WASHINGTON -- An overseas trip by Congress’ intelligence chiefs -- including Georgia Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss -- was cut short this week because of assassination threats tied to the anniversary of the death of Osama bin Laden.
In a phone interview Friday after returning home to Georgia, Chambliss said the group was scheduled to visit Pakistan and India, but only made it to Afghanistan because of concerns that the Taliban would be targeting Americans.
Intelligence officials “had some specific information as to not only who they were targeting but they were looking for additional VIPs,” Chambliss said. “Needless to say, it bothered us.” As a result, the group canceled its trip from Afghanistan to Pakistan.
A suicide bomber killed 20 people Friday in a Pakistani market near the Afghan border. Chambliss said the congressional delegation -- which consisted of the leaders of the intelligence committees in both chambers: Chambliss; Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.; Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich.; and Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Md. -- was heading to Islamabad, nowhere near the attack. But the bombing illustrated that “it was probably the right decision” to cut off the trip, he said.
The delegation spent two days in Afghanistan visiting with military and intelligence personnel in Kabul and rural areas around the country. Their visit overlapped with President Barack Obama’s surprise trip to announce a new accord with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, but Chambliss said no one in his group was invited to Obama’s events “even though we had a couple of Democrats with us.”
A Taliban suicide attack in Kabul, which The Associated Press said killed at least seven people, occurred just hours after Obama left Afghanistan and again showed the security risks in the area.
Chambliss said the strategic partnership agreement between the U.S. and Afghanistan is a positive step. It commits U.S. help for security and development in Afghanistan through 2024, though the bulk of NATO troops are scheduled to withdraw and hand over control to the Afghans in 2014.
But the agreement is thin on specifics, and Chambliss has particular concern with the handling of about 3,000 detainees at Bagram prison near Kabul.
“With the recidivism rate we’ve seen out of [Guantanamo Bay prison], it will be even higher than that coming out of this prison,” Chambliss said. “They will be sent back to their hometowns where they came from. We need to make sure that we maintain some control over the decision-making process.”
Chambliss said he continues to believe the public withdrawal schedule undermines any attempt to provide lasting security. Of the Taliban, Chambliss said, “to a certain extent, they’re still fighting but saving their best lick for when we pull out in 2014.”
Obama's handling of the anniversary of bin Laden's death also has proved controversial. His re-election campaign has questioned whether Republican foe Mitt Romney would have authorized the same kind of bold raid on the bin Laden compound in Pakistan. Many Republicans have accused Obama of a crass effort to use the death of the notorious terrorist for political gain.
Chambliss said the true credit goes to intelligence personnel under both President George W. Bush and Obama for tracking down bin Laden and executing the mission last year. As for Obama’s trip to Afghanistan, which drew some flak for being too political, Chambliss said he was fine with it.
“I think it’s important for the commander in chief to go into the field and visit the troops on occasion, and certainly there was every reason on this anniversary for the president to be there,” Chambliss said.
“Sure it’s political. Everything this president does is political. But still I don’t have a problem with him going into theater and visiting with folks. And one reason we go is to have a chance to look those men and women in uniform in the eye and tell them how much we appreciate their service.”
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