Clash on first day of 911 Intel meeting"2"(Lott wants no witnesses called)

So Lott says Phase Two of the intel investigation will have one section of the report released soon - but calling witnesses was unlikely. And Dana Milbank sketches the "Sissy Six" Senators who have been tasked with hammering out Phase II of the committee's investigation into pre-war intelligence. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/08/AR2005110801486.html

http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/110905/intel.html

Sens. clash on first day of Intel meeting about Iraq weapons
By Alexander Bolton

Republican and Democratic members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence failed to reach agreement yesterday on how to evaluate the use of intelligence about Iraq’s prewar weapons capabilities, making it all but impossible to finish the probe by Monday, as panel Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) had planned.

The contentious meeting began a day when both parties maneuvered frenetically to gain the advantage in the debate over national security and ethics.

Yesterday, Senate Democrats sought to refocus the public’s attention on the indictment of Vice President Cheney’s former chief of staff Lewis “Scooter” Libby, and the ongoing investigation of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove. The Senate Democratic leadership, including Minority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.), Minority Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Charles Schumer (N.Y.) sent a letter to President Bush urging him not to pardon Libby or anyone else if they are found guilty in connection with special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald’s probe.

Democrats also demanded to know whether any White House official had already discussed the possibility of pardoning Libby.<snip>

Rockefeller, however, said he would push for his panel to interview senior administration officials about their statements.

“I don’t see how you can possibly analyze what they were making their decisions on without talking to people,” he said.

senators yesterday. how in the HELL does one conduct an investigation without talking to witnesses? another cover-up, in plain view, this time.