The Cover up begins: Senate Postpones Fort Hood Hearing At Request of White House

[PocketProtector]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009...t-white-house/

Senate Committee Postpones Fort Hood Hearing At Request of White House

by

FOXNews.com

The Senate Armed Services Committee postponed its Monday briefing on the deadly Fort Hood massacre at the request of the White House -- despite calls from some lawmakers to press forward with a congressional investigation into the shooting rampage that killed 13 and wounded 29.



An aide to Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the committee's Monday briefing on the Fort Hood tragedy is postponed "at the request of the administration" (Reuters).

The Senate Armed Services Committee postponed its Monday briefing on the deadly Fort Hood massacre at the behest of the White House, despite calls from some lawmakers to press forward with a congressional investigation into the shooting rampage that killed 13 and wounded 29.

An aide to committee chairman Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., told Fox News that the meeting is delayed "at the request of the administration." Army Secretary John McHugh and Army Chief of Staff Gen George Casey were to have briefed committee members privately on the shooting.

Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan was charged on Thursday with the deadly shooting spree. Army investigators have said Hasan is the only suspect and could face additional charges.

Obama already had ordered a review of all intelligence related to Hasan and whether the information was properly shared and acted upon within government agencies. Several members of Congress, particularly Rep. Peter Hoekstra, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, have also called for a full examination of what agencies knew about Hasan's contacts with a radical Muslim cleric in Yemen and others of concern to the U.S.

Hoekstra confirmed this week that government officials knew of about 10 to 20 e-mails between Hasan and Anwar al-Aulaqi, beginning in December 2008.

A joint terrorism task force overseen by the FBI learned late last year of Hasan's repeated contact with the cleric, who encouraged Muslims to kill U.S. troops in Iraq. The FBI said the task force did not refer early information about Hasan to superiors because it concluded he wasn't linked to terrorism.

Department of Defense spokesman Gary Comerford declined to confirm Monday whether the department is conducting its own investigation, referring Fox News to speak with the department's head of public affairs.

In a video and Internet address released by the White House on Saturday, President Obama urged Congress to hold off on any investigation of the Fort Hood rampage until federal law enforcement and military authorities have completed their probes into the shootings.

While on an eight-day trip to Asia, Obama called on lawmakers to "resist the temptation to turn this tragic event into the political theater."

"The stakes are far too high," he said. "There is an ongoing investigation into this terrible tragedy. That investigation will look at the motives of the alleged gunman, including his views and contacts.

"We must compile every piece of information that was known about the gunman, and we must learn what was done with that information. Once we have those facts, we must act upon them," he added.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, speaking to reporters aboard his plane last week, said all those privy to details on the ongoing investigation into the shooting "should just shut up."

But Sen. Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said he will proceed with his committee's investigation into the shooting, saying Obama did not indicate on Saturday that it should push back Thursday's scheduled testimony.

"We saw nothing in the president's transcript from Saturday that asked Congress to hold back," an aide speaking on condition of anonymity told Fox News.

"We very much agree with President Obama's sentiments that the full story behind the murderous act at Fort Hood must be told," Lieberman along with Maine Sen. Susan Collins, the ranking Republican on the committee, said in a joint statement over the weekend. "Our goal, and the purpose of this inquiry, is to make as certain as possible that no such attack ever occurs again on an American military base. We will focus on national and homeland security and will not compromise the criminal case being conducted by law enforcement."

[ByAnyMeans]

Did'nt a bj in the oval office get plenty of congressional investigations and even a special prosecutor, but now we should "hold back." I forgot we want a secret investigation by the FBI were things can be given a classified tagging to never see the light of day. This from our most "open" president.
Kudos to Sen. Lieberman for his guts, just hope he continues to press on.

[BSH]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009...t-white-house/
In a video and Internet address released by the White House on Saturday, President Obama urged Congress to hold off on any investigation of the Fort Hood rampage until federal law enforcement and military authorities have completed their probes into the shootings.

I really can't see why this would be objectionable. Absolutely, Congress should shut up until relevant law enforcement agencies have done their work. Then that work should be 100% declassified, and we can have a free and fair debate about who did what when, etc.

[adymond]

Already being discussed here: http://forum.pafoa.org/national-11/7...ood-probe.html

I really can't see why this would be objectionable. Absolutely, Congress should shut up until relevant law enforcement agencies have done their work. Then that work should be 100% declassified, and we can have a free and fair debate about who did what when, etc.

Since it's been explained there why it is objectionable to not involve a congressional oversight investigation into the various red flags presented I'll quote myself rather than repeating it.

Sorry - I agree with him on this. There is no need for Congress to waste time getting involved with this. Let the Army and Federal LAW ENFORCEMENT agencies do what they are supposed to do and finish their investigation.

silly me. i think congressional oversight committees should exercise...well, oversight.

the trend toward secrecy and lack of open investigations by (supposedly, at least) independent third-parties when it comes to everything the government does these days is downright scary, imho.

"just trust us" and "we will investigate/police ourselves" both pretty much make me laugh.

The investigation Congress is suggestingis not a criminal investigation, but rather an oversight type of investigation to see how so many apparent red flags failed to even register. The man was recently promoted to Major. That entails a substantial background check which should have spurred some serious questions. We need to know why those questions were not asked.

IMO the reason for the non-rush to judgement is to not piss of any Muslims.

[FUNDAMENTALS]

The Constitution of The United States of America explicity states that
Congress/Senate can investigate, call into question without the permission
of the President on any matter. It is called the Seperation of Powers of the
three branches of our government. Yes, let the investigation continue, but
the Congress/Senate can do their part to insure "Political Correctness" and
sweeping the known facts under the rug does not happen. Does the term
check & balances ring a bell? You can bet there will be a lot of "passing the
buck" and "finger pointing", It will come out that someone/group, screwed
up because they did not want to call into question that Hasan is a Muslim,
and now, a terrorist/murderer for them not speaking out. JMO

[PocketProtector]

The Constitution of The United States of America explicity states that
Congress/Senate can investigate, call into question without the permission
of the President on any matter. It is called the Seperation of Powers of the
three branches of our government. Yes, let the investigation continue, but
the Congress/Senate can do their part to insure "Political Correctness" and
sweeping the known facts under the rug does not happen. Does the term
check & balances ring a bell? You can bet there will be a lot of "passing the
buck" and "finger pointing", It will come out that someone/group, screwed
up because they did not want to call into question that Hasan is a Muslim,
and now, a terrorist/murderer for them not speaking out. JMO

Good post but checks and balances with these Politicians ?? Laughable at best

[velkly]

Good post but checks and balances with these Politicians ?? Laughable at best

Oh no, they love their CHECKS.. writing 'em against our bank account daily. Their motto is "DAMN THE BALANCES".

[adymond]

Good post but checks and balances with these Politicians ?? Laughable at best

Yep. Like the Legislative isn't telling the Judicial what to do with the Gitmo folks.

[PocketProtector]

Yep. Like the Legislative isn't telling the Judicial what to do with the Gitmo folks.

I think the Oxecutive may be calling the shots....

[FUNDAMENTALS]

I am sure that the surviving families of the dead and wounded from Ft. Hood
shooting will raise one heck of a stink if there is any attempt to "Cover Up".
This is the time political bull will be set aside. I think it was Daniel Webster
who stated: "There is nothing so powerful as the truth". You can bet the
Politico's in Washington will have to do this right. The American voter at
times does have a long memory. I am sure those that would have to face
re-election will not be treading lightly, wether the Obama Administration
like's it or not.