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"We Don't Want to Hear about History!" Shouted Democratic Senator Jay Rockefeller
WorldWideStandard.Com ^ | January 9,2006 | Daniel McKivergan

Posted on 01/09/2006 8:35:11 PM PST by PJ-Comix

One revealing anecdote from Ambassador Bremer's book, My Year in Iraq, involves West Virginia's Jay Rockefeller. On September 23, 2003, Bremer briefed the Senate Democratic caucus on Iraq.

I started to explain why the supplemental appropriation was important by noting "the lessons of history," having in mind the failures following World War I and the success after World War II. Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia rudely interrupted, "We all know our history, Mr. Ambassador. Don't bother us with history."

I paused and then continued to describe how after World War I, the Allies had withdrawn after saddling Germany with crushing debt.

"We don't want to hear about history!" Rockefeller shouted.

The hell with you, I thought. I plunged on. (p. 173)

Of course, what Sen. Rockefeller could really have used was a review of recent history -- particularly on what he said on the Senate floor on October 10, 2002 in support of the resolution authorizing the use of force against Saddam Hussein. Given his strong grasp of history, it's rather odd he's forgotten it. Some highlights:

As the attacks of September 11 demonstrated, the immense destructiveness of modern technology means we can no longer afford to wait around for a smoking gun. September 11 demonstrated that the fact that an attack on our homeland has not yet occurred cannot give us any false sense of security that one will not occur in the future. We no longer have that luxury.

September 11 changed America. It made us realize we must deal differently with the very real threat of terrorism, whether it comes from shadowy groups operating in the mountains of Afghanistan or in 70 other countries around the world, including our own.

There has been some debate over how "imminent" a threat Iraq poses. I do believe that Iraq poses an imminent threat, but I also believe that after September 11, that question is increasingly outdated.

And:

Saddam's government has contact with many international terrorist organizations that likely have cells here in the United States.

And:

He could make those weapons [WMD] available to many terrorist groups which have contact with his government, and those groups could bring those weapons into the U.S. and unleash a devastating attack against our citizens. I fear that greatly.

Rockefeller added:

Some argue it would be totally irrational for Saddam Hussein to initiate an attack against the mainland United States, and they believe he would not do it. But if Saddam thought he could attack America through terrorist proxies and cover the trail back to Baghdad, he might not think it so irrational.

If he thought, as he got older and looked around an impoverished and isolated Iraq, that his principal legacy to the Arab world would be a brutal attack on the United States, he might not think it so irrational. And if he thought the U.S. would be too paralyzed with fear to respond, he might not think it so irrational.



TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; US: West Virginia
KEYWORDS: iraq; jayrockefeller; wva
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Once again, Jay Rockefeller proves himself to be an ignorant FOOL!
1 posted on 01/09/2006 8:35:14 PM PST by PJ-Comix
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To: PJ-Comix

Fool, nah, more like pompous ignorant ass. A fool can sometimes be funny


2 posted on 01/09/2006 8:38:25 PM PST by bybybill (GOD help us if the Rats win)
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To: PJ-Comix

Fool, nah, more like pompous ignorant ass. A fool can sometimes be funny


3 posted on 01/09/2006 8:38:57 PM PST by bybybill (GOD help us if the Rats win)
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To: PJ-Comix

That's proof the Dims don't want to confuse their small brains with facts.


4 posted on 01/09/2006 8:40:31 PM PST by jazusamo (A Progressive is only a Socialist in a transparent disguise.)
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To: PJ-Comix

He's not ignorant.

He's the enemy, and he knows what he's doing.


5 posted on 01/09/2006 8:40:38 PM PST by airborne (If being a Christian was a crime, would there be enough evidence to convict you?)
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To: cricket

Speaking of..............
from the article above:

"We no longer have that luxury."


6 posted on 01/09/2006 8:41:53 PM PST by freema (Proud Marine Mom, Aunt, Sister, Friend, Wife, Daughter, Niece)
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To: PJ-Comix

Yes he is. Hard to believe I once respected the man, then I grew up.


7 posted on 01/09/2006 8:41:55 PM PST by Ma3lst0rm (Are simpletons those who have the simple solutions?)
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To: airborne; PJ-Comix

Rockefeller did you "teller?" (Excerpted)

"...several sources are telling me today that some investigators working on the NSA leak probe believe that Senator Jay Rockefeller may have been a little more than "concerned" about NSA.

"In fact, he may just be the leaker of the program to the NY Times, and is now being considered a "significant person of interest" in the probe.

"If this incoming information is correct, it would not be the first time Senator Rockefeller - Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee had been investigated for leaking classified information.

"In early 2005, the CIA asked the Justice Department to look into whether

Democratic Senators Dick Durbin, Jay Rockefeller and Ron Wyden leaked details about a secret "black ops" CIA satellite program in December of 2004.

"That investigation is still on going, but I hear it may be wrapping up in the affirmative."

http://macsmind.blogspot.com/2006/01/rockefeller-did-you-teller.html


8 posted on 01/09/2006 8:42:11 PM PST by LucyT (Where is a mooslimb-free country?)
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To: PJ-Comix; prairiebreeze; onyx; ohioWfan; Texasforever; BigSkyFreeper; Tamzee; mrs tiggywinkle; ...

Well this is proof you can't buy brain cells


9 posted on 01/09/2006 8:43:19 PM PST by Mo1 (Republicans protect Americans from Terrorists. Democrats protect Terrorists from Americans)
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To: PJ-Comix; All

Is Rockefeller also guilty of leaking classified information not once, but twice?!:


ROCKFELLER DID YOU 'TELLER?"
I'm trying to confirm this information, but several sources are telling me today that some investigators working on the NSA leak probe believe that Senator Jay Rockefeller may have been a little more than "concerned" about NSA. In fact, he may just be the leaker of the program to the NY Times, and is now being considered a "significant person of interest" in the probe.

What I'm told that investigatiors have locked into is this fact that other pundits have identified, that Senator Rockefeller had stated that he went to to great lengths to lock away his memo of concern (in a safe) so that not even other close members of the Senate knew about it. Yet the NY Times, James Risen in fact revealed the letter's existance in his initial NSA "book excerpt". The question being asked is if not even Senator Rockefeller's closest confidants, staffers, etc, knew of the letter's existance, how therefore did James Risen of the NY Times know about it?

If this incoming information is correct, it would not be the first time Senator Rockefeller - Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee had been investigated for leaking classified information. In early 2005, the CIA asked the Justice Department to look into whether Democratic Senators Dick Durbin, Jay Rockefeller and Ron Wyden leaked details about a secret "black ops" CIA satellite program in December of 2004. That investigation is still on going, but I hear it may be wrapping up in the affirmative.

You can read the entire analysis at
http://macsmind.blogspot.com/2006/01/rockefeller-did-you-teller.html



10 posted on 01/09/2006 8:46:59 PM PST by DrDeb
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To: PJ-Comix
Rockefeller is the 'leak'. I'll bet my bottom dollar on it.

L

11 posted on 01/09/2006 8:47:13 PM PST by Lurker (You don't let a pack of wolves into the house just because they're related to the family dog.)
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To: Mo1

Great...Rockefeller not wanting to hear what Bremer and others were saying...just points to the arrogance of the dems...

And then they have the nerve to lie on the floor of the Senate and say they weren't briefed on things...

Rocky and Byrdwinkle..make a heck of a pair for West Virginia, don't they??


12 posted on 01/09/2006 8:47:39 PM PST by Txsleuth (Official Snow Flake! Merry Moosemuss, starting Monday)
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To: LucyT

Sorry . . . I didn't see your post before posting my duplicate link!


13 posted on 01/09/2006 8:48:40 PM PST by DrDeb
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To: Mo1

Nor inherit them; obviously.


14 posted on 01/09/2006 8:50:19 PM PST by nopardons
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To: LucyT

So when does Rockefeller get indicted? His letter to Cheney was cited by the NYTimes in their original story. Since only he had a copy of it, he had to have leaked it to the Times prior to their story being published. It is an open and shut case.


15 posted on 01/09/2006 8:50:43 PM PST by Hoodat ( Silly Dems)
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To: DrDeb

No problem; it needs to be repeated, frequently.


16 posted on 01/09/2006 8:50:50 PM PST by LucyT (Where is a mooslimb-free country?)
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To: LucyT

And .. don't forget the infamous memos written by Jay's staff - telling how they were going to use the intel info (and their positions on the intel committee) to hoodwink the repubs into giving them what they wanted - an investigation of Bush.

While the dems have continued to hide those memos and their real statement - Pat Roberts (Chairman of the committee) has not forgotten how they mocked him in the memos. I think it was a rude awakening for Pat - but it was necessary. I just wish the rest of the repubs would get the message.


17 posted on 01/09/2006 8:52:19 PM PST by CyberAnt ( I believe Congressman Curt Weldon re Able Danger)
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To: LucyT

bttt


18 posted on 01/09/2006 8:53:29 PM PST by nopardons
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To: DrDeb

bttt


19 posted on 01/09/2006 8:54:41 PM PST by nopardons
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To: Txsleuth
"Rocky and Byrdwinkle..make a heck of a pair for West Virginia, don't they??"


They do, but IMHO, Rocky is far more dangerous. Byrd has (through pork, I admit, but if any state needed building up, it was WV!) done much for the development of the state, and truly cares about his constituents. Rocky is a typical rich boy who is taking advantage of the citizens of WV to give him a national platform...
20 posted on 01/09/2006 8:58:53 PM PST by Ike
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