Delayed Senate Iraq Report Unlikely to Land Before Elections

[kpete]

CQ: Delayed Senate Iraq Report Unlikely to Land Before Elections
By Justin Rood - July 12, 2006, 12:15 PM

Senate intelligence committee chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) announced new deadlines for his panel's fabled "Phase II" of its now-epic investigation into prewar Iraq intelligence -- but the final report is still unlikely to come until after the November elections, Congressional Quarterly reports today.

Writes CQ's Tim Starks:

With several of his previously set deadlines for the second phase of the investigation already lapsed, Roberts said Tuesday his committee would hold a business meeting July 13 to determine the process for finalizing two reports before the August break and the third in September.

The first two reports would address postwar findings on Saddam Hussein’s connections to terrorism and weapons of mass destruction capabilities, and how the intelligence community used information provided by the Iraqi National Congress, an exile organization headed by Ahmed Chalabi. The third report would address prewar intelligence assessments of postwar Iraq.

Another segment of the Phase II investigation is being held up by a pending Pentagon inspector general report on activities conducted by the Pentagon’s Office of Special Plans under former Undersecretary of Defense Douglas J. Feith. Roberts said he wants to await the completion of that report before pursuing his own inquiry further.

The final segment, which is the most controversial, would address the administration’s public statements on Iraq. However, Roberts and panel Democrats have fought over Roberts’ desire to include the prewar remarks of other government officials, including Democratic senators.

"Phase II" was where Roberts stuffed most of the most vexing questions for the administration. The panels' report on Phase I was released nearly two years ago.

The panel is taking so long with this phase of the invstigation, they will clearly produce a very, very thorough report. Especially once the political pressures of the midterm elections are past. Right?

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001111.php

[AndyA]

1. Who could have predicted it would take so long to finish up

Phase II of the report?!?!?!?!? After all, we want it to be thorough, factual, and expose all the evildoers for what they are, right? I would have bet money this baby wouldn't see the light of day until AFTER the November elections.

If it is thorough, factual, and names names, it will likely not be favorable to the GOP.

More GOP manipulation.

[chill_wind]

2. First we got to get those raises and that flag burning stuff straightened

out really good. Really really good.