Friday, June 04, 2004

DEFENSE – WHAT DONALD RUMSFELD DOESN'T WANT YOU TO SEE

From THE PROGRESS REPORT
http://www.progressreport.org

What is Donald Rumsfeld hiding? Knight-Ridder reports the Secretary of Defense "has sharply limited the information he is willing to let Congress see on a controversial defense contract that is the focus of multiple investigations," a move which may provoke a rare congressional subpoena. Senators want to see information about a $23 billion proposal "for the Air Force to buy and lease 100 Boeing 767 aerial refueling tankers." The deal was fraught with controversy, especially after it was discovered that the Air Force's chief negotiator with Boeing on the deal "also had negotiated a vice president's job for herself with the aircraft manufacturer." Rumsfeld wrote yesterday that senators would not be able to see some of the contract's core documents. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said Rumsfeld's response would "eviscerate the responsibility of Congress to provide oversight in such matters."