Posted on 11/15/2005 5:30:40 AM PST by infoguy
Did Democratic Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia tip off our enemies in the Middle East in early 2002 that President Bush was readying to invade Iraq?
Bill Bennett, in a new article at National Review Online, is questioning a possible "prewar intelligence giveaway" in light of remarks that Sen. Rockefeller made to Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday on November 13, 2005. In responding to a question that Sen. Rockefeller himself "hyped" intelligence, here's what the vice chairman of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence told Wallace (emphasis mine):
ROCKEFELLER: ... I took a trip by myself in January of 2002 to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria, and I told each of the heads of state that it was my view that George Bush had already made up his mind to go to war against Iraq — that that was a predetermined set course which had taken shape shortly after 9/11.
Bennett's response includes:
"Syria is not only on the list of state sponsors of terrorism and the country many speculate is where Hussein has secreted weapons, it is also the country from which terrorists are flowing into Iraq to fight our troops and allies. Jordan and Saudi Arabia have had, over the years, conflicted loyalties. What was Senator Rockefeller doing? What was he thinking? And all this before President Bush even made a public speech about Iraq — to the U.N. or anyone else."
The issue of prohibited items going to Syria before the 2003 invasion is a debated one, but David Kay, former head of the Iraq Survey Group, told the London Telegraph in January 2004 that he uncovered evidence that some WMD components may have been shipped to Syria before the attack. In addition, Charles Duelfer told the Senate Armed Services Committee in October 2004 that he could not rule out that items may have been sent to Syria. "A lot of materials left Iraq and went to Syria," Duelfer said.
Bennett concludes his piece by hitting the nail on the head (emphasis mine):
"If Syria — or elements in Saudi Arabia — began acting on this information before we even went to war in Iraq (more than a year later), then Senator Rockefeller may have seriously harmed, impeded, and hindered our war efforts, our troops, and the entire operation in the Middle East. This should be investigated immediately; and perhaps Senator Rockefeller should step down from the Intelligence Committee until an investigation is complete."
In light of the heavy spotlight on the Valerie Plame/Joe Wilson episode, one can only imagine the "uproar" in the MSM if a pro-Iraq war Republican had done and said anything like Rockefeller did. I can already visualize the Larry King-Howard Dean interview.
Stay tuned?
And then they chastize Bush because we didn't have more UN support, a bigger coalition for the war. Well from the dept of DUH! Here's a traitor working behind the scenes saying "The President has already made up his mind, so we don't need you."
It's long overdue to stop his treasonous behavior.
If he'd done this in WW2 they would have rightfully stood him against a wall. Now the press is afraid to even repeat his admission.
I know, I can dream.
All the MSM is trying to bring Bush down so they pay no attention to things like that. Fox news on Sunday running that global warming BS made me angry and disgusted that they would put on that junk science crap.
The media is the outrage.
I'm glad someone has picked up on this. When I heard Rockefeller, I just about fell over. He was too dumb not to say what he did, and then too dumb to even realise he'd tipped his hand. We can survive I suppose stupid Senators, but stupid rogue Senators can be very detrimental to our national welfare. I sure hope this story gets some traction. (not holding my breath tho.)
A much more likely scenario is that blowhard Rockefeller said nothing of the sort in Syria or anywhere else -- he was just puffed up on Fox News Sunday and running his mouth off, as usual.
Unconscionable!!
The mind reels that a senator, much less one on the Senate Itelligence Committee, would engage in this type of conduct.
Every time I think these vermin can't shock me any more than they have, they come up with a new and more despicable stunt.
I am really beginning to hate politicians across the political spectrum!
If that's the case, then we need to nail him on his lying.
I guess its one of those "when is a leak not a leak" scenarios.
There are different rules for demonRATS. Treason is called concern about our image. If a pubbie leaks, it is grounds for a two year investigation, if a demoRAT leaks it's a public service. See how that works?
They applaud his treasonous behavior and rewriting of history.
Depends on what the meaning of leak is....
Laura Ingraham played a clip from this interview on her show last night. Rockefeller sounded so pathetic. Wallace asked him are you not responsible for your vote in favor of authorizing the war? "No," he replied, then backtracked with some lame excuse. How odious these people are.
Ping.
Perhaps we should ask the FReepers who are able to watch, for any mention of this on CSPAN during the broadcasts on the senate floor.
Perhaps we can even make some calls to some senators as well.
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