Senate Democrats plan to hold hearings on Iraq in Washington and around the country—leading November elections—in an effort spearheaded by Bryon Dorgan (D-N.D.), chairman of the Democratic Policy Committee. Dorgan claims that the Republican controlled Congress has not held enough hearings on the Iraq war and has failed to conduct proper oversight of military operations, contracting procedures, and reconstruction. Dorgan has extended invitations to Republican congress members to attend the hearings in an effort to play fair. The first hearing is slated for Monday on Capitol Hill.
Aircraft readiness will suffer if Congress does not approve some $1.5 billion worth of spare parts the Air Force requested in its annual Unfunded Priorities List, sent to Capitol Hill last week, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said.