Flashback >> Silberman/Robb commision based info from Woodward's book

[sabra]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16916-2005Mar31.html

After 14-Month Inquiry, Many Questions Remain

By Dana Milbank
Friday, April 1, 2005; Page A07

Judge Laurence H. Silberman, co-chairman of the commission that released its report on U.S. intelligence failures yesterday, was given "full and complete access" to whatever information he needed. But when it came to what questions President Bush asked of the CIA, Silberman learned everything he needed to know from Bob Woodward.

"Actually, if you read the Woodward book, it would appear that the president did ask tough questions," Silberman said in a news conference hosted by the White House.

Why would the commission, with unfettered access to the government's most sensitive documents, rely on a book anybody can buy at Borders?

Pressed on this point, Silberman allowed that the commission did not interview Bush or Vice President Cheney during its 14-month inquiry -- although it had a "discussion" about "the nature of our inquiry."