Frist Denounces Memo on Senate Iraq Probe

Associated Press ^ | 7 Nov 03 | KEN GUGGENHEIM

[Laverne]

The Senate's top Republican sharply accused Democrats Friday of undermining the Senate Intelligence Committee in their zeal to score political points against President Bush.

Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee also suggested that an escalating partisan fight over the committee's inquiry into prewar intelligence could prompt the panel to finish its investigation more quickly than had been anticipated.

Frist was the latest Republican to denounce a Democratic memo leaked this week that outlines a strategy for exposing contradictions between intelligence reports and Bush's claims about Iraqi weapons programs.

The memo suggested that Democrats "pull the majority along as far as we can" on issues leading to major new disclosures and said that the best time to "pull the trigger" on launching an independent investigation would probably be next year. Republicans note that would time it for the presidential election.

Frist, in a floor speech, said the plan would "so politicize the Intelligence Committee as to render it incapable of meeting its responsibilities to the United States Senate and to the American people."

He said "those responsible for this memo appear to be more focused on winning the White House than they are on winning the war against terror."

Frist said the staff member who wrote the memo should be identified and Democrats should renounce the document and apologize to the committee's chairman, Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas.

The panel's top Democrat, Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, has said that the document was written by a staff member but never circulated among senators and had apparently been stolen. He has not renounced the document though, saying it reflected frustration over the Republicans' refusal to examine whether the administration manipulated prewar intelligence.

The Senate's No. 2 Democrat, Harry Reid of Nevada, said: "It wouldn't have been made public but for the majority."

"And doesn't the minority have a right to, in the secret confines of the Intelligence Committee rooms, have pieces of paper there that aren't going to be pilfered by the majority?" he said.

The committee inquiry is examining the accuracy of intelligence on former leader Saddam Hussein's weapons programs and his ties to terrorists, the issues that served as Bush's main argument for war.

Frist's comments suggested that the committee will speed up the work in light of the Democratic memo. On Tuesday, Roberts said it would be difficult to complete an interim report before the Senate adjourns late this month or in December. He said he didn't know if a draft report could be circulated among committee members before they return in January.

But Frist said Friday he and Roberts determined that the review will be finished this year.

"There will be no more pulling along and no more useful collaboration on partisan schemes," he said, alluding to language in the memo.

A past Democratic leader on the committee, former Sen. Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, said Frist's comments risk escalating divisions on a panel that has been traditionally nonpartisan. He said Frist and the Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota "should get together and they should calm this thing down." He said it is up to the leadership to protect the committee from political pressures.

"Only Frist and Daschle can calm the waters," he said.

[Laverne]

Sure hope I did this right; its been forever since I posted an article! Hadn't seen this one posted yet.

[Ben Hecks]

Looks good to me. Glad you posted it, I missed this afternoon's Senate action and was hoping that there would be a thread on FR.

[cardinal4]

Looks like Frist woke up.......finally.

[not-alone]

Good job , They left out that he also said if anyone directed a staff menber they should be identified also.
I thought he sounded more upset this evening esp. after Dashle whinned about nasty people going in their garbage.

[Judith Anne]

We used an existing thread, I'll see if I can get you a link to where the action starts...

[Laverne]

I missed the action on the senate floor today myself (work, you know). But I'm sick and tired of the liberal spin on this that we ransacked their computers/trashcans to get this memo. I called my junior senator (Nelson, FL) today and asked what his position was on the Rockerfella memo; I was told he didn't support leaking from the intel committee. I told him I supported that concept as well, but that Nelson needs to take to the Senate floor to denounce the contents of the memo, not that it was leaked. I won't hold my breath though.

[Judith Anne]

Here you go. CSPAN starts around post 50, or maybe a little earlier:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1016997/posts?page=83#83

[jmstein7]

BUMP!

[Judith Anne]

Good for you! That's exactly the kind of pressure that is needed. ;-D

[demkicker]

Looks like Frist woke up.......finally.

I heard he got a partial backbone transplant. He's been on the waiting list for several months now....

[Southack]

You can tell that the Leftists are nervous about this memo simply by the way that ABC, CBS, NBC, and NPR are trying to ignore it.

[Keith in Iowa]

>>I heard he got a partial backbone transplant.

What he really needs is to get his stones back, and show some testicular fortitude in dealing with these DemonRats.

[Judith Anne]

The Dem spin from Sen. Reid (D) is that the memo was STOLEN by Republicans. They're saying it's like watergate. Pure BS. Somebody GAVE that memo to Sean Hannity, and I'm betting it was a staffer; I'm also with Sen. Kit Bond, (Mo, R) that this memo came from the very highest reaches of the Dem party, and by that I think he means McAuliffe-Billary.

[demkicker]

Not seeking an early demise, I'll not be holding my breath.

[livius]

Thanks, looks just fine!

I hope Frist gets some news coverage. One of the problems is that he has been so low profile that most people probably don't even know who he is or why his statement is significant.

[Laverne]

Ain't that the truth! I was surfing around on my TV this afternoon, and I saw Judy talking about this on CNN. Her spin, was the memo stated how frusted the democrats were that the White House has been stonewalling the intel committee! I nearly gaged; then I just laughed and realized that the liberal media is in full spin mode. Notice how they didn't report this right away; they had to wait til they got their talking points from Terry/Bill/Hill. And now they are in full CYA mode. We can't let this one get away from us; at some point even CNN will have to fess up to the actual contents of the memo. Keep the heat on; don't let up!

[Walkingfeather]

I hope all mealy mouth repubs... Frist, Lott, Hatch, McCaine( is you can call him a repub) GET THE F*CKING PICTURE VIVIDLY NOW!

[jmstein7]

Calm the waters? Let's remember who is at fault here. This is Ann Coulter's "both sides" point; when Dems are at fault, it's "both sides", the press will report.

But, it doesn't matter; we have to keep driving this story home. People "get it".

The Dems better start playing ball, or they will be punished.

[Hill-William]

"What he really needs is to get his stones back, and show some testicular fortitude in dealing with these DemonRats."

Ah, would "Amen" be appropriate in this context? If so, Amen.

[Laserman]

Folks need to pressure Hatch too. He can put pressure on Roberts to take more forceful action- like getting Rockefeller replaced on the committee!