Rumsfeld, in reversal, to attend public hearing

[cal04]

In a reversal, the Pentagon on Wednesday said Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will testify publicly on the Iraq war to a key Senate committee after Democrats blasted him for planning to bypass it because of a busy schedule.

Earlier in the day, Rumsfeld told reporters he would not attend a morning Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, but would have a closed briefing for all senators along with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and two generals later on Thursday.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, a New York Democrat who led the charge against Rumsfeld, called his "11th hour decision to reverse course ... the right one."

She said senators and the American people "should hear directly from the top civilian leader at the Pentagon, the person most responsible for implementing the President's military policy in Iraq and Afghanistan."

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N02354293.htm

[Rose Siding]

1. Oh, man. They are REALLY sweating.

I guess from now until Nov they'll be dancing to an unfamiliar tune.

[truthisfreedom]

2. flippetty-flop!

[pinto]

3. That's good news. Let's see what transpires...

[sabra]

4. Rumsfeld Decides to Testify on Iraq War (reverses decision to skip)

http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2006/08/02/ap2923815.html

Rumsfeld Decides to Testify on Iraq War

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld late Wednesday reversed a decision to skip a public hearing on Capitol Hill and said he will testify at a session on the Iraq war.

The move came after hours of criticism and pressure from Senate Democrats who urged him to come before the Senate Armed Services Committee to answer questions about the administration's Iraq policies. Earlier Wednesday, Rumsfeld had said that his crowded calendar did not allow him to be present for the meeting Thursday morning, but he agreed to attend a private, classified briefing in the afternoon with the entire Senate.

Speaking to Pentagon reporters earlier Wednesday, Rumsfeld suggested that complaints about his decision could be politically motivated.

"Let's be honest: Politics enters into these things, and maybe the person raising the question is interested in that," said Rumsfeld, without identifying anyone. The defense secretary said he had testified in the past and was not reluctant to face off against some of the committee's more vocal war critics, including Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass.

[driver8]

5. Will he testify under oath?

Or will he be sitting on Uncle Dick's lap like Junior did.

[msongs]

6. is donnie boy gonna be put under oath?

wouldnt count on anything he says otherwise. and his entire testimony IS politically motivated.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/2007politicalcalendars.htm

[Redstone]

7. But he still won't say anything that makes any fucking sense.

He hasn't ever done so before, has he?

Redstone

[marmar]

8. Beware of neocons bearing gifts...

:scared:

[Just Me]

9. Honestly, his testimony will be useless. He'll play the "rationale",...

,...and "avoidance" game,...at which he has complete expertise (being the pathological liar and all that he is).

This is just a "reactive" (can you imagine from these people) concern about loss of power.

[mikelgb]

10. Id Ask:

"What was Bush's reason for not accepting your multiple resignations?"

[Mr_Spock]

11. Can they have him executed for war crimes?

I wish.

[xchrom]

12. i'm glad on the one hand that democratic party pressure

forced him to change his mind.

but rumsfeld isn't going to tell the truth -- and i just wonder if there will be any face to face confrontations with quotes of his, numbers{i.e. we did not need more soldiers}, weapons of mass destruction, etc?

[mrsadm]

13. "The insurgency is in its last throes!" is what you'll hear