Originally published January 20 2006
Senate's meeting with Rice proves fruitless as the Secretary of State refused questions about U.S. torture policies
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Harry Reid, the Democratic leader in the Senate, voices his disappointment in Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice's refusal to discuss torture in a meeting with the Senate, saying that the information involved classified sources.
Opposition Democrats expressed anger Wednesday after being told they could not raise classified matters, including the use of torture, in a Senate meeting with with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
"We can't ask questions that call for classified answers," said Harry Reid, the Democratic leader in the Senate ahead of the meeting.
"This is in keeping with what the White House has done.
That is, this mode of secrecy -- don't tell the American people what's going on."
Rice was to brief senators Wednesday on current issues involving Iraq, but the briefing comes in the wake of her tour of four European nations which was clouded by controversy over alleged secret CIA prisons for "war on terror" suspects in eastern Europe.
Rice can "go around the world talking about torture -- but she can't come to the Congress, the elected representatives of the American people, to talk about torture in a closed setting," fumed Reid.
Instead "we're going to have a meeting here where she'll talk about her travels, where she had dinner, and how nice the people were she met with, trying to explain, if you can imagine this, to foreign leaders what the Americans' position is on torture."
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack defended the format of the briefings, saying they were designed as an "unclassified forum" so the lawmakers could share the information with their constituents.
"That's an important part of keeping the public informed.
So that is certainly the spirit in which the briefings were offered," McCormack told reporters.
"As for whether or not some senators or members want additional information that may be classified," he said, "I'm sure that we're going to be willing to work with the Hill (Congress) to provide them in some form that information."
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml