Nov. 1 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. Senators reached an agreement to monitor a congressional investigation into the Bush administration's use of intelligence about Iraq after Democrats forced an unusual closed session on the Senate floor to draw attention to the issue.

The closed session began about 2:15 p.m. today Washington time when Democratic Minority Leader Harry Reid invoked a rule forcing the session, which required the chamber to be cleared of visitors and cameras to be turned off. It ended about 4:35 p.m. with Majority Leader Bill Frist announcing the creation of a six- member task force to monitor progress of the probe.

Reid said Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Pat Roberts promised more than a year ago to conduct an investigation into whether the Bush administration misused intelligence before the Iraq war. Frist said the Democrats' tactics today were a "stunt."

Bush administration officials before the war said that Saddam Hussein's regime was developing weapons of mass destruction that threatened the U.S. No such weapons were found after the U.S.-led invasion toppled Hussein from power.

Frist said the six-member task force would report by Nov. 14 on how much progress the Intelligence Committee had made on the probe.

`Not Necessary'

Roberts said the Democratic call for the closed session was "not necessary" because his committee planned to soon share some of its findings with senators. "We will do exactly as we planned to do it next week."

Roberts also insisted that he had informed Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, the top-ranked Democrat on the Intelligence panel, of his intentions to proceed yesterday, and said Democrats took a "cheap shot" today designed to grab headlines.

Rockefeller said only "token work at best" has been done on the probe into the possible misuse of intelligence by the White House.

Reid said the indictment Friday of I. Lewis Libby, Vice President Richard Cheney's chief of staff, underscores the need for a full investigation.

Secret Sessions

The use of secret sessions in Congress is rare. Since 1929, the Senate has held 53 secret sessions, typically for reasons of national security, according to the Congressional Research Service. Six of the most recent sessions were held during the impeachment trial of former President Bill Clinton.

The standoff today over intelligence produced sharp rhetoric by Reid and Frist. Frist said he would have trouble trusting Reid for breaking with protocol and calling for the secret session without a bipartisan agreement.

"The U.S. Senate has been hijacked by the Democratic leaders," Frist told reporters.

Reid said the real insult was to the American people, who haven't had answers about the intelligence leading to a war that has resulted in deaths of more than 2,000 Americans. He said Republicans in Congress have shirked their oversight responsibilities.

"I have absolutely no regret, zero regret," Reid said. "The American people had a victory today."

To contact the reporters on this story:
Laura Litvan in Washington at  llitvan@bloomberg.net

Commentary:
Democrats forced the hands of Frist and Roberts, by basically attacking them as being either corrupt or inept. The Senate appears to have agreed with the democrats. Clinton was right, fight for what you believe in or go home.

Big Winners: Reid, the American people and the democrat party.
Big Losers: Frist, Roberts, Bush/Cheney and the republican party.