Blog Post

Vice President Cheney continues to question the patriotism of those of us in Congress who challenge the Bush Administration's misguided policies in Iraq, but his latest attack is beneath the office of the Vice President, especially at a time of war.

Mischaracterizations by the Vice President will not dissuade Congress from developing, on a bipartisan basis, a responsible new direction for U.S. policy in Iraq that brings our troops home safely and soon. I hope the President will repudiate and distance himself from the Vice President's remarks.

From the House Armed Services Committee:

Skelton Statement on Conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center

Washington, DC -- House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) released the following statement today regarding news reports concerning the condition of facilities and treatment of service members and their families at Walter Reed Army Medical Center:

Following up on yesterday's post drawing attention to the plight of physically and psychologically damaged outpatients at Walter Reed exposed by the Washington Post, as well as Rep. Louise Slaughter's letter to Defense Secretary Gates on the subject, today reports illustrate the response to the needs of those who served and sacrificed for our country.

From the Washington Post:

The President's escalation plan to send more U.S. troops to Iraq is out of step with the American people and our allies. Why are thousands of additional American troops being sent to Iraq at the same time that British troops are planning to leave?

The President's escalation plan has been rejected by bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate and opposed by Americans all across the country. The announcement by the British government confirms the doubts in the minds of the American people about the President's decision to increase the number of U.S. soldiers in Iraq.

Our first post here, a week before actual launch as we were pre-loading content, captured some highlights from Chairman Henry Waxman's first hearing of the year. It was on Iraq reconstruction and the $8.8 billlion found to be unaccounted for in one audit.

A front page Washington Post piece adapted from "Imperial Life in the Emerald City," by Rajiv Chandrasekaran in 2006 delved into hiring practices for the Coalition Provisional Authority:

A week ago we flagged a hearing that was held the following Friday in the Committee on Natural Resources on the Interior Department. Chairman Nick J. Rahall promised that it would be just the beginning of a robust, ongoing effort to monitor the department, which made headlines in connection with the scandal surrounding Jack Abramoff but which has seen much broader management problems:

On Sunday, the Washington Post published a groundbreaking and tragic report on conditions at Building 18 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, which houses physically and psychologically damaged outpatients.

Soldiers Face Neglect, Frustration At Army's Top Medical Facility

Dana Priest and Anne Hull, Washington Post - February 18, 2007

During last week's debate, House Democrats made it clear that we will not cut funding for troops serving in Iraq. We also sent a strong message to the President: He will no longer have a blank check for the war in Iraq. In response to Democratic statements on restoring accountability to Iraq appropriations, Republicans have accused Democrats of not supporting the troops. But two recent Pentagon reports demonstrate that our troops are currently paying the price for the Administration's failure to provide them with proper equipment: