Congress didn't see intelligence, report says

WASHINGTON — A new congressional report made public Thursday concluded that President Bush and his inner circle had access to more intelligence and reviewed more sensitive material than what was shared with members of Congress when they gave Bush authority to wage war against Iraq.

Democrats said the 14-page report contradicted Bush's contention that lawmakers had seen all the evidence before U.S. troops invaded in March 2003, stating that the president and a small number of advisers "have access to a far greater volume of intelligence and to more sensitive intelligence information."

The report does not cite examples of intelligence Bush reviewed that differed from what Congress saw. If such information is available, it would not be accessible to the report's authors. The Bush administration has routinely denied Congress access to documents, arguing it would have a chilling affect on deliberations. The report, however, concludes that the Bush administration has been more restrictive than its predecessors in sharing intelligence.

The White House disputed both charges, noting that Congress often works directly with U.S. intelligence agencies and is privy to an enormous amount of classified information. "In 2004 alone, intelligence agencies provided over 1,000 personal briefings and more than 4,000 intelligence products to the Congress," an administration official said.

The report, done by the Congressional Research Service at the request of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., comes amid Democratic allegations that administration officials exaggerated Iraq's weapons capabilities and terrorism ties and then resisted inquiries into the intelligence failures.

Bush has fiercely rejected those claims. "Some of the most irresponsible comments — about manipulating intelligence — have come from politicians who saw the same intelligence I saw and then voted to authorize the use of force against Saddam Hussein," he said in a speech this week.

Cantwell among

officials in Iraq

WASHINGTON — Sen. Maria Cantwell, in Iraq to observe that country's historic elections, said her day began Thursday with an explosion outside the building where she was staying in Baghdad.

Cantwell, D-Wash., and Sens. Joseph Biden, D-Del.; Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; and Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., are serving as official election observers and planned to visit a variety of polling places.

Cantwell said she was impressed by the conduct of the election, adding that Americans and Iraqis alike are upbeat and hope the process will be a key step toward democracy.

"I am concerned whether government here can stand on its own and take over more of the responsibility that the United States is bearing now and that 2006 is a year of transition," she said.

Cantwell said she noticed a significant increase in security since her last visit to Iraq in August 2003. Lawmakers have been wearing full flak jackets and helmets since their arrival and expected to wear them throughout the three-day visit, she said.

Cantwell, who voted in favor of the resolution authorizing the war in 2002 and has supported all measures to fund it, last month voted in favor of a Democratic amendment calling for a gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

Also

Reservist charged: Army Reserve Lt. Col. Debra Harrison, 47, of Trenton, N.J., was arrested Thursday on charges she was part of a conspiracy to steer Iraqi reconstruction contracts to a businessman in exchange for money and gifts, including a Cadillac SUV. She is the second Army Reserve officer facing charges of conspiracy, money laundering and weapons violations while assigned to the Coalition Provisional Authority office in Hillah that awarded reconstruction contracts.

Italy reduces force : Italian Defense Minister Antonio Martino said Thursday the country will pull 300 more troops out of Iraq in January, continuing a gradual withdrawal begun earlier this year. The reduction would bring Italian troop levels in Iraq to 2,600.