Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Doing the Right Thing
While I know some people might think it inconceivable to think that Republicans might fight against or for a piece of legislation because they think it's the right thing to do, I would submit that cynicism is not always warrented. Maybe, just maybe, Duncan Hunter and James Sensenbrenner see the intelligence reform bill will do more harm than good. It is quite possible that Hunter has alterior motives. In fact Tom Donnelly of the Weekly Standard seems to think so.
Mouldfan also writes, Now, don't misunderstand me, there are very good arguments in Rep. Hunter's favor, however, preserving the "military chain of command" isn't one of them. Well it's a good thing Mouldfan is certain of this, but more than a few people with extensive military backgrounds believe that this would seriously hamper our military operations, and maybe, just maybe, Duncan Hunter, Chair of the Committee that is primarily concerned with such matters, would prefer not to put into place a program that would put people like his own son in danger.
It's easy to be cynical in this part of the country and to impugn the motives of one's opponents, but believe it or not sometimes members of Congress actually do what they believe is right for the country.
Duncan Hunter has another agenda: His son is a soldier in Iraq. He has a visceral understanding of how important it can be to know what's around the next corner, whether there's someone in the next room, and how useful it can be to have a satellite telephone close at hand. Hunter has the tacit support of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld (who has to keep his counsel because of the White House's campaign decision to appear to stand with the intelligence reform movement), and the overt support of JCS Chairman Gen. Richard Myers. Using a time-honored congressional maneuver and knowing that the Joint Chiefs have a legal requirement to provide Congress with unvarnished military advice, Hunter demanded that Myers state in writing his views about the intelligence bill. It's hardly a surprise that Myers thinks the legislation is a bad idea, but this has flummoxed the reformers. John McCain, who sponsored the bill creating the 9/11 Commission, called on the president to get Myers back in line.Mouldfan also says I don't actually know if creating a National intelligence Director is a good idea or not, nor do I know whether better intelligence could have prevented 9/11 or other similar attacks that may or may not occur. More to the point, I don't really see how anyone could claim to know. Fair enough, but the folks in DC are supposed to have an idea of whether or not the legislation they are putting into place will have beneficial or deleterious affects on our country. Congressmen are not precogs who know for sure that they are doing the right thing, but they for damn sure must be able to make an informed guess.
Mouldfan also writes, Now, don't misunderstand me, there are very good arguments in Rep. Hunter's favor, however, preserving the "military chain of command" isn't one of them. Well it's a good thing Mouldfan is certain of this, but more than a few people with extensive military backgrounds believe that this would seriously hamper our military operations, and maybe, just maybe, Duncan Hunter, Chair of the Committee that is primarily concerned with such matters, would prefer not to put into place a program that would put people like his own son in danger.
It's easy to be cynical in this part of the country and to impugn the motives of one's opponents, but believe it or not sometimes members of Congress actually do what they believe is right for the country.
# posted by Paul Zummo : 9:10 AM
