or can i?:)
Posted on 10/23/2007 5:14:25 PM PDT by dervish
Over the last few weeks, State Department officials have reported major diplomatic breakthroughs that will roll back North Korea's nuclear weapons program, allow Pyongyang to be removed from the U.S. state sponsors of terror list, and normalize relations between our two countries.
North Korea reportedly has agreed to disable its nuclear facilities and has, as it has done many times before, promised to give a full accounting of its nuclear program. The latest deadline is Dec. 31, 2007. Congress has been asked to support this agreement, which State Department officials claim will benefit our nation and promote regional stability.
Then, early last month, Israel conducted an airstrike against a facility in northern Syria that press reports have linked to nuclear programs by North Korea, Iran or other rogue states. If this event proves that Syria acquired nuclear expertise or material from North Korea, Iran or other rogue states, it would constitute a grave threat to international security for which Syria and any other involved parties must be held accountable.
Bush administration, however, has thrown an unprecedented veil of secrecy around the Israeli airstrike. It has briefed only a handful of very senior members of Congress, leaving the vast majority of foreign relations and intelligence committee members in the dark. We are among the very few who were briefed, but we have been sworn to secrecy on this matter. However, we are prepared to state, based on what we have learned, that it is critical for every member of Congress to be briefed on this incident...
'snip'
Until Congress is fully briefed, it would be imprudent for the administration to move forward with agreements with state proliferators. Congress must be a full partner in this process and, from this point forward, must be kept dutifully and currently informed about this matter.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
or can i?:)
Great analysis. I predict (based upon some biblical intelligence I happen to believe) that one day in the not-too-distant future, wemay see Damascus eliminated from the face of the earth in an overnight nuclear attack. The reason: The West is too afraid to hit Iran directly, so they will hit Syria instead in order to try to scare Iran into backing down. It will not work.
Hit me.
Thanks.
There was an incident at Aleppo, Syria, in July involving the “accidental” explosion of a VX warhead while it was being mounted on a SCUD missile. A number of Syrian and Iranian technicians were killed. I would question whether these two incidents were in any way related.
“...any one else need mail?”
Please and Thank you!
I’ll take some mail too.
Over the last few weeks, State Department officials have reported major diplomatic breakthroughs that will roll back North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, allow Pyongyang to be removed from the U.S. state sponsors of terror list, and normalize relations between our two countries.
North Korea reportedly has agreed to disable its nuclear facilities and has, as it has done many times before, promised to give a full accounting of its nuclear program. The latest deadline is Dec. 31, 2007. Congress has been asked to support this agreement, which State Department officials claim will benefit our nation and promote regional stability.
Then, early last month, Israel conducted an airstrike against a facility in northern Syria that press reports have linked to nuclear programs by North Korea, Iran or other rogue states. If this event proves that Syria acquired nuclear expertise or material from North Korea, Iran or other rogue states, it would constitute a grave threat to international security for which Syria and any other involved parties must be held accountable.
The Bush administration, however, has thrown an unprecedented veil of secrecy around the Israeli airstrike. It has briefed only a handful of very senior members of Congress, leaving the vast majority of foreign relations and intelligence committee members in the dark. We are among the very few who were briefed, but we have been sworn to secrecy on this matter. However, we are prepared to state, based on what we have learned, that it is critical for every member of Congress to be briefed on this incident, and as soon as possible.
We are concerned that, although the Bush administration refuses to discuss the Israeli airstrike with the American people or with the majority of Congress, it has not hesitated to give information on background to the press to shape this story to its liking. New York Times writer David Sanger authored and coauthored articles on Oct. 14 and 15 that appeared to reflect extensive input from senior policy makers. Washington Post writer Glenn Kessler coauthored an article on Sept. 21 that also cited inside information from the administration. We believe this is unacceptable.
We want to remind President Bush that the Constitution invests Congress with various powers and authority over foreign policy. Not only does Congress have an obligation to conduct oversight over these matters, but it is accountable to the people of this country to ensure that their security and interests are safeguarded.
The proposed deals with North Korea will involve substantial expenditures of U.S. funds to pay for heavy fuel oil deliveries. Congress will be asked to approve the authorization of funds for this expenditure. We cannot carry out our duties when we are being denied information about these critical national security matters.
We all want to secure agreements that address the proliferation of nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles and unconventional weapons. However, for these agreements to have long-term viability, they must be transparent, and based on close consultations and collaboration with the Congress.
If the Israeli airstrike last month is related to covert nuclear collaboration involving Syria and either North Korea, Iran or other rogue states, this may or may not be an issue that can be easily addressed by negotiations alone. It is certain, however, that such a serious international security issue will not stay secret forever.
Congress, therefore, needs to be fully briefed, not just on the details of the airstrike, but on how to address this matter and how, if press reports are true, rogue states will be held accountable for what could amount to a very serious case of WMD proliferation.
We regret that the administration has ignored numerous letters from Congress asking that all members be briefed on the Israeli airstrike. Failing to disclose the details of this incident to the legislative branch, preventing due diligence and oversight — but talking to the press about it — is not the way to win support for complex and difficult diplomatic efforts to combat proliferation by rogue nations.
Until Congress is fully briefed, it would be imprudent for the administration to move forward with agreements with state proliferators. Congress must be a full partner in this process and, from this point forward, must be kept dutifully and currently informed about this matter.
Even the traitors, fifth columnists and useful idiots?
Oh c’mon...during wartime we all need to be fully informed of all strategic plans and operations...so that the enemy can be fully aware and be able to respond appropriately...NOT!
Ms Lehtinen obviously cares more about what her Turk handlers need to know than she does about the security of her country.
Translation:
"Send me another map for the locations they hid the smuggled weapons from Iraq to Syria because I believe that the map you sent earlier was not clear. Until now the government did not comment on what the Telegraph newspaper had published regarding this subject.
New information: The weapons were smuggled via ambulances and Mohammad Mansoura participated in the operation. And there are very sensitive information about smuggling Saddam money to Syria and Lebanon and who participated in it from Syrians and Lebanese, and also (information) about the killing of Brigadier General Moustafa Al Tajer last summer.
Be very careful. With regards
Damascus, January 7 2004."
End of the translation.
The only thing I want to know about this is that Syria accidentally blew up one of its major cities trying to figure out what makes a nuke work.
If this info is so sensitive that nobody should know then it should stay that way. The last thing we need is for the press to blab and our enemies to be aware.
Well, I've been trying... 
to get Jack Bauer drunk enough to spill the beans!
But after that DUI bust... 
he's gun shy.
I even tried... 
giving him a rubdown!
I'm going to try and get the info... 
from Jack's new fembot. She likes me!
I need mail too.
Sounds to me like this is NOT an unnamed sources issue but rather two Congresscritters coming out by name and staking their own reputations, calling foul. NK must have been caught red-handed and the White House is ready to give them a complete pass. If so, then exposing it is an act of courage.
yeah, I’m interested in knowing what the NYT has missed. send me email
>We are among the very few who were briefed, but we have been sworn to secrecy on this matter.
Then why are you talking about this at all?
Nuttier than fruitcakes.
These looked like "named sources" to me. U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich 2nd. and U. S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-FL, 18th. (she's a Cubana, who fled Cuba with her family, they tend to be pretty serious about national security.)
They aren't revealing squat, but are asking that Congress be better briefed. Seems like they are worried the State Department might give away the farm... again.
I need mail. :)
If it is real, all I have to say is "Holy Sh*t!", and I hope the Israelis got it all.
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