Congressional briefing

Compiled from news sources

Brownback wants to remain tough on North Korea

Posted December 12, 2007

Sen. Sam Brownback (R)

(The Korea Times) Brownback demands conditions before removing N. Korea from terrorism list: A senior U.S. senator introduced a resolution setting conditions for removing North Korea from the U.S. list of terrorism-sponsoring nations, one of the key incentives offered for Pyongyang's denuclearization. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) submitted Resolution 399 on Monday and so far has three co-sponsors. The resolution urges the administration not to lift the designation until it can be demonstrated that North Korea is no longer engaged in proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and no longer counterfeiting American currency. It also demands proof that a North Korean ruling party bureau, believed to be running illicit financial activities including drug trafficking and counterfeiting, has been made inoperable. The senator also demands that the terrorist-nation designation remain until all U.S. overseas missions have been instructed to facilitate asylum applications by North Koreans seeking protection as refugees.

Sen. Pat Roberts (R)

(Wichita Eagle Editorial Deparment Blog) Roberts still silent about CIA tapes, waterboarding: Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., responded Tuesday to Eagle editorial board questions about the destruction of CIA interrogation tapes by saying that he wasn't going to respond. "It would not be appropriate for me to comment on classified matters, but I have full confidence in the Senate Intelligence Committee to determine the facts surrounding these events," he said in a statement. But why can't Roberts comment on whether the CIA told him it was going to destroy the tapes and, if so, whether he agreed with that decision? Other lawmakers have done so.