No Defense Secretary Has Testified Before Budget Panel Since Iraq War Began
No Defense Secretary Has Testified Before Budget Panel Since Iraq War Began
No Defense Secretary has testified before the Senate Budget Committee since the war in Iraq began nearly four years and $400 billion dollars ago.
Prior to being sworn in, Secretary Robert Gates pledged to Budget Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) that he would appear before the committee. But after agreeing to testify next Thursday, Gates abruptly cancelled. Conrad and Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH), the ranking member on the committee, wrote Gates yesterday asking him to appear by March 1.
The timing of Gates’ cancellation is noteworthy, coming “less than a week after the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) alarmed lawmakers by projecting that the president’s plan to increase troop numbers in Iraq could cost more than four times the $5.6 billion promised by the Bush administration.”
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I would guess that his concern is that he would have to testify under oath.
February 8th, 2007 at 10:45 ammarch 1? as anyone as skeptical about how “mad” these investigators are?
what BS. this is a criminal organization that runs our country now
time for action from congress, not spineless “requests” it is time for subpoenas and indictments, contempt charges.
unbelievable that we are still forced to live under laws ignored by our own government.
February 8th, 2007 at 11:02 amNo need for oversight when you’re running Soft Bigotry of Low Expectation Programs for the Iraqis.
February 8th, 2007 at 11:08 amTHE REAL COST OF WAR IS HUMAN SUFFERRING !
February 8th, 2007 at 11:11 amDEMOCRACY NOW !!!!
February 8th, 2007 at 11:12 amare SUBPOENAs not applicable to this?
February 8th, 2007 at 11:15 amsurely they can force it somehow!?
Why does Gates always look like he’s daydreaming?
February 8th, 2007 at 11:16 amOld Tree – Congress is taking a week long recess beginning 2/19 – they won’t all be back in session until March 1. (not justifying, just explaining).
Obviously Mr. Gates has been instructed not to testify, or to stall until the surge is underway, at which point they drag out the ‘give us the money or you’ll kill the troops’ excuse. Who will stand up and say, “We are not slaughtering hundreds of people by saying no. You are the murderers here.’
February 8th, 2007 at 11:17 am“Senators had thought Gates would become the first Pentagon chief to testify before the panel since the war began and would make good on a vow he made to Budget Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) before his confirmation.”
This is par for the course. People tell the Senators whatever they want to hear in order to be confirmed. In Gates defense, this question could have taken him by surprise and it took Dick Cheney to straighten him out.
While I don’t expect this to happen, Gates could be brought up on Contempt of Congress charges. In fact, that is what the Senate should do should Gates not meet the March 1st deadline.
February 8th, 2007 at 11:18 amHow about April Fool’s Day? Would that not be more approriate? So… the demand is really about MORE troops and MORE money. I’m shocked! Absolutely shocked and appaled!
February 8th, 2007 at 11:21 amNot really… disgusted, angry, wanting blood to flow and heads to roll is a little more like it. If the cost of life and limb is so cheap, the people will have to remember that, when time comes to hold those responsible, accountable. And, sooner or later, the time will come.
While I don’t expect this to happen, Gates could be brought up on Contempt of Congress charges. In fact, that is what the Senate should do should Gates not meet the March 1st deadline.
Comment by DallasNE — February 8, 2007 @ 11:18 am
From C-SPAN.org:
“Contempt of Congress is initiated by a resolution reported from the affected congressional committee which can cite any individual for contempt. The resolution must then be adopted by the House or Senate. If the relevant chamber adopts the contempt resolution recommended by one of its committees, the matter is referred to a U.S. Attorney for prosecution. The U.S. Attorney may call in a grand jury to decide whether or not to indict and prosecute. If prosecuted by the courts and found guilty of contempt, the punishment is presently set at up to one year in prison and/or up to $1,000 in fines.”
Since the White Houe currently controls the US Attorney’s office, I doubt if anything would come of a contempt of Congress charge.
February 8th, 2007 at 11:31 amWho’s in the photo? Tweedle-Dumb and Tweedle-Dumber?
February 8th, 2007 at 11:33 amThe census bureau says that there are now over 301 million U.S. citizens. The Bush administration considers us all as stupid chumps too ignorant to understand the nuances of the world.So when someone has the temerity to question them they feel no responsibility to answer.”We know better ,so no questions ,just do what we say”. Unfortunately ,since this loser was not only elected once but reelected again evidence tends to prove we are chumps.
February 8th, 2007 at 11:38 amonce elected questionably in Florida by the supreme court and once by .6% on electronic voting machines !
February 8th, 2007 at 11:43 ammaybe gates went out jugging with john sununu
February 8th, 2007 at 11:44 amA poll taken years ago puts 1/3 of americans in the we believe the US gov’t was involved in 911 camp .
February 8th, 2007 at 11:46 am“Fear leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.”
Yoda, Star Wars Episode III
February 8th, 2007 at 11:47 am#13- Bush was never elected. Both elections were stolen. The first, in FL and the 2nd, in OH. As a matter of fact, The Governor of Ohio was charged with electioneering fraud after the last election. Diebold was involved with tampering with the machines. Need to remember that. Bush was never elected and we don’t have to feel badly that he might have been. He’s a frigging thief and a killer. I’m not going to pretend otherwise.
February 8th, 2007 at 12:06 pmWord is from folks who were around in Texas before Bush was the governor there, that Bush did all kinds of drugs, alcohol, carousing, etc. And had absolutely no conscious about anything.
February 8th, 2007 at 12:10 pmWhy have them testify, they just lie to the Congress anyways!
February 8th, 2007 at 12:19 pm#19 – ForTruth,
February 8th, 2007 at 12:20 pmW is at least consistent. You forgot to mention his penchant towards lying.
Hey, simmer down. It’s all borrowed Chinese money, so why should Congress stick their nose in it??
/sarcasm off
February 8th, 2007 at 12:27 pmWalt. You look like my father… heh. :)
February 8th, 2007 at 12:37 pm> It’s all borrowed Chinese money
Actually no, it’s mostly borrowed Middle Eastern money.
February 8th, 2007 at 12:40 pmJuan, maybe Walt IS your dad. Heh.
February 8th, 2007 at 12:48 pmJuan, maybe Walt IS your dad. Heh.
Comment by ForTruth
And you look like a mexican wrestler…Heh.
February 8th, 2007 at 1:06 pmIn a time of universal deceit,
telling the truth becomes a
revolutionary act.
-George Orwell
February 8th, 2007 at 1:08 pmSUBPOENA HIM !
SUBPOENA HIM !
SUBPOENA HIM !
SUBPOENA HIM !
February 8th, 2007 at 1:38 pmAnd you look like a mexican wrestler…Heh.
Comment by Juan C
Mucha Lucha!
February 8th, 2007 at 3:20 pm#23 – Juan C,
February 8th, 2007 at 5:22 pmYour father has my condolences. ;)
And you look like a mexican wrestler…Heh.
Comment by Juan C
Oh my god, he does. Heh.
February 8th, 2007 at 8:00 pmThat’s hilarious
February 8th, 2007 at 8:06 pmThe Sorting Hat… hhmmmm… Gates… an academic with no combat experience…mmm.. involved in the middle of Iran Contra…. was lucky he didn’t go down with Ollie…hhmmm…Board of Directors, Parker Drilling…hhmmm…now playing one of the biggest games of his life… the question is does the man have any common sense if doesn’t have any balls…AH HA….he’ll go with BUSH OLD BOY OIL HOUSE !!!!!
February 8th, 2007 at 10:32 pm