Scolded

The fiscal year 2010 defense authorization conference agreement unveiled yesterday scolds the Defense Department -- and senior uniformed officials in particular -- for not being responsive enough to lawmakers' queries.

Conferees stopped short of adopting a House provision that would have directed members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to provide advice to Congress upon request, but they also unloaded on top military officials for repeatedly failing to provide information and documents in a timely manner as required by law.

Citing Senate confirmation hearings, the legislation counsels the services' top admirals and generals to remember what they agreed to:

In particular, the conferees remind these officers of their affirmative answers to the following questions: Do you agree to provide documents, including copies of electronic forms of communication, in a timely manner when requested by a duly constituted committee, or to consult with the committee regarding the basis for any good faith delay or denial in providing such documents? Do you agree, when asked, to give your personal views, even if those views differ from the administration in power?