Waxman: Top Iraq Reconstruction Official Flown To Baghdad To Avoid Oversight Hearing

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/06/iraq-carney/

Waxman: Top Iraq Reconstruction Official Flown To Baghdad To Avoid Oversight Hearing

For the first time since the war began, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) is holding aggressive oversight hearings into the billions in waste, fraud, and abuse of U.S. funds in Iraq.

On Jan. 10, when President Bush first made his plans for escalation public, he also announced plans to “appoint a reconstruction coordinator in Baghdad to ensure better results for economic assistance being spent in Iraq.” The next day, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice named career diplomat Timothy Carney to the position.

During this morning’s hearings, Waxman revealed that the State Department has blocked Carney from appearing at the hearing, despite the fact that Carney personally told Waxman he “was willing to come.” Moreover, the Bush administration has apparently rushed him to Baghdad despite claiming that the reason he could not appear at the hearing was because he “did not yet know what he was going to do in Iraq.”

WAXMAN: So I invited Ambassador Carney to testify today. When my staff talked to Ambassador Carney directly, he was cooperative and said he was willing to come. This the State Department refused.

Their first excuse was that he had not yet filled out his paperwork. Even though Secretary Rice publicly announced his critical new position, he apparently could not talk to Congress because he had not been officially hired.

Next, the State Department said Ambassador Carney could not come because he did not yet know what he was going to do in Iraq. This seemed odd, especially since the secretary had already announced that he was her new point person on Iraq reconstruction.

Then, just last week, we were informed that the department suddenly decided that Ambassador Carney was needed in Baghdad right away. So even though he was not officially hired and, according to the State Department, had no idea what he was going to do in Iraq, he was put on a plane to Baghdad this past Friday.

Waxman added that the State Department has “now told us that they may make him available to Congress in six months.”

[originalpckelly]

1. Subpoena Rice.

Make her explain.

[babylonsister]

2. Really. This is total b.s. They're helping to 'disappear' witnesses? nt

[originalpckelly]

4. There is a jail cell in the Capitol...

:P

Put her ass down there and hold her in contempt of Congress until the witness comes back to the USA. :rofl:

[TomInTib]

7. Just like they are going to "disappear" the '08 Presidential election.

Just wait and see.

[wryter2000]

5. Great idea!

:applause:

[Solly Mack]

3. shakes head

[AndyA]

6. This is just the very beginning of the bullshit.

The Dems need to grow a pair and start fighting back.

Subpoena Rice to explain is a good place to start, but just a drop in the bucket. The Dems are going to have to send a message that they aren't going to permit themselves to be f*cked with.

[Cerridwen]

8. Video conference - during the few hours a day they have

electricity?

Charges of obstructing a House investigation? Hmm, has a nice ring to it?

[porphyrian]

9. Contempt! (If there is something like that for Congressional hearings.)

Take 'em down, Waxman. We're behind you.

[Mandate My Ass]

11. That's right. Book 'em, Danno.

They are deliberately undermining an investigation by Congress.

[babylonsister]

13. And what's to stop them from continually doing so if no one says 'enough'? nt

[Mandate My Ass]

14. I like the suggestion in post #1

Subpoena Condi - and tell her no shoe shopping on the way.

[woodsprite]

10. Guess the admin. hadn't had time to school Mr. Carney in

what they would consider proper answers or he hadn't gone to his 'spin' classes yet. I agree. They should subpeona Rice. Has she been under oath any of these other times she had been questioned. Could they put her under oath and really grill her? Maybe she'd finally crack! :evilgrin:

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

12. Send a team to Iraq and question him there.

:shrug:

[gratuitous]

15. So State knew that Waxman wanted to talk to Carney

First they stalled and said the paperwork hadn't been filled out. Then it was Carney couldn't come because he didn't know what his appointment was about. Then, darn the luck, Carney can't come because he's already in Baghdad.

Something smells here. And I'm sure our bulldogs in the press, who are so on top of astronauts in diapers and what a campaign staffer said on her blog three years ago, will be on this like so many geese on a junebug, right?

Right?

Oooh, listen! Crickets!

[WilliamPitt]

16. Worst. Job. Ever.

I've had crappy jobs before, but never have I worked a gig that could catapult me into a civil war zone on the whim of cretin bosses.

[ThomCat]

17. It's time for Subpeonas!

It's time to drag their asses in through that door!
x(

[RiverStone]

18. Call it intuition - but it 'feels' like Shrub's

Boxed illusions and lies - and all the underlying corruption that has fed this immoral war is starting to unravel. With Libby on the stand, and Waxman just beginning long overdue oversight (overdue because the rethugs did no oversight) that the shit's about to hit the fan BIG.

My guess is the unaccounted for billions is just the tip of the iceberg. Who was it that said -"You can run, but you can't hide."

[rpgamerd00d]

19. Time to exercise that subpoena power - asap.

[babylonsister]

20. I truly hope Waxman's considering that option. nt

[youngdem]

21. Hold him in contempt, and subpoena Rice

Then cut off funding for Rice's personal support services, like meals, car service, phone, etc, and turn her into a peasant until she complies and furnishes a signed statement saying she understands the essential role of the co-equal branch's oversight.

(yes, I am high...would be nice to live in such a world every once in a while, though, wouln't it?)

[Felinity]

23. Impeach the Bitch for Incompetence

Or at least subpoena her ass every single week and grill her like a frickin' hot dog every day. One committee one day, another the next.

If the Pugs won't allow debate or votes on the floor, investigate, investigate, investigate.

[tk2kewl]

22. You gotta be in some deep shit if you rather be in Bagdad

[goforit]

26. He's being forced to go to Bagdad.

[Old and In the Way]

24. They are running scared...what do you think they are hiding?

That $8.8 Billion dollars, that's 8.8 THOUSAND MILLION dollars...didn't just disappear.
It got spent before the 2004 election and just before the Iraqi's took over. Why were all of the Iraqi reconstruction personnel all vetted for ideological party purity? 'Cuz that money was used to but an election in 2004. Call it a gut feeling.

[goforit]

25. Hmmm....Well I guess they all will leave the country soon. See ya Condi!

[faithnotgreed]

27. please contact waxmans office to let them know how much

we need and recognize his exceptional work