Vice President Dick Cheney exerted "constant" pressure on Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., then-chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, to delay a report on the White House’s alleged misuse of intelligence to justify the invasion of Iraq, claims the new chairman, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va.
Staff members of Cheney and Roberts are denying Rockefeller’s account. Roberts’ people blamed the delays on Democrats who kept expanding the scope of the investigation. The vice president’s spokeswoman called Roberts a "good chairman" of the committee.
But does "good" for Cheney in this case mean "compliant"?
And given what we know about Cheney’s hardball politics, is it that hard to imagine him pressuring Roberts? The bottom line: The country never got the promised and long-delayed report during Roberts’ watch.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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84 Comments
From another blog, a take on the above issue:
http://blogs.dailymail.com/donsurber/2007/01/26/mcclatchy-reporter-should-have-questioned-jays-intelligence/
No warranties, express or implied.
I know nothing beyond the “news” regarding this, and have an open mind on the subject.
I am very curious why Roberts left the Intelligence committee after so many years on it. It strikes me as odd behavior.
Pat is my boy1 Sam may have a brown back but Pat has a brown nose!
Irrespective of whether there was pressure from the VP, the Intelligence Committee should finish its work on the Phase II investigation and make its report.
RE” ” Staff members of Cheney and Roberts are denying Rockefeller’s account. Roberts’ people blamed the delays on Democrats who kept expanding the scope of the investigation.”
If Roberts was the Committee Chairman and of the majority party, how could the Democrats accomplish this scope expansion?
Didn’t he control the areas of, and actions regarding, the investigations?
gster, it would seem so; however, unstated in the quote you post is whether the Democrats had any cooperation from Republican members of the committee.
Vaughn Tolle- A good point.
I guess I would presume that the majority party members would be in lockstep behind the administration.
Maybe not.
gster, not if being lockstep with the Administration would endanger their reelection chances; or, if being lockstep with the Administration runs contrary to what they perceive from the hearings, etc. to be the “truth”, whatever that may be. BTW, if I was a bettor, the first alternative is where my money would be.
Ah yes, the survival factor, the Prime Directive!
VT – and now with their defeats in 2006 many Republicans just might find that falling in lockstep behind the same failed course might not be good for their re-election.
…”Our collection agencies are often unable to gather intelligence on the very things we care the most about,” the commission wrote.”…http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/31/national/main684202.shtml…
Everybody’s worried about stopping terrorism.Well, there’s a really easy way:stop participating in it.~Noam Chomsky
What an immense mass of evil must result…from allowing men to assume the right of anticipating what may happen.~Leo Tolstoy
Amazing!
In 2003 an internal memorandum for the democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee layed out the plans to use that committee to damage the president and his policies. After the paln was discovered they complained about revealing a confidntial memo!
Then they still follow that plan to use the committee for partisan political means for the next three years! How can you believe anything that Jay Rockafeller ever says again?
Really people.
Hank
Linkie please?
Hank- If the situation was reversed, do you think the Repulicans would do or be any different?
Different parties- same smell??
“And given what we know about Cheney’s hardball politics, is it that hard to imagine him pressuring Roberts?”
Sounds like your imagination is all you have on this one. The staffs of Cheney and Roberts deny it and only Rockefeller says it’s true.Damn Libs!
Would someone talk about Kirtina victims and what’s being done there.
Who is Kirtina?
Dear Rick,
Last I heard, Houston was trying to figure out how to get them to go home!
Hank
gster,
Of course I would expect the republicans to act diferently! There is no evidence to the contrary either.
It is an interesting question you ask, though. It allows you to completely sidestep the traitorous conduct of the democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Hank
We The People of the USA are the power in this Country. Why don’t we stop focusing on Iragi,Iran,N.Korea and start focusing on our own people here at home. We don’t have money for our own kids school, health, books,etc..Yet we can spend Billions of Dollars blowing up another Country and turn around and spend billions to fix it up. We can stop all the non-sense by not spending our money, that will make all these so call powerful and Corp. stop and do as We The People Want.
Hank- You’re certainly entitled to your opinion.. now take your tongue out of your cheek!
LOL
“When I was little, I always wanted to grow up and be somebody. I realize now I should have been more specific.”
Lilly Tomlin
It’s more than my opinion, it is a fact that the democrats had a straegy to use their position on the Intelligence Committee for political gain. It is a fact that they then used that strategy. Now that they are in power it is a fact that they are still using their position to damage the president and his policies.
There is no evidence that the republicans are doing or have done the same.
I still love ya though,
Hank
How about a link, Hank?
Dick Cheney is a bad person. Titles do not make the man.George Bush is still unprepared to lead. Titles do not make the man and neither do his lackies.
Hank doesn’t have a link because you can’t link to what Rush says on his radio show.
At least I haven’t figured out a way to do it.
If anybody knows how to search his archives, that would be a tremendous boon to stopping the right-wing noise machine.
Hank doesn’t have a link because you can’t link to what Rush says on his radio show.
At least I haven’t figured out a way to do it.
If anybody knows how to search his archives, that would be a tremendous boon to stopping the right-wing noise machine.
Even assuming that what Hank writes is true (a mighty big assumption given his track record, I agree), that still doesn’t explain why Roberts didn’t get a report out when he was supposed to.
Remember how coy Old Rubberstamp was when asked about rumors he was leaving the Intelligence Committee.
No comment, no comment, no comment, then “oh did you hear, I’m on a new committee?”
Might be a good time for Old Rubberstamp to start spending more time with his family.
Like everybody else that aided and abetted Worst President Ever, his reputation will be forever consigned to the dustbin of history.
Here’s the link:
http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2003_cr/s110503.html
As long as some people are imagining (Scholfield), we can imagine that the Dems are doing a fine job of carrying out the mission of this memo by undermining our efforts in Iraq.We can imagine it, because that is what they are doing.
“…came into possession of a two-page memorandumthat details a systematic way in which the other side of the aisleintends to undermine and attack the President of the United States onthe intelligence information not only leading up to the conflict inIraq, but also moving beyond that, into the policy area–again, tryingto undermine the policy of the President of the United States withrespect to the conflict in Iraq.”…
Read the entire transcript, Fleet, it only proves that the Democrats wanted a full investigation into pre-war intelligence v. the administrations pre-war statements.
In other words, why did the administration us the “mushroom cloud” argument, when they knew full well that Iraw had not purchased uranium from Niger?
And that is still a question that needs to be answered by Bush, Cheney and Rice.
Yeah, I read it too, Clark.
It basically says the president was not honest in using intelligence and he should be held accountable for that (GASP!).
That’s the whole issue, isn’t it?
And it explains why Old Rubberstamp made sure to stonewall the process as long as he could . . .
from fleetwood’s link:
“Yet, we have an important role to play in revealing themisleading, if not flagrantly dishonest, methods andmotives of the senior administration officials who madethe case for a unilaterally preemptive war.
We want to know whether the administration put pressure onthe agencies to come up with certain kinds of information.It’s a question that’s been explored at great length inBritain. If the Republican leadership of the SenateIntelligence Committee is determined to protect theadministration at any cost, we’ll do the investigative job onour own.”
Sounds to me like they were just trying to do their job. A job Roberts refused to do.
the other side of the aisleintends to undermine and attack the President of the United States
Hank was correct all along.Say, “I’m sorry, sweet Hank”
Even assuming that what Hank writes is true (a mighty big assumption given his track record, I agree),
It’s called “begging the question,” FlaccidWood.
The committee that investigates a clear intelligence FAILURE cannot assume that the President has no fault for that failure.
It wouldn’t be an investigation, would it?
And Roberts made sure it wasn’t . . .
Sorry, Fleet, but the man is the president of the United States, not King George II of America.
He is only one of many people elected (?) to represent us in Washington. He is not divine. He is not royalty. He is not above question or reproach.
The collective citizenry of the United States are his boss. He is not our ruler. He answers to us and it would be great if he were to start giving us some answers.
Hank doesn’t have a link because you can’t link to what Rush says on his radio show.
Yup, the Republicans did present something that they claimed was a Democratic memo that they concluded was a political attack.
I’ll agree that Hank was right about that, as far as it goes.
The thing you have to remember about Hank, Hotwood, is that he sincerely believes that the entire universe is less than 10 thousand years old.
Hard to take anything the man says seriously given that level of self-deception.
He is not divine. He is not royalty. He is not above question or reproach.
He’s not a lot of things, but he is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. You had your chance to fire the boss in ‘04, but you blew it.
If you people had any balls at all, you would have your Lib leaders get us out tomorrow, but you don’t and you won’t. It’s all about helping Bush fail, America be damned.
Actually, any idiot with half a brain can GOOGLE up the democrat’s memorandum.
GOOGLE it, read it, then tell me the traitors were ‘…only trying to do their job.’
Their intent was clear. Use the war in Iraq for partisan political gain.
Hank
Is that all you got, capn?Bush believes in the 10,000 yo universe, so everything else he does is worthless?I happen to think a 10,000 yo universe is ridiculous, but I wouldn’t throw it out as an argument against someone. That would be too weak.
“If you people had any balls at all, you would have your Lib leaders get us out tomorrow, but you don’t and you won’t.”
Now you sound like Pat Buchanan or Ed Rogers, Fleet.
You folks would scream that the Dems put American troops in harm’s way if they defunded the war and you scream that we don’t.
Nice try.
And by the way, the constitution made the president CIC, but that did not give him unlimited powers. The military, by design, is under civilian direction.
He is CIC – not god – he answers to us and this “us” wants some answers.
Well then Hank, use the Google and give us the link.
…”They talk about preparing additional views. And they say:
Among other things, we will castigate the majority forseeking to limit the scope of the inquiry….”
“Roberts’ people blamed the delays on Democrats who kept expanding the scope of the investigation.”
Looks like Roberts’ people are right on this one. The Dems followed the memo, got it dragged out, then blamed, blamed, blamed.That’s all they got.Damn, Libs!
ws-If the American people really wanted what the folks on this blog seem to want (get out now), Pelosi, Reid and the rest of Lib World, would be taking steps to make that happen. But they aren’t. If you answer why they aren’t, then you will know that it would be political suicide. If you answer why it would be political suicide, then you would have another answer.
Hank,
“After the paln was discovered they complained about revealing a confidntial memo!”
Actually, it seems they also complained about the Republicans STEALING it from the Dems Senate Intelligence Committee office.And… all information that is in the Intelligence Committee IS supposed to remain secret.
fleet,
“the other side of the aisleintends to undermine and attack the President of the United States”
If he did nothing wrong, they will fail.
Unless the Libs leak to the NY Times, then it’s being a good American.
There is a difference between Undermine and being honest opposition with honest differences.
Fleet and Hank……..
Even the most die hard Bush supporter has to admit that the War on Iraq has been a disaster and continues to be a drain of lives and treasure.
The Republicans can try to blame the Democrats. The Republicans can try to question the patriotism of the left.
Bush can even complain that those in opposition have “no plan” even though there have been a number of plans circulated including the ISG report and suggestions of pulling back, out side of Baghdad.
In the final analysis, it is hypocritical to suggest that the Democrats are the ones that need to defund the troops or provide a solution to the problem. There are over two hundred Republican Congressmen and forty nine Republican Senators.
So far, only one has come forward with a plan – Chuck Hagel, Vietnam war veteran and Republican from Nebraska.
So I ask you, Fleet and Hank, where are the Republicans on this one? Only McCain has come out for a “surge” and then he claims that it will take fifty thousand additional troops.
So where are the Republican answers?
Bush has a plan and he is putting it into action. Was Hagle a vet? You wouldn’t know it, except for everytime his name is mentioned.Also, I thought you people were now in power and we people were suppose to just shut up and get over it.Nice dodge, ws, but no deal.
“If you answer why it would be political suicide, then you would have another answer.”
Afraid to face it?
“Bush has a plan and he is putting it into action.” – fleettwood
Yea, more of the same old same old. Operation Forward Together all over again.I hope it will work but agree with Hagel and others that it will likely fail. It will only drag us deeper into the quagmire that Buse deliberately created.
Remember, this whole operation was only to take “months not years”
Repost……..
“So I ask you, Fleet and Hank, where are the Republicans on this one? Only McCain has come out for a “surge” and then he claims that it will take fifty thousand additional troops.”
Where are the Republican answers, Fleet? Only Hagel and McCain have stepped up, before or after the election.
The Dems have offered solutions.
Where are the Republican answers?
To assume that all Republicans are behind Bush is foolish – they would not step forward when offered the chance by McConnell (sp) from Kentucky when offered the chance.
So, where are the ‘Pugs on this issue?
fleet,
In other words, you don’t have enough confidence in Bush to allow the Intelligence Committee to do a complete, thorough investigation. That’s a sad attitude.
Operation Together Forward: “Result Insurgent victory(Coalition operations are unsuccessful in securing Baghdad)”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Forward_Together
ws-It seems that you have missed the whole point of my 5:09 & 5:22 posts. You keep asking for the Republican answer and all I can say is Bush has put one forward and is acting on it. Go ahead and disagree with the plan, but that is the plan you keep asking me to provide. That makes you a dope.Once again, you people own the House and Senate. Stop acting like you are impotent. Pelosi and Reid are not doing what you want. Your anger should be directed at them. Another question would be, “Why isn’t your anger directed at the ones in power who could do something about it?”
The more interesting question would be, “Why aren’t they doing something?”
The Democrats are intelligent enough to know that they cannot do anything about the number of troops that Bush puts in Iraq. Both Bush and Cheney have already stated that the opposition CANNOT do anything to stop them. The funds have already been appropriated – it is up to Bush et al to decide how the dollars are spent. The Congress cannot stop Bush from transferring 21,500 troops from Japan or Germany to Iraq.
You know that, Fleet. You are beating an dead horse and you know it. To prevent Bush from send 21.5K to Iraq would require them to impeach and remove the president.
Remember – the funds have already been appropriated – Congress cannot address the issue directly until a new appropriations bill is presented.
Nice try, Fleet, but as usual, no cigar.
ws-So, you are saying that the Dems can do nothing. Nothing, about the most important issue facing this country. Nothing?
That is not true and if you know it, that is a lie.If you don’t know it, then you are a dope.
Are your people in Washington, shall we say, limp?
“That is not true and if you know it, that is a lie.”
Well, Fleet, instead of throwing insults at me, tell me how the Democrats in Congress can cut off funding that has already been appropriated?
You know, I know and everyone else knows that once the funds have been appropriated, Congress CANNOT do anything about it.
If you need a cigar, Fleet, you’re going to have to buy one – your debate points will not earn one for you.
ws-I was not trying to insult you. I was thinking that option #2 (you are a dope) was the answer, and that’s not an insult. It’s more of a “throw away”. I wasn’t thinking that you are a liar.
I’m not talking about funding. Surely, Shirley, you must know of all the other things your people could do, but they choose not to.
Please see above posts regarding “why don’t they do something?”
“Please see above posts regarding “why don’t they do something?”"
And short of impeachment and removal from office, WHAT do you think that Democrats could do?
I have already explained that the funds have been appropriated. So just what is it that you think Democrats and anti-surge Republicans could do?
“If you think this war is murder, act like it”
Do you ever answer direct questions, Fleet, or do you just try to deflect them when you have made a mistake?
The comments on this thread are reminding me of this cartoon – _The King of Oppositeland_:
http://www.markfiore.com/animation/land.html
Looks like you and I are in this alone.If you think Pelosi and Reid are doing everything they can to get the troops home “tomorrow”, it’s not my deal to opine. That’s not my job.
I just think that they could be doing more.If it were the Repubs in a similar situation, I would be saying the same thing.
“If you think this war is murder, act like it”.
Thank you, Fleet, I am certainly glad that I am not wearing my good shoes tonight.
This one also seems appropriate:
http://www.markfiore.com/animation/resolution.html
BDP fleetie.
You dumb slob. You never learn.
Your link busts your own arguement. That is why Hank did not provide it. He is deceptive enough to just pull from it what he needs and hope nobody catches him.
BUT ol Hank still does not know how NOT to get caught in blatant hypocrisy.
“Their intent was clear. Use the war in Iraq for partisan political gain.”
Um Hank?
I would argue that that is EXACTLY what bush and his handlers had in mind when they started the war in the first place.
BDP fleetie. You dumb slob. You never learn. Your link busts your own arguement. That is why Hank did not provide it. He is deceptive enough to just pull from it what he needs and hope nobody catches him. BUT ol Hank still does not know how NOT to get caught in blatant hypocrisy. “Their intent was clear. Use the war in Iraq for partisan political gain.” Um Hank? I would argue that that is EXACTLY what bush and his handlers had in mind when they started the war in the first place.
First things first.davis-LTMQGreat link!
jr-My young friend. Your posts is just a tad confused. You use many words. I suspect you didn’t see where the Libs plot to use the war for political gain.
Oh, go ahead and use the “why did we go to war in the first place?”It’s so very 2002. Live in the now, my young brother.
“It’s so very 2002. Live in the now, my young brother.”
Fleet, tell the 3,067 American soldiers that have died for Bush’ failed policies that they should live in the now.
First things first.davis-LTMQ
What does LTMQ mean?
Bush used 9/11 to get the chumps to let him have his war and Rove’s great political plan was to capitalize on peoples fears of terrorism. Now the republicans on this thread are whining about dems. looking for political gain in holding their great deceiver responsible for his lies.
Roberts sold out the American people with his lies and cover ups. He should try to regain any honor he has an resign like Colin Powell did.
Capn,
Last I checked, you have to become a member on Rush’s website to be able to read the archives.
Now, I’m not sure if you’re required to sign an oath of allegiance like the one Bush has to get into any of his speeches or appearances. You’d have to try becoming a member to find out.
Or ask Hank. ;)
Obviously Fleetwood doesnt know the logistics of govt.
Congress has no control over specific war plans. They may offer suggestions but it is ultimately up to the Executive branch to conduct the war. Ala Secretary of defense, Generals, etc.
There HAVE BEEN PLANS brought forth by many Dems and Repubs in Congress. You only choose to imply that Dems have No plan because it pads your feelings when protecing ol W.
You my friend need to wake-up or you will be the first sheep sacrificed.!!!!!
“Mission Accomplished”? Well, have we? Put that in your pipe and smoke it along with your crack, Pachyderms!
Staying with the thread – why would we now believe JayR when we know about his and the democrats planned sneak attack in the past. They won the election and now can dump the dirty trick and get down to business if they have any idea what they intend to do. When you stop throwing mud it’s a little hard to do something constructive. Just calling the present administration names won’t cut it anymore.
“Fox News obtained a document believed to have been written by the Democratic staff of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (search) that outlines a strategy for exposing what it calls “the administration’s dubious motives” in the lead-up to the war in Iraq.
The memo, provided late Tuesday by a committee source, discusses the timing of a possible investigation into prewar Iraq intelligence in such a way that it could bring maximum embarrassment to Bush. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W. Va., (search) ranking member on the panel, acknowledged it was written in draft form and not meant for distribution.”
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,102265,00.html
ksgrm……….why would you even bother to post a link to fauxnews? If you are going to bash the Dems, at least have a credible source.
Yep,
Gotta be a premium member to get in the archives. I’ll look it up for ya, or you can ask Junior. He gets to listen to Rush all the time and he can make up any ‘facts’ you need!
Hank
See?
Ol Hank did it again.
He did not address the fact that bush and handlers used the war for a political agenda BEFORE democrats may or may not have.Oh no. The Democrats are the bad guys for trying to find out and expose how bush lied us into war. We wouldn’t want to learn anything and maybe avoid that in the furture would we. War being so profitable and all.
Oh and germie? I really could not care less WHAT you believe. YOU know, since you’ll just sell out those beliefs as soon as it profits you to do so? Former democrat sell out.
Gore won in 2000. Really. The nation lost in 2000.
You know what’s funny?
A guy that makes a quarter BILLION dollars a year (Limpballs) selling his pearls of wisdumb to toothless xenophobes who think they’re going to be millionaires someday if they can just get the liberals out of office.
As far as FlaccidWood’s questions, “is that all you got, capn? Bush believes in the 10,000 yo universe, so everything else he does is worthless?” — the answers are “no, it’s not all I’ve got” and “yes, if Bush believes that, then he is completely untrustworthy because of his decision to disregard reason and the scientific method for a heretical religious belief system.”
If some other religion besides fundamentalist Christian denied basic scientific fact like that, FlaccidWood and the America first-ers would not be able to stop the sneering and the scorn at such a benighted “religion” with its “dark ages” mentality.
But when it’s Bush’s religion, then it’s fine.