…(1) who should be held accountable for the leak of the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson, (2) why the White House failed to meet its obligations to revoke the security clearances of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby and Karl Rove, and (3) how the leak relates to the broader issue of whether the President and his top advisors used misleading intelligence to launch an unnecessary war in Iraq.
I'm glad to see Waxman taking this action. The "trial of the Iraq war" belongs in Congress, not in the courts.
The problem is that the GOP majority may prevent a Congressional investigation from taking place, as it has since Waxman first proposed one in October of 2003.
One comment Jeff...
ReplyDeleteYes, it is good for Congress to have an interest in getting to the bottom of what has happened but I am always leary when Congress starts investigating. They sometimes have a way of stepping on the investigation by others by granting immunity to the wrong people. Fitzgerald is doing a good thorough job and I would hate to see some of these hamhanded Congressional types get in his way.
I agree with fallenmonk. What has our current Congress "investigated" recently that wasn't white washed to a great extent. I don't think there would be any honesty....not then, not now, not in the future.
ReplyDeleteBut I do hope that the pressure is kept high by using tactics like Waxman has done. Now is the time to get some spine. There are a lot of serious issues coming up and the Dems and the moderates must say enough.
OK, I have a question, and I hope you can answer. The resolution that was passed that allowed W to declare war without Congressional approval...Was that just for Iraq? Was is for "The War On Terrorism"? Is it still in effect for whatever that ______ may want to do?? This really concerns me. With Syria and Iran in his gun sites, and a huge failure rate in his own country...I am afraid he will invade another country. Great way to keep the panic up.
Chemcats@aol.com
Monk,
ReplyDeleteI agree that Congress should not get in Fitz's way. I think that may have been one of the excuses for postponing a Congressional Plame investigation.
Meribeth,
I believe the problems with prior Congress investigations have been due to the Republican majority. The WH wouldn't have been able to get away witholding so much evidence if Dems were in power.
As to the "blank check": Public Law 107-243, "A Joint Resolution to authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq."
So I believe that's as far as the authority goes. However, they might call any expansion into, say, Syria part of the Iraq war.
Jeff
Yes, Scott, that's how I've always understood it. He gets 60 days (and a 30 day extension under certain circumstances), then he needs Congressional permission.
ReplyDeleteA not bad link on the '73 act is:
http://www.milnet.com/warpower.htm
Thank you all very much for your info and clarification.
ReplyDeleteThat man scares the shit out of me and I am afraid he may invade Syria.
Hell, he already has...just like us going into Cambodia.
Maybe, but I don't think invasion/occupation is a realistic option.
ReplyDeleteJeff
Waxman has had a lot of good ideas but no one is listening...
ReplyDeleteNot meaning to sound like a conspiracy nut but Waxman has been way out of the MSM limimelight since he pissed off Big Tobacco.
Coincidence?
Coincidence? I think not. But it looks like Waxman is getting some help on this issue from Harry Ried in the upper chamber.
ReplyDelete