Senator Webb was the very last one out of twenty one committee members to ask a question. I was wondering what he'd come up with, as the major points about the increase in troop levels, etc., had already been covered at length.
Senator Biden introduced Webb by complimenting him on his great patience and also noted that he has extensive experience in the issues being covered. Webb replied jokingly that he would be brief as he knew he was the last thing between Biden and lunch and between Secretary Rice and the door. Hee.
Senator Webb said he was going to make a point to which it was not necessary for Secretary Rice to respond, and then he would pose a question. He also said that Condi is welcome to visit him any time to talk - "the door is open" - and he also extended "best regards" to the President. The rest follows ....
He noted that a major factor in his and others' opposition to the war was that it would empower Iran. The empowerment has come to pass, and in fact Iran's power in Iraq is probably the greatest it has been for 200 years. He suggested that this situation is somewhat reminiscent of the situation back in 1971, when China, then a rogue state, had an American war on its border, and President Nixon flew to Beijing and started the process toward a rapprochement between the U.S. and China. He pointed out that there are two ways to go with Iran. One is the informal behind the scenes type of diplomacy we occasionally do with Iran, and the other is to step forth as the major diplomatic actor and to challenge Iran to come to the table. He said "it would be a bold move for President Bush to fly to Tehran" and initiate talks.
He then asked his question, saying first that at the Pentagon during Reagan's tenure the President's powers vis a vis authority to launch military actions was well understood, but in examining the language of the resolution passed in support of the Iraq war it would be possible to extrapolate out from that language that its reference to direct versus indirect threats might be thought by some to imbue the President with the power to launch a preemptive attack without Congressional approval. He asked Condi point blank whether this was the administration's interpretation of that resolution. I would have loved to see her face on that question, but can only say that after a pause she replied that she could not answer that question in testimony and would prefer to make one in writing. He said that was fine, and he looked forward to seeing it.
I believe there may have been followup regarding under what circumstances the administration would consider a threat, direct or indirect, to be so significant as to warrant an attack, but was too busy yelling encouragement at my radio to process what he said.
Webb's questions concluded, Biden took over and thanked Condi for coming, yada yada, then picked up Webb's football and ran with it (yep, too many Allen speeches) and said that he and the rest of the members of the Committee were looking forward to the answer, too, and that if the administration tried to assert its right to launch a preemptive attack on Iran without Congressional approval it would set in motion a constitutional crisis with the Congress opposing the President.
There was then a little colloquy where Biden referred to when the troop increase came, and Webb pointed out that a number of Marine units in Anbar province (Jimmy's included, perhaps?) have already been told their tours are extended, and that in effect the surge Anbar has partially taken place.
There was more, but this is what I can remember an hour after hearing it.
Have I mentioned yet just how impressed I am with our new Senator?
Thank God!
At this link, you can see Kerry give it to Condi:
You can also watch Hagel who's very good, too.
Webb asked the question because he knows he will be stonewalled on the answer. That will give him and the FR Committee the rationale to call other witnesses and develop their own findings. They are building the knowledge base for a confrontation - one fact at a time.
When Biden was closing the meeting he told Secretary Rice that of the 21 members of the Committee, Democratic and Republican, only one or two had shown any approval for the President's current course of action, and he invited her to take that back to the White House.
It's all part of the problem of Iran holding too many cards with the Nuclear issue AND having power over the actions of the Shias.
Cowboy diplomacy is what it is and it's useless and has made us less safe.
Finally as I mentioned earlier today NPR had a story on the radio at like 0610 were they were interviewing some Kurds in the north of Iraq. The conversation was basically the Kurds saying they were not sure if they wanted to defend parts of Iraq, namely those sections run by Arabs. Excuse me!?##*$W)@) Like, this is your country and well you want it or not? My blood was boiling after hearing that. Do they know how far and how much time and money and sweat and tears, etc. we have given for their country? WHAT A MESS.
The hard questions have to be asked and I am glad Senator Webb and the rest of the Senate are finally asking those questions.
It is coming out on Yahoo right now too about all the changes to Reserve status, from 12 months to 2 sets of 24 months.
Also new numbers about how Gates wants to expand the services, making a huge military machine once again.
Get your duct tape and canned goods ready folks. Something is brewing down the road, my opinion only, but the hair on my arms are standing up.
And I just read a statement Condi made before the committee today. She will not say that we WON'T attack Iran. What are they thinking? Do they want the entire region to go up in smoke? Provaction can be bitter/sweet. I think her trip tomorrow will be telling and there is no final word if she even plans to visit Al Maliki.