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Republicans Only Need Apply?
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ShareFebruary 15, 2007 12:02 PM
The Pentagon rejected qualified experts for reconstruction work in Iraq because they were not deemed loyal to the Republican party, according to the former chief of staff of the Washington Office of the Coalition Provisional Authority, Frederick Smith.
"Some people were overlooked because they didn't meet the political saliva test," Smith, now retired, told ABC News.
Smith said political appointees at the Pentagon, including a special assistant to the secretary of defense and White House liaison, James O'Beirne, led the screening.
"We needed to get the best people out there," Smith said, "not just because they were a member of the Young Republicans Club at Michigan State."
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is now investigating the role of O'Beirne and allegations of what Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., called "an organized and systematic screening process."
Click Here for Full Blotter Coverage.
In a letter to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Waxman complained the Pentagon was refusing to cooperate and threatened to issue a subpoena for O'Beirne's testimony and Pentagon documents.
Read the letter sent to Secretary Gates from Chairman Waxman.
The committee also asked for all e-mails between O'Beirne and the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, and "other think tanks, political parties or activists."
A spokesperson at the Pentagon said he was "unaware" of Waxman's letter. A call to O'Beirne’s office was not returned.
In his interview with ABC News, Smith, the former CPA chief of staff, says he personally saw O'Beirne favor Republican candidates over others.
"We did not send our A-team to Baghdad," Smith said, recounting how O'Beirne pushed for a candidate based on the fact that he had been involved in counting chads during the presidential election recount in Florida in 2000.
Smith says he attempted to talk to O'Beirne about changing his hiring policies, but "that fell on deaf ears," he said.
February 15, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (25)
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JJ - yeah, maybe we should reopen the Whitewater investigation in time for Hillary's presidential run. That wasn't a waste of time and taxpayers money. Nope. Not at all.
Posted by: Leonard | Feb 20, 2007 5:40:26 PM
This is NOT an old story as long as we're paying off the Billions (with interest) that the US has BORROWED to run this Godforsaken war.
Posted by: Nellcote | Feb 20, 2007 7:59:56 PM
More "repub v. demo" BS arguments. Maybe someday all you sheeple will open your eyes. There are more than the mere 2 options that exist in your little box of short-sightedness. Your arguments are merely examples of the "divide & conquer" attitude that keep us ALL down. Do us all a favor; get your head out of the sand or shut up.
Posted by: Lana | Feb 21, 2007 12:11:11 PM
Why no mention that James O'Beirne is married to TV and newspaper political pundit Kate O'Beirne?
Who always manages to spin the news and comentary Bush's way? Hmmm.
Posted by: Joe | Feb 21, 2007 4:00:19 PM
I'm neither Republican nor Democrat, but a proud libertarian. This story has nothing to do with my ideology but rather has to do with my money and my country's wellbeing.
I personally believe and I've heard powerful military officials say that one of the major reasons for such a large-scale Iraqi insurgency is sky-high unemployment (to the tune of 60%!). In fact, part of the surge is to truly implement sound counterinsurgency tactics - i.e. clear, hold, and rebuild. Under the brilliant pseudo-leadership of Donald Rumsfeld, the military was unable to fully implement this strategy, successfully clearing, and moderately successfully holding, and not rebuilding.
I am insulted that the government didn't, as Mr. Smith stated, "send in our A-Team". Is the public supposed to sacrifice its wellbeing and its money even more, just to guarantee that some ideologues can be employed? Perhaps I would consider supporting the Patriot Act if junk like this didn't happen; it's hard to refute based on this article that our "leaders" care nothing for national security but rather for their own power.
Posted by: Andrew E. | Feb 26, 2007 5:19:17 PM
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