- The senate oversight committee for intelligence
attempted to grill attorney General Alberto Gonzales about various actions
of the administration. Twenty questions were fielded from Republicans
and twenty eight more from Democrats. Then came pointed questions
about the CIA dirty work of "grabbing someone from an airport
and taking them to Syria for interrogation." As expected, after Gonzales
attempted not to answer the question he finally responded "I don't
know, I'll have to get back to you on."
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- Gonzales was also asked "Why was
a person abducted by the agency from an airport, rendered to Syria, interrogated,
found innocent of terrorism allegations, subsequently released by Syria,
picked up AGAIN by agents and re-sent to Syria for more interrogation?"
Of course he refused to answer that as well, responding with "I'll
have to get back to you on that." Gonzales was also asked "Is
the process of rendering legal?" He responded, "We
have to obey the law and the fourth amendment." A committee member
blasted "you're the attorney general! How would you handle this
in court?" He foolishly answered again, "I'll have to get
back to you on that." Over and over he stated this ad-naseum. It's
clearly a way of telling the committee the administration does not have
to account to anyone - not even Congress.
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- Sensenbrenner is well known for being
a hard-right chairman in support of the Patriot Act. He is also known
for abruptly ending committee meetings whenever it suits him. However,
to his credit this time he made some amazing comments. He reminded
tight-lipped, unaccountable Gonzales that "This was the same committee
that supported passing the first Patriot Act and the recent extensions
of it." The chairman also reminded Gonzales that he "Was disturbed
that his committee was not kept in the loop on matters that should be handled
by FISA" [the court which authorizes secret intelligence actions.] Sensenbrenner
reiterated that he felt "His committee had been side-stepped, and
stated that "Unanswered questions of the day have raised even more questions
that need to be answered."
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- The congresswoman from Texas inquired
if the attorney general might answer questions in a classified session.
Sensenbrenner responded that "Perhaps, but by doing so it would raise
public concern even further." Quite upset at the lack of answers,
all in one sentence Sensenbrenner abruptly closed the hearing with "If
there are no objections then this meeting is adjourned" and immediately
used his hammer.
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- THE REAL QUESTIONS
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- All citizens must diligently ask the
following questions to begin with. (Many of which we already know
the answers.)
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- * Will Gonzales actually "get
back" to the committee with answers? (Not likely, as this line has
always used by anyone grilled in front of a committee on Capitol Hill.
Sensenbrenner failed to demand WHEN answers will be forthcoming.)
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- * Are these committees finally waking
up to the big power grab by Bush? (No -They already know about it and are
scared.)
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- * What will they do about the administration's
refusal to be accountable? (Most likely nothing - which is what they've
done already.)
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- * Is Bush's repeated un-accountability
regarding rendering a clear indication that secret martial law is
already in place? (Naw. He's a "Republican." They wouldn't do
such a terrible thing, right?)
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- * Is this hearing an indication that
the American people are now pressuring these four year wonders for answers
in an election year? (Shucks - why would an election year have anything
to do with it?)
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- * Who holds the committee responsible
for following up (due diligence) on answers it does or does not receive?
(Apparently no one.)
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- Sensenbrenner has shut up people in the
past by abruptly closing hearings that deviated from the expected script.
Improper closing of hearings is a violation of established hearing
rules. The chairman cannot close a hearing as long as any other committee
member has an inquiry. Sensenbrenner attempted again to do this
today, when the Congresswoman from Texas attempted an inquiry when he indicated
that no more questions would be accepted. After someone reminded him of
the rules, he answered the Congresswoman's question about the use of a
classified hearing to obtain missing answers. After Sensenbrenner responded
to her inquiry, he abruptly closed the hearing.
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- What we *might* be seeing are the
first rays of light illuminating a scared, complacent Congress which
is now becoming worried that the Patriot Act has loosed a monster out of
control (and during an election year. Oh, what a surprise that is.) There's
nothing like the sanitizing sunlight of day. Ever notice moss doesn't grow
on a rock or wall that receives even the shortest amount of sunlight each
day? Of course, this hearing may only be pure theater to pacify the masses. After
rapping his hammer to close the hearing the serious and intense
Sensenbrenner arose, turned and smiled at Gonzales and said "thank-you
for coming - you're welcome here anytime." So much for getting
those missing answers...
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- Why not invite someone back that arrogantly
side-steps all issues of tremendous importance to all Americans? What
happens when a "mistake" is made and they pick YOU up, and send YOU
to some Syrian hell-hole to be tortured for information you don't have?
What happens if the Syrians go too far, and you die there in more pain
and agony than you can ever imagine? Your family will never know
what happened, and will be worried sick for years when YOU disappear.
But "that only happens to the other guy," right?
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- We all know that "absolute power
corrupts, absolutely." Without doubt most American people have forgotten
this fact which was commonly taught in grade school throughout the last
century. I cannot resist one last cliché -"those that don't
learn from history's mistakes are condemned to repeat them." This
is exactly what we're seeing happening right now in front of our eyes.
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- Unauthorized kidnapping, torture and
assassinations and secret executions? Do we really want a fourth Reich
to complete its rise into power? Only angry citizens can stop
this.
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- Ted Twietmeyer
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- Source
- : CSPAN rebroadcast of hearing with Gonzales
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