Democrats are not blameless on this issue.

Over at Talking Points Memo, Josh Marshall discusses a statement released today by Sen. John Rockefeller, the ranking member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Rockefeller addresses an issue I raised in my previous post, namely the lack of an investigation into pre-war intelligence once the 2004 election was over. He rips the Republicans for the lack of action and raises the possibility of an outside independent investigation. While I agree with everything in Rockefeller's statement, he overlooks his own culpability and that of his fellow Democrats. Josh explains:

It's a strong statement. And the Congress has completely failed in its oversight responsibilities in this whole matter. But the question can't be avoided.

If that's all true, why did he and fellow Democrats on the intel committee sign off on last year's report?

Why has he said so little this year about the failure to pursue the promised second phase of the Senate investigation, which was supposed to look into the question of executive branch manipulation of WMD intelligence?

Why has he remained silent in the face of evidence, put before him more than a year ago, that the FBI investigation into the forgeries, which he himself requested, has never been pursued in earnest?

Accountability for the Congress's failure to pursue its oversight responsibilities in this case does not end on the Republican side of the aisle. Nor does it end with Rockefeller. He's the ranking member of the committee, with unique access and power. But he's not the only Democrat on the committee. Why stand up now when they didn't stand up before? The Republicans' behavior at least has the logic of self-interest behind it. That of the Democrats' is inscrutable.

I will go a step further. Any Democrat who voted for the Iraq War Resolution, which ceded all Congressional authority and control to Bush, should not be pointing a finger at others for Congress failing in its oversight duties when it comes to Iraq.