America's Debate > Senate Intelligence Committee Report

Full Version: Senate Intelligence Committee Report

America's Debate > In the News > Election 2006

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BoF

Sep 9 2006, 09:35 PM

Yesterday the Senate Intelligence Committee released a report indicating that Saddam Hussein had no role in 9/11. According to news report, the report was released after Republican Senators Olympia Snowe (Maine) and Chuck Hagel (Nebraska) joined Democrats in voting for release.

Below is a PDF report released Friday, September 8, 2006:

http://www.intelligence.senate.gov/phaseiiaccuracy.pdf

Here is a brief synopsis from the San Diego Union-Tribune about the report:

QUOTE

WASHINGTON – Saddam Hussein rejected overtures from al-Qaeda and believed Islamic extremists were a threat to his regime, a reverse portrait of an Iraq allied with Osama bin Laden painted by the Bush White House, a Senate panel has found.

The administration's version was based in part on intelligence that White House officials knew was flawed, according to Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee, citing newly declassified documents released by the panel.

<snip>

The report said that al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaeda leader killed by a U.S. airstrike last June, was in Baghdad from May 2002 until late November 2002. But 'postwar information indicates that Saddam Hussein attempted, unsuccessfully, to locate and capture al-Zarqawi and that the regime did not have a relationship with, harbor or turn a blind eye toward Zarqawi.'

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/i...iraqreport.html

Questions for debate:

1. What impact will this report have on the 2006 elections?

2. How will Democrats use this report?

3. Will this report force Republicans to revise their strategy for the midterm elections?

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barnaby2341

Sep 9 2006, 10:36 PM

1. What impact will this report have on the 2006 elections?

Probably no impact at all. Reports have estimated that around 60% of our population does not agree with the war. I don't think a new report will increase that number. There are the hardline Republicans who I know personally, that are downgrading their automotive transportation from SUVs to Mazdas, can't sell their house on the market, and rotate credit cards every time they get one in the mail so they can avoid the interest rates that they can't afford, yet they still support the President every step of the way. Those people won't change their minds regardless of what report comes out.

2. How will Democrats use this report?

This report is a non-issue in terms of the Democratic approach. A Democrat should be focusing on the struggling middle class, the energy costs, the housing market, the increased outsourcing by major American companies, namely the automotive sector. The opinions on the war are solidified. A new report won't do anything to increase their edge in November.

3. Will this report force Republicans to revise their strategy for the midterm elections?

No, the Republicans are already hard at work. Iran is closer to a nuclear weapon, Iraq is still a bloody mess, the Israel-Lebanon cease fire is falling apart, the region is just as unstable as ever and yet gas prices are falling to pre-war prices. Not to mention the unveiling of the terror plots that the British foiled that now have brought about the return of the color coded Terror alerts. They are distancing themselves from the President and trying to present an independent appearance like they are all Mavericks. Rick Santorum is a perfect example, he voted for the President's initiatives 95% of the time that GW has been in office but all he can talk about is the one time he voted down the President's Amtrak proposal. They are hard at work and the curtain will never be pulled open for something as trivial as a democracy.

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