Rockefeller: Former Senate Cover-Up Committee Chairman(Pat Roberts)Took Orders From Cheney

[RedEarth]

In an interview with McClatchy Newspapers, Sen. John Rockefeller (D-WV) said that Vice President Dick Cheney exerted “constant” pressure on the former chairman, Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS), to stall an investigation into the Bush administration’s use of false intelligence on Iraq. The so-called Phase II report on the administration’s use of pre-war intelligence was delayed for over two years. Two of its five portions were finally released in Sept. 2006.

Rockefeller said that he knew Cheney attended regular policy meetings in which he conveyed White House directions to conservative Capitol Hill staffers. They “just had to go along with the administration,” he said. Here are examples of Roberts’ vacillations on the Phase II investigation per White House orders:

“We’ll proceed with Phase II. It is a priority. I made my commitment and it will get done.”

“I don’t know if we can get it done before the election.”

“That is basically on the back burner.”

“I don’t think there should be any doubt that we have now heard it all regarding prewar intelligence. I think that it would be a monumental waste of time to replow this ground any further.”

more..........

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/26/cheney-roberts/

[saltpoint]

1. Roberts is a toadie. If Rockefeller's claims are true, I'm not

terribly surprised.

But I am disappointed. That's not the bargain citizens expect from their elected representatives.

Shame on Senator Roberts.

[Captain Hilts]

2. Say it LOUDER Rocky. Say it L O U D! nt

[LSK]

3. Damn, the shit that is coming out

Elections do wonders!

Randi is covering this now.

[Lusted4]

4. Reservations are going fast for the bus leaving for Leavenworth. nt

[BuyingThyme]

5. Impeding a Congressional investigation?

Or effective politics?

[Judi Lynn]

10. Doesn't seem to be a matter of concern for the current crop of Republicans, does it?

Can't think of more of them than you can count on one hand who appear to be willing to even consider the "rightness" of it.

[blm]

6. Most Dem senators refused to sign Downing Street Memo Letter of Inquiry in June2005.

They were PRESSURED to do so by most of us internet activists - only TEN Dem senators called for that most important aspect of Phase 2. The others didn't even bother with Phase 2 till WE embarrassed them into it later that fall.

It would only take FIVE Dem senators on the intel committee or 4 intel and the senate leader (Reid) to have forced a DSM inquiry at the time. Only ONE intel senator signed. That was IT.

Shame. And shame on Rockefeller for not speaking out BEFORE the election about this. He had no right to bargain away his voice before the election.

[Lusted4]

7. Lets hear it for Conyers

Hip

[blm]

9. Conyers pushed the house letter - Kerry pushed the senate letter.

Pat Roberts was the subject of MANY THREADS here at DU throughout that time.

[catmandu57]

8. So, when do we get Phase II

There isn't anyone to obstruct the way now.

[partylessinOhio]

11. It was crystal clear to me that all the Congressional Repuglicans that were

toting the BushLine were taking their orders from the WH.

We must have Impeachment for so many, many reasons.

[blm]

13. Yes, but why did so many Dem senators tow that line silently before the 2004 election?

.

[tblue37]

12. Roberts has to run for reelection in the next midterm. We got rid of Jim Ryun

in '06. I am hoping we can ditch Roberts in the next cycle. Kansas is moving toward the blue side of the map.

Carrying water for BushCo is not going to help Roberts'reelection chances next time.

[Octafish]

14. Lots in Congress deserve to be in the federal pen, too.

They are accessories in conspiracy to defraud the People of the United States through legislation.

They also are guilty of treason by approving Bush and his plan to lie America into war.