Press

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and Vice Chairman Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) today issued the following joint statement regarding the Committee’s review of pre-war intelligence on Iraq:

“The Committee just completed the first in what will probably be two or more hearings with Central Intelligence Agency Director George Tenet focusing on the intelligence community’s performance prior to the war in Iraq.

“Late last year the Director asked for an opportunity to present his case for the intelligence community’s assessments on Iraq.

“We agreed that this was not only appropriate, but necessary.

“Members of the Committee also used this opportunity to ask Director Tenet questions relevant to our ongoing review.

“We had what we believe was a frank and useful exchange, but we obviously have much more work to do with the intelligence community.

“We will now work toward completing our initial report which we hope can be released publicly sometime in the next several weeks.

“After the release of that report we will continue to work on a number of other issues, including what recommendations for change the Committee can make to address a number of concerns identified in our review.”