Posted on 02/15/2006 10:29:50 AM PST by jmc1969
Republican senators criticized the Bush administration Wednesday over its policies in Iraq, Iran and the Palestinian territories, as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's first testimony on Capitol Hill in months exposed her to a tough grilling from some members of her own party.
"I don't see, Madame Secretary, how things are getting better. I think they're getting worse in Iraq, they're getting worse in Iran," Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., told Rice as she appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Rice also had a tense exchange with moderate Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I., over the pace of progress toward Israeli-Palestinian peace and the implications of the Hamas victory in Palestinian legislative elections last month.
Though the moderate Chafee and Hagel, a frequent GOP maverick, are less conservative than many of their Republican colleagues, their criticism underscored a widespread frustration in Congress with the difficult problems the United States is facing across the Middle East.
At one point, Rice and Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., interrupted one another as they argued about U.S. policy in the Middle East, where the Democrat accused the Bush administration of having a "tin ear" to Arab views.
Boxer, who was one of Rice's most persistent critics during a contentious confirmation process last year, also recalled Rice's warning before the 2003 Iraq invasion that the world could not afford to let the "smoking gun" of Iraq's supposed weapons of mass destruction become a "mushroom cloud."
"That was a farce and the truth is coming out," Boxer said.
Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, top Democrat on the panel, said "I'm not hopeful" of a unity government in Iraq.
(Excerpt) Read more at siouxcityjournal.com ...
The usual suspects....
FYI and ire...
Considering we don't have one here at home what's the problem there, plugs?
Hagel and Chafee. pathetic. IF they are in any way the voice of the GOP, the party rolls would empty out. I understand Chafee being from a total liberal state, but there is something absolutely sick about Hagel.
Yeah, I should have stopped reading when they called these two Republicans but when you get to this point the entire piece needs to be thrown out the window. Though, I'll admit surprise they even separated the two as not quite like other Republicans. They don't usually even do that much.
These RINOs make endless trouble for us conservatives by giving credibility to the libs.
A battle of wits in which one party was unarmed! Just why is the SoS responsible for peace between the Israelis and Pallies? Anyone who manages to achieve that should be nominated for sainthood, and maybe deification!
At one point, Rice and Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., interrupted one another as they argued about U.S. policy in the Middle East, where the Democrat accused the Bush administration of having a "tin ear" to Arab views.
Yes, arab views are very important...to the left!
OK, what have Senators Boxer and Biden got to suggest as far as Iraq and Iran are concerned?
These SOBs are hoping that things don't workout in Iraq so their party may prosper from it. This is not the first time in American history that this has occurred, but it is damnable watching it unfold - especially while we have troops in a theatre of war.
Starting to see this more and more, "conservatives are angry", "the right disagrees", "Republican are..."
Calling Hagel and Chafee republicans is like calling me a ballerina because I once saw the Nutcracker.
Hagel and Chafee stories need a "Useful Idiots" alert.
same old same old, article could of said as-hole repubs and we would of known who
By ANNE GEARAN
Remember the AP "M&M" rule on liberal Republican's criticism Anne: "moderate" and "maverick"!
misterrob wins the "Retort of the Day" Award.
""I don't see, Madame Secretary, how things are getting better. I think they're getting worse in Iraq, they're getting worse in Iran," Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., told Rice as she appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Though the moderate Chafee and Hagel, a frequent GOP maverick, are less conservative than many of their Republican colleagues, their criticism underscored a widespread frustration in Congress with the difficult problems the United States is facing across the Middle East."
Hagel and Chafee are Republicans? Could have fooled me.
And Hagel claiming things are getting worse in Iraq is based on nothing other than his need to be loved by the media. Why is it even Democrat Joe Lieberman came back from IRaq late last year and said things are better? The fact is, US casualties are down, Iraqis are taking over the fight, the number of insurgent attacks are down in Iraq, the border with Syria is more secure and we've had 3 very successful elections. So what does Chuckles Hagel base his ignorant remarks that "things are worse in Iraq" on other than his need to be liked by Chris Matthews and Tim Russert? Hagel hasn't been to Iraq recently, if at all. So how do you know Chuck? Because David Gregory and the NBC News tell you it's worse? We need a primary opponent to take this guy out. I am infinitely tolerant of McCain and Specter because at least on the war they're right and not out spouting the Democratic party line and fueling the media's anti-war fire. But I have no patience for Hagel anymore. None. He needs to go.
Since he is from a New England Liberal State, I am not surprised at Chafee. Hagel is just an A$$hole.
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