REP. HUNTER, GENERAL ENGAGE IN UNFRIENDLY FIRE DURING HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE HEARING

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By Meg Jensen

May 2, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Rep. Duncan D. Hunter (R-El Cajon)  triggered a harsh response from Army Chief of Staff General Raymond Odierno during a House Armed Services Committee meeting on April 25. 

The terse exchange occurred after Hunter criticized an Army intelligence program (Distributed Common Ground System) and repeatedly refused to allow either Odierno or Army Secretary John McHugh to respond in their own defense. Hunter prepared to leave the hearing, but stayed briefly after the Chairman insisted that General Odierno be allowed to speak.

 “I object to this. I’m tired of somebody telling me I don’t care about our soldiers and we don’t respond,” the General said. “Everybody on my staff cares about it and they do all they can to help.”  He then defended the DCGS and suggested Hunter was not familiar enough with the system.

Hunter claimed the discussion has gone on for "years" and was not interested in hearing more. But the General persisted.

 “We have more capability in our intelligence today than we have ever had,” the General advised, citing specifics to bolster his statement. “I want to have a conversation about this and I want you to get briefed on DCGS…..It is a capability that allows us to link intelligence form a national level down to the local level,”  General Odierno said, adding that the system is working well in many places.

Hunter, a military veteran, repeatedly interrupted Odierno, at one point interjecting, “If you don’t let me say anything, we can’t have a conversation.”

“Well, you weren’t gonna let us say anything,” the General pointed out. 

Hunter retorted, “You’re right, but I have that prerogative when I’m sittin’ up here.”

The General fired back, “Well, I have a prerogative too, and that’s to answer a question or an accusation when it’s made.”

View a video of the exchange posted at Intercept on the Defense News blog:  http://blogs.defensenews.com/intercepts/2013/04/video-of-the-day-rep-duncan-hunter-vs-gen-ray-odierno/


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