Retiring GOP congressman breaks ranks on Iraq

[Rosco T.]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/18/congressman.iraq/index.html

Retiring GOP congressman breaks ranks on Iraq
Bereuter calls war 'a mistake'

From Ted Barrett
CNN Washington Bureau
Wednesday, August 18, 2004 Posted: 6:12 PM EDT (2212 GMT)

Rep. Doug Bereuter, R-Nebraska, sent a letter to constituents, criticizing the war in Iraq.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Breaking ranks with his party and reversing his earlier stance, a senior retiring Republican lawmaker said Wednesday the military strike against Iraq was "a mistake," and he blasted a "massive failure" of intelligence before the war.

The unexpected four-page statement came from Rep. Doug Bereuter of Nebraska, who until earlier this month was the vice chairman of the House Intelligence Committee -- a panel that reviewed much of the evidence the administration cited before going to war.

"I've reached the conclusion, retrospectively, now that the inadequate intelligence and faulty conclusions are being revealed, that all things being considered, it was a mistake to launch that military action, especially without a broad and engaged international coalition," Bereuter wrote in a four-page letter to his constituents.

(snip)

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rat's leaving a sinking ship???

[blondeatlast]

1. I seem to remember seeing his obituary in the Washington Times...

Oddly, it was written in the future tense...

[Cobia]

2. Kudos him

He join Ron Paul in opposing the war.

[Xipe Totec]

3. if Kerry would only say the same thing

He would be following him into retirement. Let's wait until 2012 and ask Kerry again.

[NMDemDist2]

4. a patriot speaks out (even if it's against party lines)

kudos to the Nebraska plain speaker

[SoFlaJet]

5. as my dad would say.......

too late Nate