1, 2005 - 12:08. Robert Scheer writes for the LA Times:
[Judith Miller] knew early on that Libby was using the media to punish former U.S. Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV for exposing President Bush's false claim that Iraq sought nuclear material from the African nation of Niger. The words I want to examine here are "punish" and "false claim". If there was information given to a reporter, it wasn't to punish Joe Wilson, it was to expose him. By the time he went to Niger, he had a long history of not just being against the war, but being against a regime change in Iraq. This was no impartial panel to examine evidence. This was one guy going over there without even being paid, lying about who sent him [Cheney], to [his words mind you] "drink sweet tea and meet with people." Did he look at spy sat imagery? No. Did he examine hardware with a Geiger counter? No. Did he meet with CIA HUMINT informants? No. He simply asked a dozen people if they were selling yellowcake to Saddam. What would you answer if the U.S. asked you that?
And in the end, Joe Wilson didn't even say it definitely didn't happen. His finding was "that it was highly doubtful that any such transaction had ever taken place." Do you read that caveat in newspaper articles?
Meanwhile, the IAEA, an organization that does more than ask people questions, determined that yellowcake was found in scrap metal originating from Iraq. What does Joe Wilson have to say about that?
The Butler Review also found something Joe Wilson apparently missed:
The report indicated that there was enough intelligence to make a “well-founded” judgment that Saddam Hussein was seeking, perhaps as late as 2002, to obtain uranium illegally from Niger and the Democratic Republic of Congo (6.4 para. 499). In particular, referring to a 1999 visit of Iraqi officials to Niger, the report states (6.4 para. 503): “The British government had intelligence from several different sources indicating that this visit was for the purpose of acquiring uranium. Since uranium constitutes almost three-quarters of Niger's exports, the intelligence was credible.” Back to the claim that Bush made a "false claim". Given that we have intelligence and physical evidence that contradict Joe Wilson, as well as a solid foundation for Joe Wilson's motive, what is this "false claim" Bush made based on?
About sums it up. It's just stink.
Further proof the Dims are in meltdown mode.
The Democrats are allies of the terrorists. The Democrats are "The Enemy Within".
You know, I love when this stuff happens becuase it shows how little the government is interested in doing the peoples business - I only wish that I didn't have to pay half my income to these bozo's.
I'm a little late to this discussion - how were they "forced"? - My only thoughts are that the Pubs didn't want to deny a meeting afraid the Rats would point to that as guilt - ?
Sheesh, the Rats are certifiable. They just keep screaming the same things over and over. I hope there is no straitjacket shortage in this country, because we need a big supply. I can't believe this behavior appeals to any normal human being.
Ask a rabid RAT, "who was the first president to attack Iraq over WMD and their nuclear program"?
Answer: Bill Clinton in 1998 siting Intelligence sources.
Can you please provide a working link to this story? Your links lead only to FR, and that's not the source. Thanks.
UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER, NOT NEGOTIATED PEACE.....just like in WWII
Not really. The Libby mess is the only thing they've got going for them, and this has been a really bad week. The momentum has shifted back to the Pubbies and the public has been manifestly uninterested in the Libby/Plame affair. This puts it back in the public eye for awhile, but the Pubbies need to show a little backbone for once and examine ALL the prewar intelligence.....oh, say going back 20 years or so.....with subpoena power. First witness called - Curt Weldon.
Sorry, here's the link:
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/11/01/D8DJT7B80.html
This link should work:
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/11/01/D8DJT7B80.html
Why doesn't Cheney head over there and preside. That would really piss them off. Ha!
Maybe the "Gang of 14" will come to the rescue.
Bump
When I said meltdown mode, I meant that they are running around like chickens with their heads cut off, so to speak. Meltdown mode=panic mode
The RATs plan to do this over and over again which would virtually shut down the senate. It's obstructionism, but it's a likely to fool the weak-minded liberals of the nation.
What a jerk dingy Harry is
Why does the so called Republican-controlled Senate ( with a majority of 55-45 ) allow such things to happen ?
Would such a closed door session have occured under a Clinton administration before 1994 ?
I sometimes wonder if the GOP knows how to handle being in power.
Maybe it has something to do with this, too. Really a bad week for dem Dems.
Breaking
Judge Removed from DeLay Case (Judge Perkins Removed)
they certainly are helping the enemies of the USA!
At last we'll get to find out exactly what JOhn KErry's motivation was for voting for the war before he voted against it.
Then again, maybe not. After all, why is this a closed session? I mean, there's nothing to hide, right? Why the double secret probation, Senator Reid?
UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER
Take no prisoners.
But that doesn't matter because everyone knows that Toon was never going to do anything about it - it being Iraqi belligerence, arms program, genocide etc.
Reid is not likely to have done this without some new information. We have had an unconfirmed report -- I repeat, unconfirmed, not second-sourced or even explained -- that something has been found in Iraq that dispels previous misconceptions. Whatever that means. Stay tuned. Reid has chosen to go ugly early. And there may be lots to come. Stay tuned. Huh? Wonder what that means...
Somebody should remind the dems of the stump speeches kerry and daschle and others were making during the clinton impeachment. We could find out where they were getting their intelligence.
They need to start fighting back! For far too long they have asked our soldiers to fight 24/7 in some of the most hostile territory on earth! - Yet the sit back here in luxury and won't even enter the fight a mere 40 hours a week!! (hell, not even 20 hours...half a work week).
The notion that false premise after false premise keeps being allowed to be set by the MSM (and DEM's) is absurd!! - It is pathetic of this WH and RNC.
Get out there with a full blitz PR campaign, in a systematic way which floods the American people with our successes and reestablishes ALL the reasons we needed to move on Iraq.
Tell how since Sept 11th we have inflicted one strategic defeat after another on our enemies while not suffering one ourselves.
The PR teams for the WH and RNC have been utterly pathetic. Our soldiers deserve more from them. Much more.
Thanks for the link. I've fixed it.
This is getting nasty.
How come Reid gets to "go nuclear" and the GOP can't?
Excuse me, but did not the Senate already investigate this?
> How come Reid gets to "go nuclear" and the GOP can't?
Oh, but we can and this sorta crap just makes our case for us.
"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line." - President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998
"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction program." - President Bill Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998
"We must stop Saddam from ever again jeopardizing the stability and security of his neighbors with weapons of mass destruction." - Madeline Albright, Feb 1, 1998
"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983." - Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998
"[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions ( including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites ) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq’s refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs." Letter to President Clinton. - ( D ) Senators Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, others, Oct. 9, 1998
"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process." - Rep. Nancy Pelosi ( D, CA ) , Dec. 16, 1998
"Hussein has … chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies." - Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999
"We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandate of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and th! e means of delivering them." - Sen. Carl Levin ( D, MI ) , Sept. 19, 2002
"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country." - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
"Iraq’s search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power." - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction." - Sen. Ted Kennedy ( D, MA ) , Sept. 27, 2002
"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons…" - Sen. Robert Byrd ( D, WV ) , Oct. 3, 2002
"I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force — if necessary — to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security." - Sen. John F. Kerry ( D, MA ) , Oct. 9, 2002
"There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years … We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction." - Sen. Jay Rockefeller ( D, WV ) , Oct 10, 2002
"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members … It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons." - Sen. Hillary Clinton ( D, NY ) , Oct 10, 2002
"We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction." - Sen. Bob Graham ( D, FL ) , Dec. 8, 2002
"Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime … He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation … And now he is miscalculating America’s response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction … So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real…" - Sen. John F. Kerry ( D,
The Democrats are practicing the big lie. The war was not solely about WMD, but most believed this was a problem before Sadaam was toppled.
This is their attempt to steal President Bush's nomination-thunder and put the pressure back on the administration. The Dims didn't get the Rove indictment that they wanted and things are looking way too rosey at 1600 Pennsylvania for their liking.
It'll backfire on them - it always does.
It was all triggered by the very Un-Merry Fitzmas last week.
The Dems have been putting out false claims and bogus scandals like this for the last five years and all they have gotten in return are election losses.
The congressional Resource Service says "any Member of Congress may request a secret session." I'm with you. I don't understand either. Can't a request be denied? Who granted the request?
Parlor tricks, stupid stunts, and lies...are all the Dumbocrat Party has these days.
Harry Ried needs to be exiled to his beloved Cuba or North Korea.
From Powerline:
"Bless the Dems
The Democrats have forced the Senate into a closed session, demanding answers about the pre-war intelligence on Iraqi WMD. Minority leader Reid used the Libby indictment as a pretext for this meaningless stunt. Presumably, Reid needed a closed door session to prevent the public from witnessing the spectacle of Democrats making fools out of themselves trying to explain the connection between that indictment and pre-war intelligence on Iraq.
The Democrats must feel that they are losing momentum now that the Republicans have their act together on the Supreme Court, and Fitzgerald did not indict Rove. That the Dems see throwing a temper tantrum as a way to regain momentum, rather than as reminder to the public that they are unfit to govern, speaks volumes. "
http://powerlineblog.com/archives/012121.php
I had to translate this from weasel to English:
" Since our ploy --indictments and a manufactured crisis-- failed miserably, we'll still try to make a show of it and make it seem like something more is going on. "
The Dems have chosen to declare open war on the Republicans and America. Sitting square in the middle of the greatest war in recent American history, they are resorting to petty partisan politics in the dirty fashion to which they have become accustomed, to undermine the war effort and the administration seeking to carry it successfully through to conclusion.
They are planning to block a Supreme Court nominee solely on his judicial philosophy - a thing the Repubs have never done - not even in the case of such egregiously partisan and biased nominees like Bader-Ginsburg and Breyer.
They are trying to fan the Valerie Plume non-event into a national crisis.
They are trying to indicte a man who had made contradictory statements about a matter of no real consequence in a case which involved a non-crime in an attempt to discredit the administration.
They are trying to indicte the Senate Majority Leader on the basis of frivilous matter.
These events are not unconnected.
Their ultimate goal is to stage a repitition of the shameful "Putsch" they created during the Nixon Administration.
Now is the time for all conservatives and Republicans to close ranks - close ranks around Bush, around Cheney, around De Lay, around Libby, and around Alito.
No compromise, no dealing, no stepping back one step or giving one inch.
If the Dems want all-out war, we should give them.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.