Homeland Security

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) learned this week that feelings over 9/11 are still raw in New York.

The Californian is facing criticism from firefighters, relatives of 9/11 victims and fellow Republican Rep. Peter King (N.Y.) for comments they saw as downplaying the attacks.

Issa, during a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on benefits for terror victims, said that 9/11 involved "a fire that had no dirty bomb in it," according to the Associated Press.

"It had no chemical munitions in it," he continued. "It simply was an aircraft, residue of two aircraft and residue of the material used to build this building."

He then asked "why the firefighters who went there and everyone in the city of New York needs to come to the federal government for the dollars versus, quite frankly, this being primarily a state consideration."

King, who represents a portion of Long Island, told the New York Daily News that Issa surprised him.

"New York was attacked by al Qaeda," King said. "It doesn't have to be attacked by Congress."

Issa said in a statement Wednesday that he "continues to support federal assistance for 9/11 victims," though Issa has opposed reopening an expired compensation fund for victims that's already given out $7 billion.

The Hill's Managing Editor Bob Cusack gives a preview of the week ahead in Congress.

President Bush called the recent spike in violence in Iraq "a defining moment in the history in Iraq," during an appearance with visiting Australian President Kevin Rudd.

The recent flare up has come as US and Iraqi forces are making a push to rout out Shiite militia strongholds in Baghdad and Basra.

"They are fighting some pretty tough characters... and yes, there's going to be violence, and that's sad," Bush said.

After President Bush blasted Congressional leaders in his speech on Iraq earlier today, Democratic Senate Leader Harry Reid has responded.

"Rather than criticizing Congress, President Bush should be working with us to hold the Iraqi government accountable. The President

President Bush defended questions from lawmakers of slow progress in Iraq in a speech Thursday. Video of the speech is after the jump.

"Some members of Congress decided the best way to encourage progress in Baghdad was to criticize and threaten Iraq's leaders while they're trying to work out their differences," Bush said. "But hectoring was not what the Iraqi leaders needed. What they needed was security. And that is what the surge has provided."

While conceding security gains have been made, Democrats have been questioning political progress and calling for a withdrawal. Read more...