Offer to answer in closed session because the information concerned our ability to hurt the people listening in for just the kind of information they heard.
Open and televised inquiries are for PR in any event - Congress does not typically expect to hear details about readiness when CSPAN is announcing each round to the world.
You are looking at, and participating in at our low and removed level, an internal left/right battle within the government.
You are looking at it because some of the participants are willing to announce their bias in public and because the media is starving for something to hang on GWB.
You are (probably) taking part in it because many at FR think that a Republican president is honor bound to agree with every one of their (Freepers) pet theories.
That, or you're still waiting for Buchanan.