State Dept. Accused Of Impeding Iraq Probe

Lawmaker Complains To Rice About Alleged Meddling In Iraq Corruption, Blackwater Inquiries

(CBS/AP)  A House lawmaker on Tuesday complained to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about the alleged muzzling of State Department officials in inquiries involving Blackwater USA and Iraq's government.

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said the State Department had informed the committee that State employees could not discuss potential corruption in the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki unless the information was treated as a national security secret.

Blackwater USA, the North Carolina-based security contractor involved in the deaths of civilians in Iraq this month, has also claimed that the State Department had banned company communication with Waxman's investigators, the lawmaker said.

"I urge you to reconsider the unusual positions you are taking," Waxman wrote to Rice. "You are wrong to interfere with the committee's inquiry."

The State Department said it was cooperating with the committee and is providing the information requested.

"Blackwater has been informed that the State Department has no objection to it providing information to the committee," said Tom Casey, a State Department spokesman. "We have offered to make available for testimony those officials in the best position to respond to the specific issues the committee has raised."

Waxman said his staff was told Monday that State Department officials with what he called "direct knowledge of corruption within the Maliki government" were barred from giving the committee "assessments which judge or characterize the quality of Iraqi governance," or Baghdad's ability to address corruption, unless the material was withheld from the public.

In the Blackwater matter, Waxman said the company claimed that the State Department insisted on reviewing and approving any documents the company gave to the committee.

According to the Los Angeles Times, a letter sent last week to a senior Blackwater executive by a State Department official ordered the company "to make no disclosure of the documents or information" about its work in Iraq without approval.

Waxman also said Rice has refused to testify before his committee about the status of political reconciliation in Iraq, potential corruption or the Blackwater incident.

Rice has ordered a review of security practices for U.S. diplomats in Iraq following the killing of 11 Iraqis this month while Blackwater guards were protecting a U.S. Embassy convoy.

Waxman has scheduled a hearing on the Blackwater incident for next Tuesday, the Times reported, but Blackwater attorneys said the State Department's letter may make it "difficult, if not impossible" for company executives to testify.

Waxman and Rice tangled earlier this year when she refused to appear in person to answer questions about the Bush administration's prewar intelligence. Rice said she already has addressed claims that Iraq had sought uranium from the African nation of Niger.

[antoniof123]

These people need to learn that they are slaves of the American people and are not our rulers. They do not decide what is best for us we decide so now in 2008 America take a stand and show those that refuse to listen to us that we will not put up with them. Remove them in disgrace like they deserve take a little time and keep an eye on your Senator and Representative if they are not doing what you want them to do remove them once and for all in disgrace. Make them listen to you the master.

[fiteit1]

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice not allowing a clean investigation just spews corruption. What Rice is saying, give us more time to shed the papers, delete the emails, and intimidate the witnesses and we will black out everything else and call it sensitive material and would jeopardize the war effort.

[prinzowhales]

If the Democrats would do their Constitutional duty and impeach these filty, lying, stealing scum in the Administration, then we wouldn''t have to constantly hear them whine about their investigations being impeded or their subpoenas being ignored, or how they were lied to...

...The Democrats have shown what they are made of--they voted with the Republicans to increase sanctions against Iran--which has done nothing deserving of sanctions--for the sake of their Zionist and Big Oil paymasters. Like the cringing cur Bolliinger who took cheap shots at his guest, President Ahmadinejad, they lack the courage to stand up to the vile Israel-firsters.

[menofoz]

Lawmaker Complains To Rice About Alleged Meddling In Iraq Corruption, Blackwater Inquiries


Gasp another neocon obstructing justice; hmm, where has that been reported before?

[menofoz]

9/11 If the truth were ever revealed the house of Bush would collapse like the WTC.

[micma-2009]

Unbelievable. More stonewalling to protect Bu$hco.

[tyjohn47]

Well DOD is po''d at State too over Blackwater. Take a read through this.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20982306/

That GWB admin ''House of Cards'' might just be starting to come down.

[geneyf]

Well, at least today the Biden Amendment passed in the senate to partition Iraq. Maybe things will finally change

[ov442]

The members of this administration from Bush on down have refused to cooperate with, have stonewalled, have outright defied all investigations into their obvious corrupt wrongdoings.
The people are right. If there was ever a president and his entire staff that needs to be IMPEACHED and white house cleaned, its this one.
This admin is far far far worse than Nixon''s was.
But i think only because theres more money and technology to use to corrupt and be immoral about.

[bwessels]

How dare you question the Shadow Government? When they say no oversight, they mean No Oversight!

Hey, Ron-Paul-guy, you are SPAMMING. Thus you associate your candidate with the absolute Scum of the Internet, that everyone, right/left, male/female, black/white/green absolutely Hates. Nice job. I don''t know they guy from Adam, but now I''d never vote for him for garbage collector. Ditto for everyone else that reads CBSnews.com.

[adventurepa]

"the State Department insisted on reviewing and approving any documents the company gave to the committee."

Elmer Fud''s cartoon voice,
"Something screw-e is going on here?"

"a letter sent last week to a senior Blackwater executive by a State Department official ordered the company "to make no disclosure of the documents or information" about its work in Iraq without approval.

Things that make you go Ummmm?
Approval by who?

Waxman also said Rice has refused to testify before his committee about the status of political reconciliation in Iraq, potential corruption or the Blackwater incident.

Go Figure,
When is Enough- Enough?
Will somebody do something to stop this administration?

[j4401]

The Real Reason We''re In Iraq:
An influential group of conservatives convinced President George W. Bush that it was in America''s best interests to conquer Iraq as a first step toward dominating the oil-producing nations in the Middle East. There was no "exit plan" because we never intended to exit. The plan was, and is, to build military bases in Iraq and stay there forever. Our leaders see Iraq as a place to make money. So Bush & Co. have set up their friends to cash in on the rebuilding of Iraq.

[getloud1]

Telling the truth against government corruption is spamming? I think you''re mad because Ron Paul don''t like scumbag ripoff corporations and corrupt politicans. Tell me one person that can do a fraction of what he can do for the people of this Nation?

Wanna see the truth behind corporate and government corruption? http://thetruth07.110mb.com Get a cup of coffee and enjoy it.

[feelfree1]

Re: "State Dept. Accused Of Impeding Iraq Probe"

Not at all surprising.

Most tyrannies don''t take too kindly to folks criticizing their private death-squads.

Everyone, everywhere, has every right to defend themselves against disgusting, fascistic, terrorist-for-rent operations, like Blackwater.

The fact that these goons are still in Iraq, demonstrates further that the Iraqi "government is neither legitimate nor sovereign.

[afmca]

The State Department is just following the rules as set down by King George the Younger and his immoral advisor Darth Cheney. Look what lying to the American people got them? We will never know the truth about this administration until they are out of office and Democrats take over. What good our soldiers do in the field is then reversed by the private gun slingers from State.

[bizzzz-2009]

Ahmedinigad declared yesterday that the discussion of Iran''''s nuclear program is now "closed."
If that is his final word on the matter and the west, including France and Germany, insist that Iran not be allowed to get a nuclear weapon, the liklihood of war seems more imminent that ever.
If we do go to war with Iran, Bush''''s invasion of Iraq, despite how clumsily it was executed, would turn out to be a brilliant tactical manuveur in the long run.
Iraq is a perfect forward position, right next door to Iran. It separates Iran from Israel, so US forces could stop any missile or aircraft attack on Israel. Iraq has thousands of US troops staged there. We have a massive arsenal- troops, aircraft, rockets, missiles, fuel, etc. We can attack Iran twice as quickly being in Iraq that if we weren''''t, as well as use many more shorter range artilery and rockets.
IF, INDEED, WE HAVE TO ATTACK IRAN, AS FRANCE AND GERMANY STATE IS POSSIBLE, THAN DEMOCRATS AND LIBERALS WILL HAVE TO CONCEDE THAT WHILE BUSH"S INVASION OF IRAQ WAS CLUMSY, IT WAS ALSO BRILLIANT.
What Democrats don''''t understand is that invading Iraq was never about WMD''''s or oil. It was about Iran. It is a policy that George Bush could never tell the truth about, especially 5 years ago, but with Ahmedinigad statements yesterday, the Iraq invasion is starting to make more and more sense.

[gwagener]

Impeach Rice.

[nexgen99]

Congress should stay out of the war. They have a history of defeatism and bowing to the PC crowd.

[bizzzz-2009]

gwagener,
Boy, such a poingnant comment. What, no name calling?

[feelfree1]

nexgen99,

Re: "Congress should stay out of the war."

I couldn''t disagree more. I think that they should be placed on the front lines. Such a move could solve all kinds of problems.

[reporter14]

A picture is worth a thousand Words,
www.poconocommunitynews.com

[forthepeopl1]

AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS ARE PAYING BLACKWATER. NOTHING SHOULD BE HELD BACK FOR US.

ITS OUR MONEY NOT THE GOVERNMENTS MONEY ITS OUR,SO ANY COMPANY GETTING PAY FROM OUR TAX DOLLARS SHOULD BE AND WILL BE MADE PUBLIC............

TIME TO BURN A CROSS ON THE WHITEHOUSE LAWN !!!!!!!!!

[red164]

Hey, Ron-Paul-guy, you are SPAMMING. Thus you associate your candidate with the absolute Scum of the Internet, that everyone, right/left, male/female, black/white/green absolutely Hates. Nice job. I don''''t know they guy from Adam, but now I''''d never vote for him for garbage collector. Ditto for everyone else that reads CBSnews.com.


Ron-Paul I don''''t know they guy from Adam,

Posted by sanevoice at 01:22 PM : Sep 26, 2007

sanevoice, you liar the net is crawling with Bush bats posting from boiler rooms and acting like they just crawled out from under a rock posing as American citizens.

[nexgen99]

Re: "Congress should stay out of the war."

I couldn''''t disagree more. I think that they should be placed on the front lines. Such a move could solve all kinds of problems.
Posted by FeelFree1 at
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I agree lets send all the cowards like WAXMAN, LEVIN, FIENGOLD, FIENSTEIN, SCHUMER, BOXER and KENNEDY, KERRY, DURBIN.

[red164]

I couldn''''t disagree more. I think that they should be placed on the front lines. Such a move could solve all kinds of problems.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by FeelFree1 at 03:07 PM : Sep 26, 2007

Let every politician supporting this war pay 50% of their net worth to help fund the war and send everyone of their children over 18 years of age to the front lines of Iraq. Make it law and then have them vote on it give them a choice, the above or end the war.

[red164]

I agree lets send all the cowards like WAXMAN, LEVIN, FIENGOLD, FIENSTEIN, SCHUMER, BOXER and KENNEDY, KERRY, DURBIN.

Posted by nexgen99 at 03:33 PM : Sep 26, 2007


Some of those folks already did military service but I agree that those who voted and continue to support the war should be sent.

Just like a Republican to leave all the GOP drafter dodgers off the list.

BUT here''s a few names you don''t know anything about.

Republicans
George W. Bush: failed to complete his six-year National Guard; got assigned to Alabama so he could campaign for family friend running for U.S. Senate; failed
* *** Cheney: did not serve. Several deferments, the last by marriage
Karl Rove: did not serve

* Dennis Hastert: did not serve.
* Tom Delay: did not serve.
* Roy Blunt: did not serve.
* Bill Frist: did not serve.
* Mitch McConnell: did not serve.
* Rick Santorum: did not serve.
* Trent Lott: did not serve.
. * John Ashcroft: did not serve. Seven deferments to teach business.
* Jeb Bush: did not serve.
. * Saxby Chambliss: did not serve. "Bad knee." The man who attacked Cleland''s patriotism.
* Paul Wolfowitz: did not serve.
* Vin Weber: did not serve.
* Richard Perle: did not serve.
* Douglas Feith: did not serve.
* Eliot Abrams: did not serve.
* Richard Shelby: did not serve.
* Jon! Kyl: did not serve.
* Tim Hutchison: did not serve.
* Christopher Cox: did not serve.
* Newt Gingrich: did not serve.

[red164]

I agree lets send all the cowards like WAXMAN, LEVIN, FIENGOLD, FIENSTEIN, SCHUMER, BOXER and KENNEDY, KERRY, DURBIN.

Posted by nexgen99 at 03:33 PM : Sep 26, 2007


Some of those folks already did military service but I agree that those who voted and continue to support the war should be sent.

Just like a Republican to leave all the GOP drafter dodgers off the list.

BUT here''''s a few names you don''''t know anything about.

* John M. McHugh: did not serve.
* JC Watts: did not serve.
* Jack Kemp: did not serve. "Knee problem," although continued in NFL for 8 years.
* Dan Quayle: Journalism unit of the Indiana National Guard.
* Rudy Giuliani: did not serve.
* George Pataki: did not serve.
* Spencer Abraham: did not serve.
* John Engler: did not serve.
* Lindsey Graham: National Guard lawyer.
Alberto Gonzales Mexican street gang

Pundits & Preachers
* Sean Hannity: did not serve.
* Rush Limbaugh: did not serve (4-F with a ''pilonidal cyst.'')
* Bill O''Reilly: did not serve.
* Michael Savage: did not serve.
* George Will: did not serve.
* Chris Matthews: did not serve.
* Paul Gigot: did not serve.
* Bill Bennett: did not serve.
* Pat Buchanan: did not serve.
* John Wayne: did not serve.
* Bill Kristol: did not serve.
* Kenneth Starr: did not serve.
* Antonin Scalia: did not serve.
* Clarence Thomas: did not serve.
* Ralph Reed: did not serve.
* Michael Medved: did not serve

[feelfree1]

red164,

Re: "Let every politician supporting this war pay 50% of their net worth to help fund the war and send everyone of their children over 18 years of age to the front lines of Iraq. Make it law and then have them vote on it give them a choice, the above or end the war."

Good proposal, although I don''t think that their children should have to suffer for the crimes of their parents, if they are opposed to this criminal debacle.

[red164]

I agree lets send all the cowards like WAXMAN, LEVIN, FIENGOLD, FIENSTEIN, SCHUMER, BOXER and KENNEDY, KERRY, DURBIN.

Posted by nexgen99 at 03:33 PM : Sep 26, 2007

R) Senators did not serve Impressive list of GOP war hero''s

What do all these Republican Senators have in common?

NO MILITARY SERVICE

did not serve
Lamar Alexander
Wayne Allard
Christopher Bond
Sam Brownback
Jim Bunning
Richard Burr
Saxy Chambliss
Tom Coburn
Norm Coleman
Susan Collins
Bob Corker
John Cornyn
Mike Crapo
Jim DeMint
Pete Domenici
John Ensign
Charles Grassley
Judd Gregg
Orrin Hatch
Kay Hutchison
Jon Kyl
Joe Liberman
Trent Lott
Mel Martinez
Lisa Murkowski
Richard Shelby
Gordon Smith
Olympia Snowe
John Sununu
John Thune

[red164]

Posted by FeelFree1 at 03:42 PM : Sep 26, 2007

One wonders how fast those politicians would work on a new military strategy if they were facing such a thing.

[nexgen99]

red164 maybe those you listed did not serve, but at least they support our troops.

[red164]

red164 maybe those you listed did not serve, but at least they support our troops.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by nexgen99 at 03:53 PM : Sep 26, 2007

Come out of that fairly land you live in the troops were sent to Iraq with inadequate equipment for protection and not enough men at the begging of the war. Have you not heard about those two facts well documented facts even the national media has reported on it. Just like Walter Reed hospital etc, etc.

[red164]

Posted by nexgen99 at 03:53 PM : Sep 26, 2007

Crawl back under a rock and I will shovel you some reading material so you can catch up on what%u2019s been going on in the USA since Bush was appointed President.

[bizzzz-2009]

If we do what the Democrats want to do and get out of Iraq, do you think the Iranian sleeper cells will get out of the US?

[red164]

Iranian sleeper cells will get out of the US?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by bizzzz at 04:00 PM : Sep 26, 2007

They will remain as long as the PTB say so, just like before 9/11.

[feelfree1]

bizzzz,

Re: "If we do what the Democrats want to do and get out of Iraq, do you think the Iranian sleeper cells will get out of the US?"

The only "sleeper cells" that have been proven, are the ones that fill the void between your ears.

[red164]

Posted by nexgen99 at 03:53 PM : Sep 26, 2007

The war was about oil anyway don''t you even know that?

The former head of Federal Reserve just came out and said that also. Like Greenspan was or ever will be out of the loop!

[nexgen99]

red164 no you need to come out of la la land. Who has called our troops killers, murders, etc etc. Democrats that''s who the same scum bags from the Vietnam Era and I remember them all to well.

[nexgen99]

red164... We have not taken a drop of Oil and most of the Oil contracts have gone to other nations, wake up.

[lars008-2009]

it is fascist nazi terrorislam stupid,,,

non muslims of the world unite,,, fight against the tyranny of the fascist nazi terrorslam imperialist empire of the darkside,,,

I was a fanatic...I know their thinking, says former radical Islamist
By blaming the Government for our actions, those who pushed this "Blair''s bombs" line did our propaganda work for us.
More important, they also helped to draw away any critical examination from the real engine of our violence: Islamic theology.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=465570&in_page_id=1770

Bless the Beasts and Children
Fascist nazi terrorslam kills every man woman and child in the village again%u2026 typical mo for terrorslam%u2026
http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/bless-the-beasts-and-children.htm

Our Prophet commanded us to fight the kaafirs when we are able and to attack them in their homelands and to give them three choices before we enter their lands: either they become Muslim and be like us, sharing our rights and duties; or they pay the jizyah (poll tax) and feel themselves subdued; or they fight, in which case their wealth, women, children and homes become permissible as booty for the Muslims.
http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=13759&ln=eng&txt=before%20islam%20arabia%20pagan

the truth about fascist nazi terrorislam...
http://www.terrorismawareness.org/what-really-happened/

[red164]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by nexgen99 at 04:10 PM : Sep 26, 2007

Oh you remember, wasn''t Vietnam proven to be the wrong war at the wrong place at the wrong time. I wasn''t one those folks cursing, spitting at or throwing things at the men returning home at that time. They didn''t deserve that, I was a kid at that time but again look at all the draft dodgers from that era and no finer example than VP Cheney, he may be some kind of hero to guys like you but I wouldn%u2019t hesitate to tell you to your face what he really is.

[red164]

red164... We have not taken a drop of Oil and most of the Oil contracts have gone to other nations, wake up.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by nexgen99 at 04:11 PM : Sep 26, 2007


You''re out of the loop guy and theirs not much hope for folks like you, so live and let live.

[nexgen99]

red16... I am not talking about whether any war is right or wrong. But when troop are in harms way you don''t disparage them like some of the democratic politician haves been doing. You can debate the war but not the troops. PERIOD.

[lars008-2009]

LIBERAL DEM0NIC-RAT CHEER LEADER COURIC SAYS NOT ALL PEOPLE OF THE WORLD CAN HAVE DEMOCRACY

Couric, And I think the jury is still out as to whether democracy can really thrive in Iraq.%u201D
http://www.examiner.com/blogs/Yeas_and_Nays/2007/9/26/Couric-weighs-in-on-Iraq-Rather

[nexgen99]

red164... We have not taken a drop of Oil and most of the Oil contracts have gone to other nations, wake up.
------
Posted by nexgen99 at 04:11 PM : Sep 26, 2007

------------
You''''re out of the loop guy and theirs not much hope for folks like you, so live and let live.
poster by red164
-----------------------------------------------------
Show me a news article or report of oil contracts we have gotten.

[bigtaco10]

U knew they would immediately send someone to cover...

Always trying to make "others look bad" when they (the administration cronies) are the one''s that come out smelling like the dead dog Mike Vick killed!

Same thing...murderers --- the whole lot of them!

[lars008-2009]

both houses of congress vote overwhelmingly against the fascist nazi moveon brownshirts,,, hahahaha

Senate Overwhelmingly Condemns MoveOn.org Ad
http://cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ForPress.NewsReleases&ContentRecord_id=23fe0dc2-802a-23ad-4b68-43ec42e16ab1
House overwhelmingly condemns MoveOn ad
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/house-overwhelmingly-condemns-moveon-ad-2007-09-26.html

[bigtaco10]

The lousiest "leg to stand on for republipukes" is ---- "not supporting the troops"!!!!

WAH-WAH-WAH!

I have not read one post where an American citizen had written "I do not support the troops" yet, you right-wingers always try that "spin".

Look, Daddy-Dubyah has tried it and it didn''t work.

You''re all in the same boat...no plan...going nowhere!

[red164]

Show me a news article or report of oil contracts we have gotten.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by nexgen99 at 04:26 PM : Sep 26, 2007

Of course the contracts sitting in my office hold on, really does any US citizen know which multi national oil cartel is running or will be involved in sucking the oil out of Iraq''s dirt. Do you think Greenspan just made that up? Don%u2019t you know about all the men in the BUSH ADMIN with ties to the Oil Industry, for crying out loud Cheney met with many of them back in 2001 too draft the US energy policy for the next 50 years and the public was denied access to the information of those attending.

Good Lord theirs just no hope for you.

GOOD LUCK

[lars008-2009]

VOTE FOR JEFFERSON,,, VOTE AGAINST FASCIST NAZI TERRORISLAM,,, VOTE GOP,,,

dnc are like john adams and want to give the jihadist their lunch money hoping they will leave us alone,,,

gop are like thomas jefferson and want to spend their lunch money on weapons and go kick the jihadists in their arses,,,

What Thomas Jefferson learned from the Muslim book of jihad,,,

Thomas Jefferson knew about fascist nazi islam,,, he killed plenty of them,,,

In 1786 Jefferson and John Adams went to negotiate with Tripoli''s envoy to London, Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdrahaman or (Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja). They asked him by what right he extorted money and took slaves. Jefferson reported to Secretary of State John Jay, and to the Congress:

The ambassador answered us that [the right] was founded on the Laws of the Prophet (Mohammed), that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have answered their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Mussulman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to heaven.[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Barbary_War
http://www.usvetdsp.com/jan07/jeff_quran.htm
muslim justifies slavery and piracy%u2026
http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?6bdec278-6a71-4436-bc4d-29d1c54b0ad7