Warner puts off hearings with Rumsfeld's critics

[Judi Lynn]

Warner puts off hearings with Rumsfeld's critics
By Vicki Allen
18 minutes ago



WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said on Tuesday his committee was too busy to listen to retired generals calling for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's resignation, but left open the chance for hearings later.

Sen. John Warner (news, bio, voting record) of Virginia said he would make a decision on a request to hear testimony from critics of Rumsfeld's handling of the Iraq war "in the near future," but indicated he could not schedule that until after Congress' Memorial Day recess at the end of May.

New York Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton in a letter last week urged Warner to hold committee hearings "where these retired generals, as well as retired generals with differing views and administration officials" could testify on the Pentagon's Iraq policies.

President George W. Bush, facing plummeting approval ratings largely because of the Iraq war, has staunchly defended Rumsfeld and rejected calls for his resignation.
(snip/...)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060426/pl_nm/iraq_rumsfeld_dc;_ylt=A9G_RyMP305EAhkADw4a.3QA;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

[KeepItReal]

1. "Seems that I was busy doing somethin close to nothin..." - Prince

Didn't know John Warner co-wrote "Raspberry Beret"

[ladjf]

2. Warner repeatedly shows his slimy partisan colors. He, as

always, if concerned only in covering Republican ass. He couldn't care less about America and Americans.

[spindrifter]

3. Weird comment from Sen. Collins (R-ME)

about being uncomfortable with hearings involving retired generals opposed to Rummy because it would call into question civilian control of the military. Ha! Doesn't she understand that Rummy and his understudy, England, are both civilian. That's the way it's supposed to be per the founders--the military works for the civilian citizenry. If only the military was in charge of the military--why, it would be like a banana republic!

[marmar]

4. She's rather clueless...

:dunce:

[Journeyman]

7. Even more so, the Generals have asked the Civil Authority to investigate..

and take corrective action as the Civil Authority sees fit. I can't imagine a more respectful position vis-a-vis the established order than what the Generals have requested.

[bdamomma]

5. Warner what a bastard

too busy??? what an arrogant remark.

[TomInTib]

6. Screw Warner. What a gasbag.

One of these days I am going to post my John Warner story.

[rodeodance]

8. and Rbberts is stalling on Phase II. What a pair huh!

[rodeodance]

9. That's not our call. That's the president's," Collins said.

http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=11962980&src=rss/ElectionCoverage
........

"By hearing from retired generals and administration officials with direct knowledge of the planning efforts, the committee can help ensure we learn from past experiences and better shape future operations," Clinton, a committee member, said in her letter.

Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican committee member who has sharply criticized Rumsfeld, said she did not think a hearing focusing on the secretary's critics from the military was a good idea.

"I am uncomfortable with former generals calling on the secretary to resign because I think that raises questions about civilian control of the military," Collins told Reuters.

"I don't think a hearing on whether Secretary Rumsfeld should continue as secretary would be very helpful. That's not our call. That's the president's," Collins said.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

10. Time to take their case back to the media...and build their membership.