Posted on 08/02/2006 5:16:30 PM PDT by blam
Rumsfeld Snub of War Hearing Draws Fire
Thursday August 3, 2006 12:46 AM
By LOLITA C. BALDOR
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said he essentially was too busy to testify at a public hearing on the Iraq war, raising a new furor on Capitol Hill over the three-year-old conflict.
Speaking to Pentagon reporters Wednesday, Rumsfeld said he thought it was enough for him to attend a private briefing with the entire Senate on Thursday. Citing his crowded calendar, he declined the Senate Armed Services Committee's request to testify publicly on Thursday morning.
Rumsfeld's decision drew protests from committee Democrats who said much had changed in the six months since he last testified and took questions from the committee. The request for his appearance came from the committee chairman, Sen. John Warner, R-Va., and the top Democrat, Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan.
Rumsfeld suggested that complaints about his decision could be politically motivated.
``Let's be honest: Politics enters into these things, and maybe the person raising the question is interested in that,'' said Rumsfeld, without identifying anyone. The defense secretary said he had testified in the past and was not reluctant to face off against some of the committee's more vocal war critics, including Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass.
``America is in deep trouble in Iraq, yet Secretary Rumsfeld refuses to explain and defend his policies in full public view tomorrow,'' Kennedy said.
``Avoiding a congressional hearing may take the sting out of the process for Secretary Rumsfeld, but it does nothing to reassure the American people or our men and women in uniform that we have a viable policy in Iraq,'' he said.
Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., wrote Rumsfeld on Wednesday, urging him to change his mind.
``The American people should hear...
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
They actually love this! It gives them more ways to undermine the war and our security for politics! IMPEACH them all!
One other person was in deep trouble, eh, teddyboy!
Watch Rummy show up unannounced and say, " Ok, you wanted me
here I am." The sputtering and backtracking would be hilarious.
The Senators are ALWAYS in a bunch about something. As are the Muzzies. Hmmmm.
He could just send a cardboard cut out of him. They do not let him talk anyway.
Good for you.
That's exactly what this is about. They would taunt him and hope he makes a mistake or says something untoward that would make the 'news.'
ROFL! I love Rumsfeld. He just knows how to get the MSM/Dems' spincter muscles snapping away like turtles... lol.
HELLO!?!? CONGRESS??????? ^There's a war on, Mr. Secretary doesn't really have time for your "ahem, hearings".
LOL. Drawing fire. The Dems're shooting blanks.
If Rumsfeld didn't want to get questioned by Senators, he shouldn't have gone into politics. I want a Defense Secretary who RELISHES putting these idiot Democrats in their place. Not one who lets the media paint them as scared of the big bad Democrats. If he really is too busy, he should say what it is that is more important than listening to Hillary Clinton whine.
i rather have a def sec who sh-ts on Hillary and fat ted
OMG - I had a mouth full of pumpkin seeds and almost choked! As an artist - a 'visual' person - this invokes a scene I hope to never see
LOL
All of a sudden, it seem there isn't many places on earth that terrorists haven't attacked and murdered innocents. Yes, terrorism threatens the lives of our children, country, freedom and patriotism, but the media have sold their souls and think they are immune to the corruption perpetrated on everyone ELSE. They've definitely got a corrupt agenda when defending any terrorists or their organization.
I'd like to think most Americans are loyal to those who sacrifice their lives defending our freedom. If that's not the case, I don't want to know it. And if I ever think otherwise, that's the day I want to die.
demkicker
Commies such as Kennedy and Clinton always enjoy putting on show trials. It's in their blood. A "public hearing" to rehash what they have already been briefed on in private in order to garner some televised sound bites serves no legitimate public purpose. Throughout history, courageous people have refused to play along with Commie inquisitors at their show trials and before their kangaroo courts. Bravo to Rumsfeld for standing up to these twits.
He's gonna make them sorry when he does show up for thier silly public hearings.
I am really tired of the MSM and dem political grandstanding.
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