Senators Change the Game by Examining Prison Scandal

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/la-na-congress17may17,1,3890055,print.story?coll=la-home-headlines

As the White House struggles to get beyond the prisoner abuse scandal, it faces an unsettling fact: A nominal Republican ally -- the GOP-controlled Senate Armed Services Committee -- plans to keep the issue alive for weeks to come.

That promises continuing headaches for the White House and previously undreamed-of opportunities for Democrats, such as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts and other critics of President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq.

The Armed Services Committee, led by 77-year-old Senate veteran John W. Warner of Virginia, has served noticed that it will not pull back, as the House Armed Services Committee has done. Instead, Warner plans extended hearings to call on the carpet such high-profile officials as Army Gen. John Abizaid, commander of U.S. troops in Iraq, and L. Paul Bremer III, head of the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority.

More disturbing still for the White House, both Democrats and Republicans on the Senate committee say they will shift the focus from the misdeeds of a handful of guards at Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad. What they want to dig into is how senior Pentagon officials loosened the rules protecting prisoners during interrogation.

Nation (?) this morning. Or was it on CNN? Anyway, he was awesome and I was really impressed. He's angry and he knows what went wrong. As an Advocate General, he really knows how the system is supposed to work. He knows the command level was involved.

Anyway, it was nice to see a Republican behave (at least on TV) like a competent Senator who takes his responsibilities seriously.

Sigh, I can remember when that wasn't so uncommon.

I admit, I was surprised by what L. Graham said. I suppose it's because I'm so use to the Republicans walking in lockstep over the cliff with *Bush.

with him then, too.

He seems very proud of having been an Advocate General. He seems like he is angry that something he takes pride in has been messed with by anyone.

I heard him complaining about Cheney's remarks that we should get off Rummy's case. He said it several times.

I don't know if you remember Watergate. It took honest republicans awhile to get it, and it pained them when they did. I hope he is not just an anomaly. I hope more republicans start to speak up.

I know the Dems aren't in control but when I see Democrats in Congress agree that abuse photos should not be public it makes me wonder if everyone gets a mandatory labotomy when they arrive in DC. Who has the courage and principle needed to stand up to what is going on?

He has got to be on overload by now...

against kerry in 2008.

"As the White House struggles to get beyond the prisoner abuse scandal, it faces an unsettling fact: A nominal Republican ally -- the GOP-controlled Senate Armed Services Committee -- plans to keep the issue alive for weeks to come.

The headline and opening of this article make it seem so surprising that the Senate won't lay down in a partisan heap before the robes of King George. The House repugs have shown themselves to be cowardly, feeble and totally lacking in honor. They are supposed to watch over the Executive branch - the Constitution demands it, and those traitors who put "The Hammer" Delay and their party before the country are unAmerican!!

people? One can hope. We need to keep track of who is testifying in front of this committe and email questions in for the Dems to ask !!

of gitmo? Take it to the Supreme Court?

Will whoosh* be "disgraced" if his private torture camp has to be shut down? Could this happen?

Granted, the Delays have taken partisanship to new heights, criminal in some cases.

But there are some decent Repubs, & some hack Dems.

And some of them have been around for a long time, & know they will be there long after Bush is gone.

Some of them have principles, believe it or not.

Warner loves the military...his whole life has been involved with it, & he is mad. Also, he & Levin are close & work well together.

Lindsey Graham has spent 20 yrs in the JAG corp, & really cares.

McCain, as a POW is pissed, big time.

Then there are the hacks, like Inhoffe, Allard, & others.