Posted by Joel Mathis February 7, 2005 at 11:30 a.m.

Roberts examines the intelligence

Despite White House statements that the United States does not expect war with Iran over that country's nuclear plans, Sen. Pat Roberts is already making preparations."The Senate Intelligence Committee has launched what its chairman called a "pre-emptive" examination of U.S. intelligence on Iran as part of an effort to avoid the problems that plagued America's prewar assessments on Iraq," reports <[The Los Angeles Times.][1]"Sen. Pat Roberts, a Republican from Kansas, said in an interview Friday that he had sought the unusual review because the erroneous prewar claims about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction had made lawmakers wary of the CIA's current assessments on Iran.""We have to be more pre-emptive on this committee to try to look ahead and determine our capabilities so that you don't get stuck with a situation like you did with Iraq,"said Roberts, who also voiced concern about current intelligence on the insurgency in Iraq. "The White House has made it clear that Iran will be a focus of U.S. foreign policy in President Bush's second term. In his State of the Union speech earlier this week, the president identified Iran as "the world's primary state sponsor of terror, pursuing nuclear weapons while depriving its people of the freedom they seek and deserve.""A recent CIA report concludes that Tehran is vigorously pursuing programs to produce nuclear, chemical and biological weapons."The Times' story drew attention from [Al Jazeera.][2]Other links today:Sam Brownback links [Why is this man attorney general?][3] Nat Hentoff opines in the conservative Washington Times against Alberto Gonzales' confirmation as attorney general. "Of the Republican senators on the committee who voted for Judge Gonzales, the most disappointing for me was Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, a persistent champion of human rights around the world, very much including Sudan where he has traveled," Hentoff writes.Jerry Moran links [What spurs Bush push for reform?][4] "If Rep. Jerry Moran of Kansas pulls the trigger on a 2006 race for governor, he can count on a fellow congressman, Todd Tiahrt of Kansas, for support," reports The Kansas City Star. "Tiahrt, who's been mentioned as a possible governor candidate himself, said, 'Jerry is the kind of candidate I could support. He's well liked in this state, and I think he'd do a good job.'"[Farm Bureau Awards Golden Plow to Kansas Lawmaker:][5] "The American Farm Bureau Federation Wednesday presented its 'Golden Plow' award to Rep. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)," according to Wisconsin Ag Connection. "The Golden Plow award recognizes members of the House of Representatives and Senate each year for their distinguished agricultural leadership and support of Farm Bureau policies."How to contact As always, you can find information to contact members of the Kansas congressional delegation [here.][6] [1]: http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050206/REPOSITORY/502060389/1037/NEWS04 [2]: http://www.aljazeera.com/cgi-bin/news_service/middle_east_full_story.asp?service_id=6937 [3]: http://washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20050206-094202-2307r.htm [4]: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/10828266.htm [5]: http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-national.cfm?Id=137&yr=2005 [6]: http://ljworld.com/extra/where_to_write.html#fed