Republican press conference interrupted by vocal protest

“I hope that you have noticed in the last three days of debate by the Republicans up here that we have tried to be civil and appropriate. I would ask you to compare that with the supposed Democrat representative we’ve had here today and his rudeness and screaming and yelling”, said Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) in reference to an outburst from a bystander. As Carter and fellow Republicans discussed their party’s ongoing speeches on the House floor, a member of the crowd called the Republican representatives the “largest group of lying scoundrels” he had seen in one place. The man was promptly removed from the conference.

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) said that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) should call an emergency session of Congress in spite of the recess to address the rising costs of energy in America. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) echoed Hunter’s sentiments, encouraging the Congress to specifically consider the American Energy Act. Gohmert believes the bill would allow for the development much-needed energy resources. He also maintained that, despite recent criticism, the bill does not favor oil companies.

When asked whether Gohmert felt his comparison of America’s oil crisis to the fight against slavery in early American history was inappropriate, he responded that he felt the Republicans were doing what is right for the American people. He also said that the crisis cuts across all racial lines, and that gas prices affect all Americans.

Declaring success in Iraq too early a big risk

House Armed Services Committee members today examined whether or not Iraqi security forces have been receiving the necessary support needed to maintain calm throughout Iraq. Hearing from Army Lt. Gen. James Dubik who deals with the security transition issues for Iraq, the committee heard testimony ranging from security funding to training of Iraqi security forces.

Funding Iraqi operations as well as payment for their services seemed to dominate discussion. Ranking member Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) stated “Iraqi forces leave their units to go home because we don’t have a pay system to go along with them.” Hunter’s concern stemmed from the province of Bosrah which has had some success in keeping the peace but has struggled to maintain an adequate number of security forces. “Bosrah was tactically and strategically successful in the end,” said Dubik.

Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) asked whether the estimated 640,000 troops that Iraq’s Defense Ministry have promised would be able to handle security for the country. Dubik, who just retired from his position said that Iraq is “handling much of their own security.” Dubik added “nine of the eighteen provinces are under Iraqi control.”

Having Iraq under full security control by the Iraqi security force caused Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Tex.) to ask whether continuing success would prove to cause unintended consequences. Durbik responded with what the military has maintained all along that “declaring success too early is a risk, but full success is not yet at hand.”

House Armed Services Committee Global Security Assessment

Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO), said that although a lot of time is spent focusing on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, we cannot afford to be any less vigilant regarding the rest of the world and be careful that we don’t become so near-sighted that we fail to see what’s developing around us.

House Armed Services Committee Ranking Republican Duncan Hunter (R-CA) said that he has concerns in “functional areas,” which were that more than 20 countries have ballistic missile capability, some foreign entities are acquiring American defense companies with critical capabilities, industrial espionage, and cyber-security.

Dr. Thomas Fingar, Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Analysis, said that al-Qaida continues to present significant threats both home and abroad. He said the assessment is their plotting is designed to create mass casualties and massive visibility in order to create fear. AQI, he said, has been weakened but remains al-Qaida’s most visible and capable affiliate.

Home-grown extremists are an evolving danger, Fingar said, and described home-grown extremists as persons inspired by militant Islamic ideology but without operational direction from al-Qaida itself.

During the question and answer period, Fingar said with instability in the Middle East, and the importance of energy in that region, localized conflict is a threat to Americans everywhere and it didn’t take “a crystal ball” to see that. He said that a suicide bomber was an “asymmetrical threat.”

Congressman Hunter asked Dr. Fingar if our exposed and open border was a threat, and Fingar answered that a positive development in the last year was the effective efforts by Mexico to make the border less vulnerable for their own domestic stability. Yes, he said, the lack of fences and physical borders along our 2000 mile border with Mexico was a vulnerability.

In response to that same question, Robert Cardillo, Deputy Director for Analysis of the Defense Intelligence Agency, agreed that the access through Mexico is a liability and increases the threat to the United States as long as it remains open.