Roberts was able to get confirmation of key parts of Leone's story from other sources -- including scientists who had also been involved in Saddam's closely guarded WMD programs who managed to escape with their lives from Iraq.
His confirmation hearing marked a key moment in which we had an important opportunity to approach the kind of open, public analysis and discussion for which Clarke has called.
"Based on several key assurances provided by Senator Hagel, I am currently prepared to vote for his confirmation, " Schumer said the day after a 90-minute meeting with Hagel at the White House.
The comment followed similar statements from officials in Poland and the Czech Republic -- where key elements of the system were to be located -- but was the first confirmation from an American official.