Hagel's criticism
Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel is strongly criticizing Congress, saying it gave President Bush too much latitude in conducting foreign policy after the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Mr. Hagel, of Nebraska, voiced his disapproval Monday in a speech at the Gallup Organization World Conference in Omaha, the Associated Press reported.
"When the security of this nation is threatened, Congress and the American people give the president great latitude," he said. "We probably have given this president more flexibility, more latitude, more range, unquestioned, than any president since Franklin Roosevelt — probably too much. The Congress, in my opinion, really abrogated much of its responsibility."
Mr. Hagel, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, voted last year to give the president the authority to attack Iraq, but has frequently criticized Mr. Bush's execution of the war. He has been especially critical of the lack of allies and U.N. support.