Oversight Is The Democratic Battle Cry Reverberating Through Congress

[kpete]

Democrats Aim to Save Inquiry on Work in Iraq
By JAMES GLANZ, DAVID JOHNSTON and THOM SHANKER
Published: November 12, 2006

The New York Times has a Sunday piece ostensibly about Democratic plans to restore the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, but the piece serves as a good overall roadmap for Democratic oversight priorities. Oversight. Remember that?
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/011069.php


Democrats Aim to Save Inquiry on Work in Iraq
By JAMES GLANZ, DAVID JOHNSTON and THOM SHANKER
Published: November 12, 2006
This article is by James Glanz, David Johnston and Thom Shanker.


WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 — Congressional Democrats say they will press new legislation next week to restore the power of a federal agency in charge of ferreting out waste and corruption in Iraq and greatly increase its investigative reach.

The bills, the first of what are likely to be dozens of Democratic efforts to resurrect investigations of war profiteering and financial fraud in government contracting, could be introduced as early as Monday morning.

The move would nullify a Republican-backed provision, slipped into a huge military authorization bill, that set a termination date for the agency, the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. The agency’s findings have consistently undermined Bush administration claims of widespread success in the reconstruction of Iraq.

Oversight, the power wielded by Congressional committees to demand information and internal documents and to haul executive branch officials to hearings, by subpoena if necessary, is reverberating through Congress as a Democratic battle cry.

lots more oversight decisions at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/12/washington/12oversight.html?ei=5088&en=07d26de296e6c4dd&ex=1320987600&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1163351239-5mu6i6jC1Ow7ariKNTC3Lw

[judy]

1. This is a great battle cry!

More important at this point than impeachment in my view.

To repeat myself:
War profiteering has created more unemployment and hatred, has done more to ignite sectarian fighting, than the invasion and the occupation itself.

In 3 years, and after billions and billions, the infrastructure is still non existent, and there are still no jobs for Iraqis. It is a huge scandal. War profiteering is illegal according to international law, and pulling all these no-bid contracts should be the first priority of the new Congress. Such a move, would go a long way toward establishing a new found good will, and would allow for an easier pulling of the troops later on.

Also, if the Iraqis are working on rebuilding their country (at a fraction of the huge costs of Halliburton, KBR etc.) they will have less time to wage civil war against each other.

Remember: for the profiteers, the Iraq war has been a huge success! If they don't get pulled first, there is no solution indeed...

[texpatriot2004]

2. So glad to hear it. We desperately need it. Checks and

balances.