Washington, DC – During a television interview yesterday, Vice President Dick Cheney was asked what he thought about the letter that Under Secretary of Defense Eric Edelman sent to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in May, in which the Under Secretary outrageously impugned the Senator’s patriotism by suggesting that Congressional oversight emboldens America’s enemies. In response to the question, Vice President Cheney stated that he, “agreed with the letter Eric Edelman wrote,” and added, “I thought it was a good letter.”

The Vice President’s statement contradicts those of Secretary of Defense Gates, who wrote to Senator Clinton that it is the position of the Administration that congressional oversight of the war in Iraq is essential to our national debate, and offered to brief Congress on re-deployment planning.

Today, Senator Clinton responded to Vice President Cheney:


August 1, 2007

The Honorable Richard B. Cheney
Vice President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. Vice President:

There are few matters I take more seriously as a Senator and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee than the safety and security of our troops. After four years of mismanagement and mistakes by the Bush Administration in Iraq, I believe it is not only important, but imperative that Congress actively oversee the administration’s Iraq policy. That is why I feel it is necessary to respond to several comments and inaccuracies you put forward in your most recent interview with CNN.

In May, I sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates making a simple, serious request: provide the appropriate oversight committees in Congress, including the Senate Armed Services Committee, with briefings on current contingency plans for the future withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq – or explain why no such planning is taking place.

I received a response from Under Secretary of Defense Eric Edelman, who avoided my question. Instead, his letter impugned my patriotism and suggested that congressional oversight emboldens our enemies.

I then reiterated my request to Secretary Gates in a second letter, urging him to reject this kind of political attack and to answer my initial request regarding planning for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. In a conciliatory response, Secretary Gates expressed regret that “this important discussion went astray” and reaffirmed his commitment to Congress's constitutional oversight role.

In my initial request, I noted my concern that various members of the administration had stated that contingency planning was not taking place and I requested a briefing on the matter. Your contention that I asked to reveal operational plans is a misrepresentation. In fact, as a result of my inquiry, the Pentagon will be briefing the Senate Armed Services Committee tomorrow on this topic, without fear that operational security will be imperiled. I have never requested operational plans. My request – which has been honored – is to be briefed on redeployment planning to protect the safety of our troops in what will be a dangerous and complicated series of events.

Your comments, agreeing with Under Secretary Edelman, not Secretary Gates, have left me wondering about the true position of the Administration. Therefore, I am writing to President Bush asking that he set the record straight about the Administration's position regarding the role of Congress in oversight of the war.

Sincerely yours,

Hillary Rodham Clinton

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