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."
Good question -- I would hope that records will be kept, but with the clowns we have running Congress, who knows?
Even if leaks become known, or I should say ESPECIALLY if leaks become known, the Demagogues will want to suppress all info about who had access, etc. Don't know if the minority Republicans would have either the will or the power to force any real investigation if/when that happens.
Pelosi: Amadinejad, we got the goods. You should have a copy now!
Amadinejad: Nancy, Allah Akbar, Death to America!
Pelosi: OK, OK, Enough. We need you to hit the Green Zone now. Also, Take out Maliki.
It is the duty of the President to arrest them all.
Proving beyond doubt that there is no difference between a RAT and a RINO.
Here's a clue: It isn't a good idea to let your enemy know the amount or accuracy of your intelligence, or the methods by which you acquired it. Neither congress nor "the American people" has any need or right to know this information.
Wouldn't it be nice - to arrest the entire intelligence committee
I appreciated that graphic potlatch.
You summarized a large tome and put it into one graphic.
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
Thank you sooo much Cindy, I really appreciate your comment!
ON THE NET...
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=search_videos&search_query=%22Senate%20Intelligence%20Committee%22&search_sort=video_date_uploaded&search_category=0
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22Senate+Intelligence+Committee%22&num=10&hl=en&so=1&start=0
Well, I should have said something sooner and you are welcome, potlatch.
This is FUC##D UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But unfortunately there are plenty of active 'critters with her exact sympathies.
Leaks of this information cause people to die and sources to dry up. This is insanity.
You've got a point, but my stomach's in knots.
The White House can redact or refuse to hand over the classified document to Congress. Although, I doubt the Bush Administration will do it.
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