Some Democrats Denied Entry Into Iraq

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20031015/us_nm/iraq_usa_polls_dc&cid=1896&ncid=1480

But U.S. authorities denied Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd and three other Democrats critical of administration policy permission to enter Iraq, citing logistical problems.

Among a stream of senior administration officials who appeared in public last week to argue that things in Iraq were going reasonably well, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld conceded there were problems as well as successes.

"I know what is going on there and it is a mixed picture," Rumsfeld said in a lecture at the Ronald Reagan presidential library west of Los Angeles.

"It isn't a simple clear picture. The schools are open, the hospitals are functioning, there's a new Central Bank that's converted a new currency -- so there's an impressive record of accomplishment, but it's balanced against the fact that people are being killed," he said.

more

[tom_paine]

1. Oh, to live in an Empire and not a Free Country!

Now I have just a taste of what the Soviet Citizenry felt.

Sure, the Dems were denied acces "for National Security Reasons"

Just like I believe that Trotsky jammed that icepick in his own head in a fit of suicidal depression.

[benfranklin1776]

3. ...or Allende committing "suicide"

Yes the blatancy of it is staggering. They don't even pretend any more.

[bowens43]

2. Sure , deny entry to critics

but if it's someone who is going to blow sunshine up bushes ass, let them in.

[goforit]

4. Hope those soldiers in Iraq know that!!!

They may just choose to have the revoluytion out there!!1

[hang a left]

5. These people just suck!

[american_mutt]

6. Hey!

It takes time to plot those 'unfourtunate accidents' for them!

[newyawker99]

22. Hi american_mutt!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[IndianaGreen]

7. What kind of nonsense is this?

Congress has a Constitutional oversight duty to see what is going on in Iraq. How many times have we seen idiots like Mitch McConnell on TV talking about his trip to Iraq? Why is Rummy keeping the Democrats from seeing for themselves?

[prolesunited]

8. This is simply unbelievable!

I hope they make a MAJOR issue of this and the press covers it.

In some respects, I guess it's better that they refused entry than to have some "unfortunate accident" befall them in Iraq — you know plane crash, convoy bombing, etc.

[LizW]

9. "Nearly 100 U.S. personnel have been killed

...in Iraq since Bush declared an end to major combat five months ago."

This blatant falsehood is reported without any qualifier. The actual figure is twice that many.

http://lunaville.org/warcasualties/Summary.aspx

E-mail Alan Elsner at Reuters and challenge this false reporting.

[e-mail]

[gratuitous]

10. Who are you going to believe?

This administration or your lying eyes? No need to go there for yourselves; trust the Bushistas! Have they ever lied to you before? Misled, sure. But lie?

[leftchick]

11. The Dems in the Senate Better hold that 87 Billion hostage!!

Until their Dem colleagues are allowed in to see for themselves what a clusterfuck, moneypit, hellhole Iraq has become!

:grr:

[benfranklin1776]

12. Precisely.

Use what leverage you have. Also relentlessly hammer the "what are they trying to hide" questions.

[snooper2]

13. Dupe..

Information is in the "In Face of Casualties, Bush Has Hard Sell on Iraq" thread...

[NNN0LHI]

24. Thanks, but I thought this story within a story deserved its own thread

Thanks again for your help.

Don

[peterh]

14. For over a week now….

The official talking propaganda point for all neo-cons has been that the media has done a poor job in portraying the administrations fantasyland in Iraq. But, I find it astounding that the administration would take it to the next level and actually deny entry to a U.S. Senator…..fuckingunbelievable.

Now, that certainly isn’t the case for the following group and you can bet the farm that the tour director will have a very clean itinerary laid out for these gals….

<http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/6975230.htm>

High ranking GOP congresswoman leading all-female delegation to Iraq

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

15. "Would you believe....logistics?"

[bobthedrummer]

18. Insane Rumsfeld luncheon with 1stArmor members transcript

it's insane-
http://www.dod.mil/transcripts/2003/tr20030906-secdef0654.html

[wtmusic]

16. "You can enter, but you have to sign this letter to US newspapers first."

[R Hickey]

17. Afraid the Senators will see the stump fields of olive and fruit trees

Our soldiers are deliberately provoking the Iraqi farmers by cutting down all their fruit trees, in what I guess is Bush's tough love program.

This is the real story of what is happening over there.

[Emillereid]

19. It was safe enough for Bruce Willis to run all over Iraq, but not safe

enough for the inquiring eyes and minds of the loyal opposition. These guys make me sick.

[Dhalgren]

20. The forces of the Empire aught not to have it

both ways. Either the "picture" in Iraq is much better, with better control and security; or it's not even save enough to let congresspersons in for a tour. Which is it? I think we know the answer.

[shockingelk]

21. Reason for denial: "People are shooting at us."

"Its just not like going to Bethany Beach. It's a war zone. People are shooting at us."

This is Tom Korologos, senior counselor to Bremer speaking. RealPlayer, segment starts at about 1:40 ... "Congress Debates Iraq Funding" http://www.npr.org/rundowns/rundown.php?prgDate=15-Oct-2003&prgId=3

Another article ... Andy Card makes planes available for these types of trips:
http://www.thehill.com/news/101503/reconstruction.aspx

More in GD: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=536953

[tom_paine]

23. Totalitarianism at it's finest!

Sure, the Busheviks are scared for the Democrats

(of course, Busheviks travelt to Iraq1 with no problem)

God, I miss living in a Free Country. Luckily, the Bushevik Tyranny has yet to "trickle down" to our every day lives.

[wellst0nev0ter]

25. Where's the article that described

how a bunch of U.S. observers sympathetic to this Oil War was flown into Eye-Rack, but every night they take a four hour trip back to Kuwait in order to steer clear of the danger?

[Octafish]

26. That's odd. There's always room for the GOP lickspittles.

Gee. Is democracy going "GOP Only?"

Burns, Thomas optimistic after visit to Iraq

By TED MONOSON
Gazette Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- Despite continuing terrorist attacks in Iraq, Sens. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., and Craig Thomas, R-Wyo., are optimistic about the country's future.

"They are going to be in a position pretty soon to do things for themselves if we get this terrorism thing out of their hair," said Thomas, who, along with Burns and three other Republican senators, spent two days in Iraq last week.

Both of the Western senators offered praise for the administration's plans to rebuild Iraq and the Iraqis efforts to establish a democratic government.

"They are rasslin' with this thing," Burns said. "They are dealing with this Islam thing. These people have courage you won't believe. They are going to have a constitution. It may not be something you or I would put our John Hancock on, but it'll be a good constitution."

CONTINUED...

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2003/10/15/build/state/48-iraq.inc

[burr]

27. It doesn't matter that McConnell, Chaffee, and Burns just arrived back.

The government can provide the protection and the approval for these Repukes to enter Iraq, but never for anyone who might criticize shrub's purpose. I thought Mitch gave a very sweet and optimistic outlook of what's going on in Iraq, today in the Senate. O8)