Senate Intelligence Committee: Excerpts from Opening Statement by Chairman Rockefeller

[Lasher]

January 11, 2007

I am extremely concerned that well-intentioned but misguided policies of the Administration have increased the threats facing our Nation and hampered our ability to isolate and defeat al-Qaeda and other terrorists that seek to strike against the United States.

I believe our actions in Iraq have placed our Nation more at risk to terrorist attack than before the invasion. Based on the findings of the Committee’s Iraq investigation, I have concluded that the Administration promoted non-existent links between Iraq and al-Qaeda in an effort to sell a war that was fundamentally about regime change, not about an imminent threat to America.

<snip>

I have seen nothing in my service on the Intelligence Committee, or in any other forum, that suggests sending an additional 21,500 American troops to Iraq will bring about greater security on the ground or lead to a more successful outcome.

There is little reason to believe that the diplomatic, political and economic objectives will be any more successful with 153,000 troops than with the current 132,000 troops. And that’s really the crux of the President’s new strategy -- more troops.

<snip>

I am also troubled by what I see as an Administration counter-terrorism policy which, in certain respects, may be complicating if not worsening our ability to win the war on terrorism.

To be specific, I have serious misgivings about the soundness and the effectiveness of the CIA’s secret detention program and the NSA’s warrantless surveillance program, both publicly acknowledged by the President.

<snip>

Our first act of committee business will be to re-pass the Fiscal Year 2007 intelligence authorization bill the Committee unanimously reported out last May but which never received Senate approval.

We must also complete the Committee’s two-and-a-half year investigation of prewar intelligence on Iraq in a prompt but thorough and objective manner. We should have, and could have, completed this effort long ago.

There is other important unfinished business before the Committee in the area of counterterrorism.

For four years, the Administration kept the very existence of the National Security Agency’s warrantless surveillance program and the Central Intelligence Agency’s detention, interrogation and rendition program from the full membership of this Committee.

Through the over-restriction of member and Committee staff access to the NSA and CIA programs and the denial of requested documents, the White House has prevented the Committee from completely understanding the programs and thoroughly evaluating their legal soundness and operational effectiveness.

The Administration can no longer stonewall the Committee’s legitimate requests with respect to these two programs. It needs to understand the fundamental precept that congressional oversight is a constructive and necessary part of governance. Our Committee stands ready to work with the Administration to fashion responsible legislation in these and other areas, but we cannot responsibly do so as long as we are deprived critical information we need to do our job.

Emphasis mine. The "...Committee’s two-and-a-half year investigation of prewar intelligence..." is a reference to the remaining 3 sections of Phase II.

[ellisonz]

1. Thank you for posting this.

[Lasher]

2. This is getting covered up somewhat by other news.

I've been looking forward to this for a long time and have been watching for Jay to make a move on the rest of Phase II. Note that he's already saying he's concluded that the administration lied us into the invasion of Iraq (nonexistent Iraq/al-Qaida connection). That statement alone is signifigant.

[mmonk]

4. It will continue to be without impeachment hearings.

[Lasher]

5. Impeachment hearings would be more likely if this got some attention.

A catch 22 of sorts, I think.

[salin]

3. big k & r

Very strong words, promising very solid action. Many thanks to Senator Rockerfeller - we look forward to your and your committee's work.

[Lasher]

6. Hello salin, good of you to check in despite being busy

I checked this morning, there's still whatsoever in the news on Rockefeller's opening comments about oversight of Junior's sins of the past. I got the information in the form of a news release that was emailed to me. Most folks are focused on Junior's escalation in Iraq and I guess that's appropriate at this time. A few of us will ensure Jay's efforts continue to be reported here. Folks won't always be preoccupied on other things.

I hope Jay and his team don't get discouraged by the lack of interest. It is certainly temporary. This is not the only thing that's being sort of preempted right now.

"I am a voice, crying in the wilderness." - John the Baptist