Party's over, so it's now time for blame game
Source: Agencies |
December 4, 2009, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE House Homeland Security Committee chairman said yesterday Congress must question those involved in the White House security breach, adding that the United States was fortunate it did not turn into "a night of horror."
Mark Sullivan, the secret service chief, said mistakes were made but he was confident President Barack Obama was never at risk.
Representative Bennie Thompson said before yesterday's hearing began that lawmakers needed to talk not only to Tareq and Michaele Salahi, the couple who was admitted to the state dinner in honor of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh without showing invitations, but also to White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers. All three declined to appear.
Thompson, a Democrat, had said on Wednesday night that if the Salahis did not show up, the panel was prepared to issue subpoenas "to compel their appearance."
"This hearing is not about crashing a party at the White House. Nor is it about wannabe celebrities," Thompson said. The hearing was about protecting the president.
"We're not concerned about agency embarrassment," he said. "The security gaps at issue cannot be explained away as missteps by a few frontline employees.
"There were undeniable planning and execution failures of the entire secret service apparatus.
"We're all fortunate that this diplomatic celebration did not become a night of horror. We must dissect every fact and after we do these things, we need to give thanks that no lives were lost."
Sullivan told the panel that "in our judgment, a mistake was made. In our line of work, we cannot afford even one mistake."
Sullivan, who had previously acknowledged a failure in procedure by his agency, was the lone witness at yesterday's hearing.
"I fully acknowledge that the proper procedures were not followed," he said.
"This flaw has not changed our agency's standard, which is to be right 100 percent of the time."
He said that "as an agency, we will continue to remain our harshest critic."
Last week's White House caper has captivated a capital where high-end social life and celebrity eruptions frequently enliven the day-to-day business of governing.
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle are described as angry.
And the Salahis asked a national TV audience to take their word that the e-mail exchange would show they were invited to the dinner.
Thompson asked Sullivan what went wrong.
"What we find is if the protocols are followed, we would not run into this situation," Sullivan replied.
Normal procedures were not followed, he said.
Mark Sullivan, the secret service chief, said mistakes were made but he was confident President Barack Obama was never at risk.
Representative Bennie Thompson said before yesterday's hearing began that lawmakers needed to talk not only to Tareq and Michaele Salahi, the couple who was admitted to the state dinner in honor of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh without showing invitations, but also to White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers. All three declined to appear.
Thompson, a Democrat, had said on Wednesday night that if the Salahis did not show up, the panel was prepared to issue subpoenas "to compel their appearance."
"This hearing is not about crashing a party at the White House. Nor is it about wannabe celebrities," Thompson said. The hearing was about protecting the president.
"We're not concerned about agency embarrassment," he said. "The security gaps at issue cannot be explained away as missteps by a few frontline employees.
"There were undeniable planning and execution failures of the entire secret service apparatus.
"We're all fortunate that this diplomatic celebration did not become a night of horror. We must dissect every fact and after we do these things, we need to give thanks that no lives were lost."
Sullivan told the panel that "in our judgment, a mistake was made. In our line of work, we cannot afford even one mistake."
Sullivan, who had previously acknowledged a failure in procedure by his agency, was the lone witness at yesterday's hearing.
"I fully acknowledge that the proper procedures were not followed," he said.
"This flaw has not changed our agency's standard, which is to be right 100 percent of the time."
He said that "as an agency, we will continue to remain our harshest critic."
Last week's White House caper has captivated a capital where high-end social life and celebrity eruptions frequently enliven the day-to-day business of governing.
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle are described as angry.
And the Salahis asked a national TV audience to take their word that the e-mail exchange would show they were invited to the dinner.
Thompson asked Sullivan what went wrong.
"What we find is if the protocols are followed, we would not run into this situation," Sullivan replied.
Normal procedures were not followed, he said.
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