Breaking: Hillary, Webb Demand Hearings On Pentagon's Iraq Withdrawal Planning

[babylonsister]

http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/jul/23/exclusive_hillary_webb_demand_hearings_on_pentagons_iraq_withdrawal_planning

Breaking: Hillary, Webb Demand Hearings On Pentagon's Iraq Withdrawal Planning
By Greg Sargent | bio

Game on. Again.

Ratcheting up her war with the Pentagon, Hillary Clinton is joining with Senators Jim Webb, Evan Bayh, and Robert Byrd to demand that the Senate Committee on Armed Services hold hearings to determine the status of the Pentagon's contingency plans for withdrawal with Iraq.

"The need for the Committee to know the status of Department of Defense redeployment planning is clear, yet past efforts by individual members to obtain this information were rebuffed," the Senators have written in a letter just sent to Armed Services chair Carl Levin.

The demand could dramatically increase the public attention on the standoff between Senator Clinton and the Pentagon over Defense Department contingency plans for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

This could have the effect of putting more pressure on the Pentagon to release info to Congress about its planning for the possibility or eventuality of withdrawal -- as well as draw increased media attention to a standoff that carries obvious political benefits for Hillary in the context of Democratic Primary politics.

More after the jump/letter at link~

Clinton's demand for information about those plans has already led to an impasse between her and the Pentagon that has drawn intense media attention. Her initial demand -- made in May -- prompted Under Secretary of Defense Eric Edelman to condemn her request as helpful to the enemy. When that became public it in turn prompted Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Friday to distance himself from Edelman's remarks.

Now Hillary's demand for this info has been amplified by three new Senators -- Webb, Bayh, and Byrd -- all of whom cast their demand as driven by a desire to ensure that withdrawal was being planned in a way that would protect the troops.

more...

[polichick]

1. Clinton, Webb, Bayh and Byrd...

A formidable combination! :patriot:

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

7. I completely agree!!!

:applause:

[quinnox]

2. I can't believe how many Bush toadies there are

They will do anything Bush tells them, even if it dishonors their oath. Those military bush lovers in the pentagon need to remember it is the civilian politicians who make policy and control the government, not the other way around.

[panader0]

3. They didn't plan going in to Iraq, why plan the inevitable

withdrawal? :sarcasm:

[napi21]

4. Gates said he'd personally respond to Hillary, but I don't remember if he said

"next week", "early next week" or what his exact words were. Since these 4 Senators are calling for hearings, does that mean he's already responded and they don't like his response, or is this a premptive move on their part?

[babylonsister]

5. I'd say preemptive; I haven't read anywhere that Gates has responded. nt

[SoonerPride]

6. Request denied: executive privilege.

Information is on a 'need to know basis' and Senator Clinton is in no position to need to know anything.

Didn't she get the memo, er Executive Order, on that?