NYT: Democrats List More Names in Inquiry on Bolton's Access

[DeepModem Mom]

Democrats List More Names in Inquiry on Bolton's Access
By DOUGLAS JEHL
Published: June 11, 2005


WASHINGTON, June 10 - Senate Democrats have prepared a list of approximately three dozen "names of concern" and are asking the Bush administration for assurances that John R. Bolton did not misuse his access to highly classified intelligence to seek information about them.

The request is outlined in a letter sent Thursday by Senators Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware and Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut, two of the leaders of the Democratic opposition to Mr. Bolton's nomination as ambassador to the United Nations. The letter was sent to the senior Republican and Democratic senators on the Intelligence Committee, who have also been involved in negotiations with the Bush administration over access to information about Mr. Bolton's actions when he was an official at the State Department.

The letter did not identify those on the list, but Democratic aides said they included intelligence officials and others with whom Mr. Bolton had clashed. They said the Senate Democrats would provide the list to John D. Negroponte, the director of national intelligence, if Mr. Negroponte made clear that he would provide appropriate information in response.

The proposal represents the latest effort by the Democrats to learn more about Mr. Bolton's handling of intelligence information during his four years as under secretary of state. The administration has acknowledged that Mr. Bolton used his authority to obtain the names of 19 American individuals and companies mentioned in communications intercepted by the National Security Agency, but it has refused to give the Senate details.

A copy of the letter was provided to The New York Times by a Congressional Democrat. A Republican Congressional official expressed surprise at the number of names said to be on the Democratic list, and noted that Democrats until now had expressed concern about Mr. Bolton's dealings with fewer people. The proposal "seems to move away from a good-faith effort toward resolving this issue," the Republican official said....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/11/politics/11bolton.html

[annabanana]

1. I'm confused..

If they assure him that the names in question aren't there...they don't have to actually release the docs? Why on earth should they be believed?

[struggle4progress]

2. Looks like a friendly little game of 5 card stud to me:

Ds up the ante, and it's the Bushistas turn to play; right now, all they have to do is PROMISE to tell the truth; but, damn! this is so frickin tricky for the Bushistas, not just because they are congenital liars, but because Johnny B's really a loose cannon and a real whackjob; the Bushistas may desperately need to bluff to win, and they really can't stomach folding; but if they bluff, there's that ugly little hint of a possibility that the D's ALREADY have the goods and will rake in the pot (snickering loudly, of course, "liah liah pans on fiah").

[DeepModem Mom]

3. "Johnny B's a loose cannon and a real whackjob" --

sounds like something out of "The Sopranos"!

[struggle4progress]

4. Well, frankly, I think it is. eom

[DeepModem Mom]

5. And I think you're right! nt

[Rebellious Republican]

6. Ah, the saga continues...............

For those that missed the first salvo in this unfolding mystery.......

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1527864

:kick:

[DeepModem Mom]

7. Thanks, RR! nt

[Rebellious Republican]

10. Your Welcome DeepModem Mom. N/T

:kick:

[DURHAM D]

8. You gotta wonder if Biden , Dodd or Rockefeller don't

already have proof of some Bolton meddling that he has denied or State has denied. I wonder if this is a trap for the WH.

If they do catch the WH in a big white lie Biden will want to make a deal - keep it a secret - play nice. Senator Rockefeller seems to be agigated so much of the time now I don't think he will cut a deal. I think he would love to smash Senator Roberts in public. Senator Dodd won't cave either.

Just thoughts on a Friday night...

[Toots]

11. If they do catch the WH in a big white lie

They are filthy lying bastards, what is this "white lie" bullcrap? Are you suggesting they are telling a harmless lie?

[DeepModem Mom]

12. And then you weigh in Voinovich's cryptic remarks --

I also wonder what they might know.

[FloridaPat]

9. Didn't the repubs go beserk over the Clinton's using the FBI to look

into people's lives? Isn't this the same thing only much bigger? Why aren't the repubs screaming blooding murder? Oh, yeah, they're too busy destroying Democracy.

[Straight Shooter]

13. Repubs always hide behind the meme "if you've got nothing to hide."

I've heard it a hundred times, "Why should this law bother you, if you've got nothing to hide?"

Well, now it's their turn. If they've got nothing to hide, then come clean. I think the Southern expression is "Sh*t or get off the pot," and another good one is "Fish or cut bait."