WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, former Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today released the following statement regarding the partisan Phase II reports on prewar intelligence on Iraq:

"It is immensely gratifying that the reports released today confirm what I have said for years," Senator Roberts said. "In fact, after a 17 month review, the Democrat-controlled committee found nothing to support any of its long-standing allegations or partisan rhetoric. 

"This latest Phase II effort has done nothing to improve our intelligence capabilities, nor has it produced any reforms that may prevent intelligence failures in the future.

"Under my leadership as chairman, all 17 Republicans and Democrats on the committee unanimously approved a report exposing systemic failures throughout our intelligence community. That bipartisan report, coupled with the 9/11 report, led to significant intelligence reforms including the creation of a Director of National Intelligence. 

"I am glad the public can finally see what I have long known. I hope now the committee can put politics aside and continue the work I began five years ago to improve the collection, analysis, and dissemination of intelligence. We owe the American people nothing less."

-30-