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."
"and sign a secrecy oath"
Like that means anything to them.
"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."
Well, if thats what they voted to do, so be it. Not that its a wise thing to do in some people's corner. But then again, democracy in action. If you don't like the rules, change the rules, or change congress. Congress leaks classified info all the time. Why not do it up front to avoid mischaracterization of the evidence?
Have these geniuses seen the complete 2002 NIE?
Very Dangerous! Just a dumb move...
No more of this "we were lied to" crap. You see it ALL, and if you LIE about what you see, Republican House members will call you on it.
Where have you been, Man? Pelosi said that they will be the most ethical congress....don't you trust her?
/sarc 2 the 25 power....
What a great idea. Now, when the document is leaked, you're looking at 435 perps instead of a handful. That's assuming, of course, that you even care.
I mean, regarding intelligence gathering, what could be in there that the NY Times hasn't already reported on?
"The report is classified in part because it contains information about sources and methods used in intelligence-gathering."
This oughta be a wakeup call for voters in 2008, eh, a "lesson"?
This also can be the end of NIE, not that it was that useful recently, it's been selectively leaked to NYT and other papers for political football... so might as well show it to everybody one last time, and then kill it.
serious/series
absolutely!
What the heck is going on? when you think it can't get worse, well.. IT DOES!
thanks for Ping
Pentagon Probe Finds Intelligence Inappropriate
Associated Press
February 8, 2007
WASHINGTON - A Defense Department investigation to be presented to Congress on Friday concludes that some of the Pentagon's pre-Iraq War intelligence work was inappropriate but not illegal.
Two people familiar with the findings discussed the main points and some details Thursday on condition they not be identified.
In the report, the department's inspector general said former Pentagon policy chief Douglas J. Feith had not engaged in illegal activities through the creation of special offices to review intelligence. Some Democrats also have contended that Mr. Feith misled Congress about the basis of the administration's assertions on the threat posed by Iraq, but the Pentagon investigation did not support that.
The Senate Armed Services Committee has scheduled a hearing Friday to receive the findings by Thomas F. Gimble, the Pentagon's acting inspector general. The committee's chairman, Carl Levin (D., Mich.), has been a leading critic of Mr. Feith's role in prewar intelligence activities and has accused him of deceiving Congress.
Mr. Levin has asserted that President Bush took the country to war in Iraq based in part on intelligence assessments -- some shaped by Mr. Feith's office -- that were off base and didn't fully reflect the views of the intelligence community.
In a telephone interview Thursday, Mr. Levin said the inspector-general report is "very damning" and shows a Pentagon policy shop trying to shape intelligence to prove a link between al Qaeda and Saddam. Mr. Levin also said it was a "red herring" to say that he or others in Congress claimed that any of Mr. Feith's activities had been illegal. Mr. Feith has said the accusation that he misled Congress was, by definition, a claim that he had acted illegally.
The 2004 report from the Sept. 11 Commission found no evidence of a collaborative relationship between Saddam and Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda terror organization before the U.S. invasion.
Asked to comment on the inspector general's findings, Mr. Feith said in a telephone interview that he had not seen the report but was pleased to hear that it concluded his office's activities were neither illegal nor unauthorized. He took strong issue, however, with the inspector general's finding that some activities had been "inappropriate."
Mr. Feith called "bizarre" the inspector general's conclusion that some intelligence activities by the Office of Special Plans, which was created while Mr. Feith served as the undersecretary of defense for policy -- the top policy position under Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld -- were inappropriate but not unauthorized.
Mr. Feith left his Pentagon post in August 2005 and now teaches at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service.
Copyright © 2007 Associated Press
Thank you CutePuppy for the ping.
A good morning to you.
Get ready for lots of secrets about our covert activities to get leaked.
I expected more out of the Republicans on that committee.
What an 'effin' JOKE!
Oh, yeah, an "oath". That'll work, guys.
Good morning :~)
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