http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/102607A.shtmlRice in Rare Testimony, in Rare Form
By Matt Renner
t r u t h o u t | Report
Friday 26 October 2007
In combative and analytical testimony, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice defended her department's work in Iraq in front of a Congressional committee that has uncovered multiple failures and potentially criminal actions taken by State Department officials and contractors.
The State Department is under investigation by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee for potential failures in combating corruption within the Iraqi government, mismanagement of funds and assisting in cover-ups by contractors accused of murder.
In his opening statement, Congressman Henry Waxman (D-California) explained why the Committee's investigation was relevant to the situation in Iraq: " ... almost every expert agrees that political reconciliation is the key to achieving lasting peace in Iraq. As General Petraeus has observed: 'There is no military solution to a problem like that in Iraq.' I think that's exactly right. And that's why it's so important to assess what the State Department is doing in Iraq and to understand the impacts that corruption, mismanagement, and lax oversight are having on our mission."
In her first appearance before a Democratically-controlled Oversight Committee, Rice was aggressive. The members of the Committee were given five minutes to have their questions answered. Rice, known for her long explanations and attempts to filibuster, at times talked over committee members who were attempting to cut her off.
Rice stated that the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and the liberation of Iraq were worth the money and sacrifice of life.
She blamed the current chaos in Iraq on the previous regime, stating the stabilizing Iraq "has been harder than we thought because we didn't realize how broken the country was under Saddam Hussein." :eyes:
Republicans accused Democrats of holding these hearings to try and force a withdrawal of US forces. Congressman Christopher Shays (R-Connecticut) said that Democrats thought because Iraq is corrupt, the US should withdraw troops, calling this notion "patently absurd."
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The Oversight Committee issued a subpoena for Rice's testimony regarding her role in the controversy over false intelligence claims made prior to the war in Iraq. She said publicly she would not comply with this subpoena and no questions about pre-war intelligence were asked during Thursday's hearing. Waxman has not commented on this subpoena and has not sought to enforce it publicly. Matt Renner is an assistant editor and Washington reporter for Truthout.