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Admin Answer on Iran Attack Not Good Enough, Webb Says
“Is it the position of this administration that it possesses the authority to take unilateral action against Iran, in the absence of a direct threat, without congressional approval?” Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) asked Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice during a Senate hearing January 11th. He's still waiting for an answer.
After a couple weeks of radio silence, Webb sent a letter again requesting a response last week. But despite his urging for clarity of what was "basically, a 'yes' or 'no' question," the answer he finally received wasn't good enough.
The written response, sent to Webb from one of Rice's assistant secretaries last week, "didn't adequately answer the specific question," according to Webb's spokeswoman, Jessica Smith. "It wasn't a form letter," she said, but it "was not responsive to the question."
Webb continues to push for an answer, Smith said.
Update: Here's Webb speaking yesterday about the administration's plans for Iran.
Comments (33)
TheraP wrote on February 8, 2007 2:21 PM:This guy is beginning to sound like a "Muckraker" to me!
A man after tpm's heart, I'd say.
lyle wrote on February 8, 2007 2:37 PM:it's always useful to bring this up, although exhausting...
what do you think the response from republicans would be if the roles were reversed and a democratic administration was stonewalling on this issue?
not only would the right wing media have been able to pass the ball off to the mainstream media by now, regarding their overwhelming hatred of this behavior... but i think it would probably be pretty much non-stop referencing of the un-american strain to this crap.
only in america.
George E. Lowe wrote on February 8, 2007 3:02 PM:Hi, In all my over 30 years in the Federal Government[NAVY/FOREIGN SERVICE/DEPT.of ED(1953-88)] I had, NEVER seen such a reply to a US SENATOR as that from one of "Rice's assistant Secretaries" to Senator Jim Webb. Webb was/is simply trying to determine a vital FACT: The source of Bush Administration's authority to attack Iran without Congressional approval.
Legalize wrote on February 8, 2007 3:11 PM:All of that high-level Congressional Correspondence, especially in STATE, is closely monitored & placed in a special file. Senator Webb is being given the run-around--and he's not standing for it.
May I suggest that Senator Webb fire off a New Letter to SECSTATE RICE asking her a realted question: WHAT WOULD BE STATE'S POSITION ON A NEW BOLAND AMENDMENT[1982]? It would NOW be related, of course, to the Bush-Cheney's Kabal's impending Nuke-Conventional strikes vs. Iran --or those of our ally Israel--with OUR fighter-bomber supplied weapons systems.] Very worried in Stuart, FL
Dear Senator Webb:
Do not stop pressing.
p.s. Please invite your fellow Dems to the establishment from which you acquired your backbone.
Regards
Alex wrote on February 8, 2007 3:20 PM:Is there a link to the reply from Rice's office?
erichwwk wrote on February 8, 2007 3:37 PM:Can't decide what's appropriate. To ask Webb to keep pressing or to tell the Cheney administration to go fuck itself.
What Webb really needs to do is ask the Admirals whether they remember what they pledged their loyalty to, the commander in chief's VP, or the Constitution. Is THAT why we have a Navy JCS?
Hopefully this administration is not plotting a military coup ala Hitler. But it might be prudent to be prepared.
Carla wrote on February 8, 2007 4:16 PM:Webb's beginning to remind me of my Jack Russell terrier. Dog loves to grab his disgusting rope toy and yank and chew and rip at it for hours. He never loses interest and never gets tired. Tell him to kill the toy and he goes nuts.
Kill, Jim, kill ... No retreat, no surrender, and no damn pass on the question.
John Drake wrote on February 8, 2007 4:19 PM:Senator Webb needs to put the impeachment card back on the table immediately and do a "Mr. Smith goes to Washington" fillibuster to get these criminals out of the White House and into orange jumpsuits.
Leonard wrote on February 8, 2007 6:24 PM:Webb with the Dem leadership blessing should threaten Rice with impeachment if she doesn't respond. In fact, that should be the threat to every single cabinet member who has come before Congressional committees. Enough is enough.
Christie wrote on February 8, 2007 7:43 PM:I have read several of James Webb's books. They should be required reading for anyone who wants to be president, or senator. He deals with hard questions of the military code of honor, and the answers are not always what civilians would expect--sometimes they are much stricter. Clearly Webb is very disturbed by a president who thinks you can just go out and start shooting.
tomg wrote on February 9, 2007 10:12 AM:who is this guy and why can't he reined in like the rest of the washingtonians .....lol
GO JIM!!!
Roscoe wrote on February 9, 2007 10:52 AM:PLEASE keep pressing Senator Webb !! I wish we had individuals like yourself in Georgia !!
bjobotts wrote on February 9, 2007 12:03 PM:Maybe Webb understands the URGENCY of this situation as there is no turning back if Iran is attacked. We would already have done it if it weren't for things going so badly in Iraq. This will likely be the grab for power as everything is strangely in place for take over before '08 election. Consider: Now, unnoticed, Bush is in control of the state and national guard to "put down insurgencies"; Bush announced he would place political appointees in all federal agencies; He is replacing US attorneys; He is in charge of the military: if there were a small nuke that kills Americans from Iran would it be counter-strike, war and bring back the draft, national emergency and martial law, congress dismissed and an emergency constitutional convention which rewrites our constitution giving power to executive power for war time..ha what a scenario. Bush/Cheney will be removed from office as a threat to national security if they attack Iran for any reason without senate approval...removed prior to impeachment proceedings...right Webb?...right Webb?...right.
JTO wrote on February 9, 2007 1:09 PM:Any chance someone could come up with a copy of the letter the undersecretary sent?
Might be an interesting read.
LEO A BOYLE III wrote on February 9, 2007 3:09 PM:TO ROSCOE:
Mike wrote on February 12, 2007 1:39 AM:You do, but he was swiftboated!
I just read Webb's novel "Fields of Fire," about what it was like to be a grunt in Vietnam. This guy knows what he is talking about, and now I know why this book is required reading for Marine officers.
He is the right man in the right place, as we are talking about matters of life and death for our servicemen and our country. He may not have been the perfect SECNAV, but he resigned on principle. He means what he says, and has put his money where his mouth is.
It sure feels uncomfortable for some of these right-wingers to actually have someone question them for the first time in 6 years, but thank God for our political system. This election showed that we are not yet the Soviet Union, where everyone was obliged to give "turbulent applause" to the geriatrics in power. This administration will go down in history as one unending blemish on our national honor and fortune. God bless this country.
CSM Daniel L. Diaz retired wrote on April 4, 2007 10:00 PM:Senator Webb is standing up for what so many in this Administration have failed to do. For what is right. It is a simple question, and the only reason they will not answer it is because The Bush/Cheney Regime already has plans on the table for an attack on Iran. Keep going for the jugular SEN. Webb!
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