Neil D Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 [:"blue"]Well, some of the democrates seem to have teeth.... [/] WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday defended her integrity and honesty as she clashed with senators about the Bush administration's justification for the Iraq war and its exit strategy. Testifying at her U.S. Senate confirmation hearing, Rice was questioned about the number of U.S. troops sent to Iraq, the adequacy of Iraqi forces being trained to replace them and the failure to find weapons of mass destruction that were the Bush administration's central justification for the war. Rice, whose confirmation as the first black woman secretary of state is all but assured, vowed to press diplomacy to repair ties frayed by the war and argued that the White House sent enough troops to occupy Iraq despite the raging insurgency. In a heated exchange, California Democrat Sen. Barbara Boxer argued that the Bush administration had shifted its justification for the war because it had failed to find stocks of biological and chemical weapons it had asserted were there. "You sent them in there because of weapons of mass destruction. Later the mission changed when there were none," Boxer told Rice. "Let's not rewrite history, it's too soon to do that." "It wasn't just weapons of mass destruction," Rice told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, saying former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein supported terrorism, attacked Kuwait and Israel and needed to be removed given the new U.S. threat perception after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington. "We can have this discussion in any way that you would like, but I really hope that you will refrain from impugning my integrity," Rice told Boxer. "I really hope that you will not imply that I take the truth lightly." The exchange was the most pointed in hearing that included disagreements between Rice and Democrats on the numbers of trained Iraqi troops -- the linchpin of the U.S. exit strategy -- and the numbers of U.S. troops sent to stabilize Iraq. Rice said she believed there were more than 120,000 trained Iraqi forces -- acknowledging problems of absenteeism and desertion -- but drew a quick rebuke from Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, who said he thought the number was closer to 4,000. Quote Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve. George Bernard Shaw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Jeannieb43 Posted January 18, 2005 Moderators Share Posted January 18, 2005 I've been watching parts of the confirmation hearing on C-SPAN today. I feel there's actually been very little tough questioning overall. She comes across as very refined and very knowledgeable, but I don't see how she can justify the actions of her chum the President over the past four years. Quote Jeannie<br /><br /><br />...Change is inevitable; growth is optional.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Shane Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr /> "We can have this discussion in any way that you would like, but I really hope that you will refrain from impugning my integrity," Rice told Boxer. "I really hope that you will not imply that I take the truth lightly." <hr /></blockquote><font class="post"> Sounds like Rice made her point well. Don't ask stupid questions if you don't want to look stupid. </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr /> Rice said she believed there were more than 120,000 trained Iraqi forces... but drew a quick rebuke from Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, who said he thought the number was closer to 4,000. <hr /></blockquote><font class="post"> Joe Biden obviouly isn't concerned about looking stupid. Quote Pastoral Family Counselor... Find me at www.PostumCafe.com Author of Peculiar Christianity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil D Posted January 19, 2005 Author Share Posted January 19, 2005 Quote: Quote: "We can have this discussion in any way that you would like, but I really hope that you will refrain from impugning my integrity," Rice told Boxer. "I really hope that you will not imply that I take the truth lightly." Sounds like Rice made her point well. Don't ask stupid questions if you don't want to look stupid. I saw that episode and what Boxer should have said was- "Ms Rice, I am trying to look for some integrity. " Quote: Rice said she believed there were more than 120,000 trained Iraqi forces... but drew a quick rebuke from Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, who said he thought the number was closer to 4,000. Joe Biden obviouly isn't concerned about looking stupid. This blows me away. The pentagon has shown that there are about 4000 Iraqi that meet the requirements set out in congress. And there are reports that even those 4000 could possibly throw down thier arms and run. Just because Bush and Rice and Rumsfield continue to parrot the script doesn't mean that is the actual case. REports show otherwise. Just what planet did you say that you were from, Shane? Quote Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve. George Bernard Shaw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Shane Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 What would blow me away is if you saw one good thing in the current administration. Can anyone say partisan? Quote Pastoral Family Counselor... Find me at www.PostumCafe.com Author of Peculiar Christianity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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