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Giuliani Skipped Iraq Study Panel for Speeches
Rudy Giuliani quit an elite Iraq study panel last spring after he failed to show up for a single official group meeting, citing "previous time commitments” – a speaking tour that brought in $11.4 million in 14 months. The 10-member panel, known as the Baker-Hamilton commission, was chartered by Congress and encouraged by President Bush to explore U.S. policy in Iraq. On May 18, 2006, when the panel gathered in Washington, Giuliani gave a $100,000 speech on leadership at a business awards breakfast in Atlanta, Newsday reports. The month before, he skipped another panel session to deliver the keynote speech at an economic conference in South Korea for $200,000.
Story Continues Below Giuliani’s absences reportedly angered James Baker, panel co-chairman and former secretary of state. According to Newsday, Baker gave Giuliani a choice: attend the meetings or quit the panel. Giuliani quit in May 2006 and was replaced by former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese. "By giving up his seat on the panel, Giuliani has opened himself up to charges that he chose private-sector paydays and politics over unpaid service on a critical issue facing the nation,” Newsday observed. The panel delivered its recommendations in December. They included pulling most U.S. troops out of Iraq by early 2008 and beginning talks with Iran and Syria.
© NewsMax 2007. All rights reserved.
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