Posted on 02/09/2007 12:29:41 AM PST by STARWISE
To the surprise of the Bush administration, the House Intelligence Committee voted unanimously Wednesday night to allow all 435 House members to see the classified version of the National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq sent to the White House last week. The report is classified in part because it contains information about sources and methods used in intelligence-gathering.
The document will provide fuel for a House debate, scheduled to begin Tuesday, on a resolution of disapproval of President Bush’s plan to boost U.S. troop strength in Iraq. Remarkably, each House member will be given five minutes to speak. The decision to provide such broad access to the microphones is based on the fact that each member got the chance to speak before the Iraq war began, according to House leadership aides.
In announcing the vote to allow all members access to the classified portion of the NIE, the committee said those examining it “will be required to review the document in the Committee's secure offices in the Capitol and sign a secrecy oath.” The members will not be allowed to leave with notes, congressional sources said.
The White House was not informed or consulted about the decision. Such access for members is rare but not unprecedented. The document had been made available to members of several committees with jurisdiction over the intelligence community, but other lawmakers would have needed to request permission to read it. The committee had received written requests from one Republican and one Democrat, plus some other informal inquires, and decided it would be better to allow blanket access instead of voting on each request, congressional sources said.
The report runs about 90 pages, and the Office of the National Intelligence Director released 3 1/2 pages of “Key Judgments” last week. The report, called “Prospects for Iraq’s Stability: A Challenging Road Ahead,” was approved Jan. 29 by the heads of the government’s 16 intelligence agencies. It paints a generally bleak picture of conditions in Iraq and warns that without successful efforts to rein in insurgent violence and political extremism, the overall security situation “will continue to deteriorate” at current rates for the next 12 to 18 months, the period covered by the report.
The decision raised fears among some Republicans that members not used to dealing with classified information might play fast and loose with what they saw. But Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, chairman of the Intelligence Committee, said in a statement: "It is critical that all Members of Congress understand the consensus view of the Intelligence Community on the gravity of the situation in Iraq and the consequences for U.S. troops and our long-term national security interests."
Ping.
Geez Louise! Folks like Patty Murray and Bagdad Jim McDermott? Might as well run a copy off for AlJazeera or directly to Achmadinnerjacket in Iran.
I'm not sure I know what you're referring to. Does the NIE contain the names of field agents?
Yes, the full version which they are releasing to all the congresscritters does. So how long before this sensitive information appears in the NYSlimes?
NYSlimes Headline, "Hey look what we are doing and who is doing it"
Is this the first time the liberals have taken out our intelligence network?
No, I don't think voter fraud had something to do with it. Something approaching 62 million people voted Republican in 2004. Just two years later, only a fraction of that number voted. Whatever their individual excuses, they took their eye off the ball.
"I'm stunned."
Ditto.
there wasn't a presidential election - is that why fewer people voted?
Nothing to do but lay back and enjoy.
I feel sorry for those whose names appear in the NIE. Their death warrants have been signed.
Well expect to see the rep[ort in NYT sometime next week.
True, last November was not a presidential election. However, it was just 5 years after 9/11, which is why I say the people who either didn't bother to vote, or voted 3rd party, or voted for other things but not for congress took their eye off the ball. What the Dems are doing now was 100% predictable, so people who knowingly threw away their votes due to petulance have no room to complain now.
"Perhaps they ought to fax copies to Tehran, Riyadh and Moscow while they're at it."
I bet its on the way as we speak.
We have a man in the House of Reps who was sworn in on a Koran. I'm certain that anything he can get his hands on will be copied to Iran by the end of the day.
This is sick..... like having a Nazi in the Congress during WWII getting battle plans.
are they accountable to adhering to this oath if they sign it while they are in need of REHAB services?
Dear GOD!
"Their death warrants have been signed."
Ours too.
Keith Ellison, Islamic rep. Sleeper cells.
We just took one big step closer toward the mushroom cloud on the horizon.
Don't forget that jon carry announced the name of a CIA agent during the confirmation hearing of John Bolton...even AFTER he was warned not to...
There is no way that their mean, methods, names will ever be able to be used again.
People who have moved here from blue states go home the week of the election
Military get called up to do training that week
People from blue states move here about two months before the election
wasn't there a large influx of people in George Allen's state in the year before before the election?
is it legal to register to vote and to vote in two states?
Haven't they blamed 911 on faulty intelligence?
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