My Rep David Wu Response To Cheney Impeachment

[Parche]

Dear Mr. (Parche)


Thank you for sharing your concerns about Vice President Cheney and your support for his impeachment. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this issue.



Like you, I am deeply troubled by the Bush Administration's transgressions, including those of Vice President Cheney. Throughout our history, nations around the world have looked to the United States as a model of liberty; and we have done our best to set a high standard. Recently, however, we have witnessed the Bush Administration ignore the freedoms established in the Constitution on countless occasions for what they have claimed is in the national interest.



As you know, Vice President Cheney helped orchestrate the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq. I opposed the Iraq War from the beginning. In my floor statement on the day Congress voted to authorize the war (October 9, 2002), I said "I would not hesitate to use force if there were sufficient evidence of an imminent threat to the United States, our allies, or our military forces; but in all the briefings that I have attended, in all of my study and research, I have not found sufficient evidence of an imminent threat to us, our allies, or our military." Therefore, I voted against giving the President the authority to go to war.



The Bush Administration not only failed to accurately present its case for war to the American people, it is also obvious now that it failed to adequately plan for post-war Iraq. President Bush launched the war with far fewer troops than U.S. Army Chief of Staff Eric Shinseki said were necessary. Vice President Cheney and top Administration officials proclaimed that U.S. soldiers would be greeted as liberators. Civilian leaders at the Pentagon said Iraq could pay for its own reconstruction and that U.S. troop levels could be cut in half just a few months after the invasion as Iraqis took control over their own security. Virtually all of the Administration's pre-war assumptions have proven false.



Of more concern, documents such as the leaked Downing Street Memo suggest that the Administration manipulated intelligence to so that it would appear as though the Iraqi government possessed weapons of mass destruction. Similarly, White House attempts to discredit Ambassador Joseph Wilson's refutation of the Niger yellowcake story, and the subsequent exposure of his wife Valerie Plame as a covert CIA agent, show the depths to which the Administration is willing to stoop. The perjury and obstruction of justice trial of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the Vice President's former Chief of Staff and a close advisor to the president, has revealed that the vice president was likely deeply involved in the White House effort to discredit Ambassador Wilson. This serves as a poignant example of this Administration's willingness to engage in ruthless politics of personal destruction when confronted with critics who speak the truth.



I believe that Congress should thoroughly investigate whether the Administration pressured intelligence officials or altered intelligence analysts' conclusions in making their case for war in Iraq. As a member of Congress, I take my oath of office seriously, and I believe Congress can -- and should -- scrutinize the vice president's actions and policies.



I cosponsored H. Res. 635 in the previous Congress. This resolution would have established a Select Committee of the House of Representatives to investigate the Bush Administration's intent to go to war; its manipulation of pre-war intelligence; its retaliation of its critics; and its condoning of torture. The resolution also directed the committee to make recommendations regarding the grounds for possible impeachment. H. Res. 635 was referred to the House Rules Committee, but was not brought up for a vote prior to the adjournment of the 109th Congress.



Representative Dennis Kucinich (OH) recently introduced H.Res. 333. The resolution would begin impeachment proceedings against Vice President Cheney for purposely manipulating the intelligence process to deceive the citizens and the Congress of the United States by fabricating a threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and an alleged relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda, in order to justify the use of American military forces against the nation of Iraq in a manner damaging to our national security interests. H.Res. 333 has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary where it awaits further consideration.



Impeachment is a serious matter that should be reserved only for individuals who place the American people in danger by knowingly violating our laws and Constitution. That being said, should Congress uncover evidence of impeachable offenses on the part of Vice President Cheney, I will pursue appropriate action. As I do, I will keep your thoughts in mind.



Thank you again for sharing your thoughts on Vice President Cheney's tenure in the White House. If you have further questions or concerns, please contact me at 503-326-2901 or 800-422-4003. You may also receive regular updates on congressional issues by logging onto my website at http://www.house.gov/wu and signing up for our e-newsletter.


With warm regards,

David Wu
Member of Congress

[classof56]

1. Hmmm...wonder what my Rep Greg Walden would respond?

I'm guessing it would be a lot different than Wu's.

Thanks for posting.

[Pastiche423]

3. I do believe my Rep DeFazio would agree w/Wu

At our last town meeting, he said as much.

So sorry Walden is your rep.

[L. Coyote]

2. kick

[Nunyabiz]

4. Ummmm

"Congress uncover evidence of impeachable offenses on the part of Vice President Cheney"

Get real, how much more do they need? If they are waiting for a signed confession they are delusional.

[mmonk]

5. Sounds better than what I've heard lately

like "it's a waste of time" and such. I would take that response as a positive.