DeWine Shelved, Then Dismissed, Report on Growing Terrorist Threat

AMHERST, OH - The day before he aired a new television advertisement touting his membership on the Senate Intelligence Committee, incumbent Republican Senator Mike DeWine yesterday admitted that despite possessing the recently declassified National Intelligence Estimate since April, he only read the report yesterday.  After reading the report, in which 16 of the administration's intelligence agencies agreed that the War in Iraq was increasing terrorism by mobilizing jihadists, DeWine dismissed the report, saying:  "I'm just telling you, I'm looking at this report. There's nothing of great significance in this report" [Plain Dealer 9/28/06].
 
"After voting to lead our country to war with Iraq based on false intelligence, Senator DeWine's continued failure to exert any oversight as a member of the Intelligence Committee is shocking," said U.S. Representative Sherrod Brown (D-OH), who voted against going to war with Iraq and has called for a winning exit strategy.  "The Bush administration's own intelligence agencies agreed in the National Intelligence Estimate that the War in Iraq has created a rallying point for jihadists, and has left the United States increasingly vulnerable to terrorist threats.  Senator DeWine continues to stand with President Bush in support of a stay-the-course Iraq strategy regardless of its threat to our nation's security."
 
This month, Senator DeWine disagreed with a majority of members on the Senate Intelligence Committee and signed a dissent to a bi-partisan report documenting intelligence failures in Iraq that led the Bush administration to falsely draw connections between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda.  DeWine has stonewalled the investigation of the false intelligence that led the nation to war with Iraq over weapons of mass destruction that never materialized, and voted against establishing an independent commission to investigate prewar intelligence on Iraq  [S 1689, 10/17/03, #395; CQ Daily Monitor, 10/17/03].

Click here to read the article. 

09/28/2006 / Permalink / Homeland Security, National Security, (all tags)

DeWine says report not groundbreaking

Cleveland Plain Dealer

Amid public debate over an intelligence report that says the Iraq war is breeding potential new terrorists, Sen. Mike DeWine of Ohio says he sees little that's “groundbreaking” in that assessment.

“This was not considered any kind of seminal or groundbreaking National Intelligence Estimate,” DeWine said in an interview Wednesday. And he said success in stabilizing and democratizing Iraq will counter the jihadist resentment.

...DeWine appears to agree with Bush, who says the intelligence assessment went beyond the single conclusion that the war has spawned potential anti-American terrorists. Bush on Tuesday ordered portions of the report to be declassified and released.

DeWine said that while the intelligence document called Iraq the "cause cél?e" for anti-American resentment, jihadists "will always have some cause to rally people." Before 9/11, he said, Osama bin Laden yelled about "the fact that the United States had troops stationed in Saudi Arabia." And before that, he said, extremists cited U.S. ties with Egypt.

...Despite Democrats' calls to release the entire intelligence estimate, DeWine said he thought that was unnecessary because, he said, the "essential facts" in the report are now known.

He said that while he only recently read the document, he was briefed on it months ago. 

Click here to read the full article. 

09/28/2006 / Permalink / National Security, (all tags)

Back to the Future in Afghanistan

Five years later, the Taliban is resurgent, al-Qaeda is strengthened, and poppy production has increased
 
AMHERST, OH -- On the fifth anniversary of the start of the War in Afghanistan, al-Qaeda and the Taliban are resurgent, Osama bin Laden remains on the loose, and the situation on the ground has been described as "near anarchy" by the head of NATO's international security force in the region.  Ohio incumbent Republican Senator Mike DeWine supports the Bush administration's stay-the-course strategy in Iraq, which committed more than six times the number of U.S. troops than in Afghanistan and diverted resources from primary fronts in the War on Terror.
 
"While President Bush and Senator DeWine may think our mission is accomplished in Afghanistan, the near anarchy on the ground and a resurgent Taliban prove otherwise," said U.S. Representative Sherrod Brown (D-OH).  "Before our mission in Afghanistan was completed, Senator DeWine rubberstamped the false intelligence that led our country to war with Iraq over weapons of mass destruction that never materialized.  He stood by as President Bush diverted troops and resources from essential fronts in the War on Terror.  Today, al-Qaeda is 50,000 strong and Osama bin Laden remains on the loose. We must win the War on Terror by securing our homeland and refocusing our military on immediate threats to our security like al-Qaeda."

09/20/2006 / Permalink / National Security, (all tags)

Brown: Why Isn’t Mike DeWine Confronting Bush On Plan To Shut Down CIA’s Bin Laden Unit?

WHERE'S MIKE?

DeWine Takes A "See No Evil, Hear No Evil" Approach To White House Again

AMHERST - Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) today said the Bush administration's decision to shut down the C.I.A. unit responsible for hunting Osama bin Laden is a betrayal of Bush's promise to go after the terrorist and said Republican incumbent Senator Mike DeWine's refusal to say anything about the closing of the unit is another example of the "see no evil, hear no evil" approach he takes toward the White House.

"This decision is another example of the administration's failure to use its intelligence tools wisely," Brown said. "Mike DeWine's position on the Intelligence Committee obligates him to ensure that the White House advances policies that are tough, smart and effective. Unfortunately, Mike DeWine rarely confronts George Bush."

Earlier this week, news reports disclosed that the Bin Laden unit was disbanded late last year and its analysts were reassigned within the C.I.A. Meanwhile, Bin Laden continues to rally support for his terrorist network on the Internet and recently picked a successor for the recently-deceased Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, in Iraq.

"Mike DeWine refuses to engage in oversight of the Bush administration," Brown said. "His silence about plans to shut down the CIA unit charged with hunting down the mastermind of 9/11 underscores the degree to which he takes a see no evil, hear no evil approach to George Bush."

07/06/2006 / Permalink / Homeland Security, National Security, (all tags)

Hu Visits White House: Brown Calls On President to Stand Up For U.S. Interests

AMHERST - On the eve of an historic visit by Communist China's President Hu Jintao to Washington D.C., Ohio Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-Lorain County) called on President George W. Bush to stand up for American workers and national security.

The U.S. has lost nearly one million jobs to China since 1997, suffered a $200 billion trade deficit with the country last year, and may be outsourcing oversight of national security assets to companies with close ties to the world's largest Communist nation.

"This administration has routinely abdicated responsibility for ensuring economic and national security," Brown said. "2006 is about change. President Bush, and his Republican allies in Congress, must decide if they stand on the side of U.S. need or multinational greed."

04/20/2006 / Permalink / China, Economy, Jobs, National Security, Trade, (all tags)

Sherrod Interviewed on CNN & Local TV About Bush’s Iraq Speech

Sherrod was interviewed on CNN last night about Presidnet Bush's speech at the Cleveland City Club on the third anniversary of the Iraq War. Watch the video below, which includes clips from Cleveland affiliates of NBC and Fox.

Following Bush's speech, Sherrod told the Associated Press, "I hear very little support (for the Iraq war) in my travels in every region -- conservative regions, more progressive regions of this state, everywhere."

03/21/2006 / Permalink / Iraq, Multimedia, National Security, Video, (all tags)

Sherrod Responds to Bush’s Speech on the Ed Schultz Show

Sherrod just finished talking to Ed Schultz about Bush's speech at the Cleveland City Club today.

Click here to listen to the full interview.

If you have problems listening to audio, right click on the link and save to your desktop.

Sherrod discusses the War in Iraq, Republican corruption and Bush's unpopularity in his own party.

03/20/2006 / Permalink / Iraq, Multimedia, National Security, (all tags)

Brown Calls Bush Speech Hollow Rhetoric on Failed Policies

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, March 20

AMHERST--At a Cleveland City Club event today, President George W. Bush attempted to reverse failing support for the war in Iraq. The event was not attended by Ohio Republican Senators Mike DeWine, George Voinovich, Republican Congressman Robert LaTourette, or Republican Ohio Governor Bob Taft.

Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-Lorain County)--who is running against Senator Mike DeWine for the U.S. Senate seat--has been traveling around Ohio in recent months talking about national security, job creation, education, and health care. Brown said the overwhelming message echoed across the state is a call for change in 2006.

"I'm not surprised by the absence of Republican leadership at the president's event today," Brown said. "They know what the rest of us in Ohio know--the Bush/DeWine policies hurt Ohio families."

03/20/2006 / Permalink / Bush, Economy, Iraq, National Security, (all tags)