Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Sen Reid forces Senate Republicans to investigate administration use of Intel to cause Iraq War.

Sen. Harry Reid Tuesday used an arcane Senate rule called the "closed session" rule to require the Republican Senate leaders act on the Phase II investigation into the causes of the Iraq War which Sen. Roberts has blocked for over a year. The closed session was called to discuss investigating the manner in which the Bush administration manipulated Intelligence to cause the War in Iraq.

The result was an agreement by Sen. Frist to create a six-member bipartisan panel to issue a report on the matter by Nov. 14. The Republican leadership was caught by surprise and expressed anger at Sen. Reid's "highjacking" of the Senate.

Newsday describes what happened. TPM Cafe offers Sen. Reid's statement presented to the Senate when he asked for the closed session. Mark Schmitt at TPM Cafe has an interesting discussion of what this action means for control of the Senate. He suggest that the Minority has taken control from the Majority.

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