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Democrats push for deeper probe into Iraq`s banned weapons
Washington, June 26: House democrats renewed their push for a deeper investigation into the handling of intelligence on Iraq`s weapons programme.
Washington, June 26: House democrats renewed their push for a deeper investigation into the handling of intelligence on Iraq's weapons programme.
In the Senate yesterday, the republican chairman of the
Foreign Relations Committee said President George W Bush has
to start making concrete plans for keeping troops in Iraq for
at least five years. The oft-repeated statement that troops
will stay no longer than needed "is rubbish," said Sen Richard
Lugar, who visited Iraq last weekend.
The democratic push for an investigation came as the house considered a bill authorizing 2004 intelligence programmes. The cost is classified, but has been estimated at $40 billion. House Intelligence Committee chairman Porter Goss said the level meets Bush's request.
It would request a report from CIA director George Tenet on intelligence lessons learned from the Iraq war. The committee also has begun its own examination of the intelligence. Two senate committees are conducting similar reviews.
Some democrats used the debate on the bill to push for additional inquiries. An amendment by republican Ellen Tauscher to create a special committee to investigate Iraq intelligence failures was rejected on procedural grounds.
Democrats have questioned whether prewar intelligence was inaccurate or manipulated to back up Bush's push for war. Republicans have said there is no sign of wrongdoing and have accused democrats of raising the issue for political reasons.
Bureau Report
The democratic push for an investigation came as the house considered a bill authorizing 2004 intelligence programmes. The cost is classified, but has been estimated at $40 billion. House Intelligence Committee chairman Porter Goss said the level meets Bush's request.
It would request a report from CIA director George Tenet on intelligence lessons learned from the Iraq war. The committee also has begun its own examination of the intelligence. Two senate committees are conducting similar reviews.
Some democrats used the debate on the bill to push for additional inquiries. An amendment by republican Ellen Tauscher to create a special committee to investigate Iraq intelligence failures was rejected on procedural grounds.
Democrats have questioned whether prewar intelligence was inaccurate or manipulated to back up Bush's push for war. Republicans have said there is no sign of wrongdoing and have accused democrats of raising the issue for political reasons.
Bureau Report