CIA is refusing to back down in face of Speaker Pelosi’s carefully worded denials that she had been fully briefed on expanded interrogation techniques that some have chosen to label torture – an emotionally loaded but practically ambiguous term that apparently no longer means what it used to:
Intelligence officials released documents this evening saying that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was briefed in September 2002 about the use of harsh interrogation tactics against al-Qaeda prisoners, seemingly contradicting her repeated statements over the past 18 months that she was never told that these techniques were actually being used.
In a 10-page memo outlining an almost seven-year history of classified briefings, intelligence officials said that Pelosi and then-Rep. Porter Goss (R-Fla.) were the first two members of Congress ever briefed on the interrogation tactics. Then the ranking member and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, respectively, Pelosi and Goss were briefed Sept. 4, 2002, one week before the first anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The memo, issued by the Director of National Intelligence and the Central Intelligence Agency to Capitol Hill, notes the Pelosi-Goss briefing covered “EITs including the use of EITs on Abu Zubaydah.” EIT is an acronym for enhanced interrogation technique. Zubaydah was one of the earliest valuable al-Qaeda members captured and the first to have the controversial tactic known as water boarding used against him.
The interesting thing for me here is not that a politician might choose to dissemble over an embarrassing revelation, but that an arm of the federal bureaucracy would so deliberately impeach one of the most powerful (and vindictive) members of the political branch. CIA could have chosen to let sleeping dogs lie and give Pelosi a pass, but instead the spooks chose to publicly confront her with inconvenient facts.
There are any number of ways for a Speaker of the House to make things uncomfortable for an adversary that depends upon the disbursal of public funds and who can arrogate to herself (or her proxies) broad and penetrating oversight responsibilities. Either they’ve got more on her than they’re showing and this is a shot across the bow, or else they’ve taken the measure of her juice and they’re just not that impressed.
Why would they be impressed by the Speaker? They haven’t been shy about taking on/taking down presidents.
It’s fun to watch, but incredibly dangerous for the country, I think.
Yeah, but that’s usually done behind the scenes, unattributed leaks and so on.
They’re taking her on in public.
What we don’t know (among other things) are what statements, threats, etc the Speaker has made to the agencies involved behind the scenes. This is probably just letting her know that she can’t get away with it without a cost. And I have to believe the White House (Rahm?) knew they were going to out here as the lying weasel she is.
They’re taking her on in public.
Sounds good to me. The sooner that this bug-eyed parasite gets knocked down several notches, the better.
good, let them bring nancy, the wicked witch of the west to task,,,,she is a liar
Been sitting here thinking about it. Not that I know anything about CIA etc., but human nature being what it is, I suspect both a shot across the bow and not being impressed.
I am guessing, in light of recent developments, those who have been stabbed in the back are warning that payback can be a bitch (so to speak)
It would seem to me that there is some hard impeccable evidence in the possession of that OGA in the form of video and or audio of that briefing. It wouldn’t have to be made public, just shown to the rest of the House membership.
This is fun to watch… they must have some good dirt to go to blows in the open…
This is why Democrats are not fit to be involved in, much less lead, matters of National Security.
For them, National Security finishes a distant 3rd behind Personal and Party Security.
Bill:
A known liar, Pelosi, is being shown as such by a government agency. All in the open, and on a very non-trivial matter.
Pelosi is one of the most influential members of government, and is second after the VP in the line of President succession.
And exactly how is what the CIA doing considered to be dangerous for our country?
Folks, do you think the agency did this without higher approval? Do you think DNI would approve this without at least the tacit approval of NSC and the President? I don’t give a crap about DC politics, but there’s clearly something larger and unseen at work here. My guess is (among other, wilder scenarios) that as the budgets are revised, CIA’s budget will be a little more secure than it was a few days ago.
Ooh, good points, Zane!
Nope, no higher authority is required for this vigalette gang…consider all the damage they have done in the past 8 years.
What’s a vigalette?
Was wondering about that myself…
I suspect this person meant to say “vigilante” as it appeared he was talking about the Bush administration:
“consider all the damage they have done in the past 8 years.”
Probably the product of D.C. public school education…
I think CIA/DNI types have gotten way too arrogant. Having had the press on their side for their assault on Bush Administration policies, they now feel entitled to attack inconvenient Congresscritters as well.
I’ve got no love for Pelosi, but when intellicrats take on properly elected representatives of the people, you’ve got to wonder what kind of democracy we’re running here.
And when properly elected representatives of the people lie to protect themselves in such a way that it endangers/attempts to destroy those who volunteer to the protect the country, you’ve got to wonder…
Nah. That’s just politics. Old as time
Let’s also consider another reason:
Due to recent statements that indicate legal proceedings could be sought against CIA employees for EIT, what better way to help diffuse some of that enthusiasm than by showing that it wasn’t only the mean ol’ Republicans who were involved, but also the People’s Party of Hope and Change.
I suspect CIA is just a convenient tool in all this. Yeah, they’re pissed, but you have to ask yourself who besides them wants her to pay the price and why?
Has she crossed Rahm? Is she off script?
Either they’ve got more on her than they’re showing and this is a shot across the bow, or else they’ve taken the measure of her juice and they’re just not that impressed.
I vote both.
I’m thinking that they’re thinking that she was already getting ready to gut both their procedures and their budgets and view themselves in a fight for survival. They’re also worried about her getting ready to prosecute them for crimes. They want to let her know that they’re not going down alone, they’re going to try to take her with them. Backing people into a corner with deadly threats is a game they’re a lot more practiced at than she is.
This is doubly delicious when you consider how it’s going to play with the lefty crowd that elects her.
This has the potential to not just expose her partisan hypocrisy but to also actually cost her an election. Assuming, of course, rational behavior on the part of the irrational bunch that she appeals to.
daveg/
You mean we’ll get Cindy Sheehan instead? ‘Cause that’s whose runnin’ agin’ her, IIRC. Oh goody….
Would Cindy Shehan really be much worse than Al Franken as a congress critter?
I agree with Bill that this stuff is dangerous for the country. We need spies doing their work quietly–and preferrably out of sight and overseas.
But since at least the time of the Church Committee (and probably well before that) Congress critters of both parties, and since Barney Frank et al are in Congress, of both persuasions, have deemed it appropriate that they micromanage (aka gut, hamstring and hamper) our intelligence services.
You do that–and you wind up turning our intelligence services into political players. It’s not all La Pelosi’s fault–she’s just playing in what’s now at least a four decades long game.
But you expose yourself to getting your mitt caught in a wringer when you make a very public–and very obvious–lie.
(comment deleted for non-compliance with community standards)
Ow now I have to scratch my eyes out from that visual thanks alot. I just vomited in my mouth.
This community has standards? Why am I here?
Just speculation of course, but how does this play:
Obama wouldn’t mind lining the White House walls with Bushite scalps – his base would love it.
The problem is, there really are people out there who want more 9-11′s and, they would be inconsiderate enough to blow something up while the show trials were going on – thus, no Obama second term.
Nancy, doesn’t have those concerns – she is re-elected as long as she runs – from where she sits, let the show trials begin.
So Obama uses the CIA as a messenger to let her know not to endanger his second term with her desire to see republican blood in the streets.
If it is true, then the CIA is the “bad cop”, and something else has been offered as a consolation prize for her cooperation.
Watch for a payoff of some kind.
She lied, so I have no sympathy for her. One hopes that she denied knowing about interrogations to a sworn federal agent, that would be prosecutable.
“And exactly how is what the CIA doing considered to be dangerous for our country?”
Just a continuation of tactics toward a previous administration. I loathe Pelosi as much as any but I can’t help but think the CIA seeing themselves as kingmakers is exactly wrong and dangerous. But then again, maybe it’s better than unions and government running businesses.
rrr:
I see this specific situation as a government agency being honest and saying (and proving) that the “Empress has No Clothes”.
Clearly there are undercurrents, though IMO allowing Pelosi to publicly state meaningful and substantive lies without being challenged by those who know otherwise would be dangerous to our country.
We can speculate as to what the CIA is doing, and why; we know what Pelosi is doing, and why.
The institutional memory of the CIA (as well as the rest of the intelligence community) is quite long, and includes the scars left by the Church committee in the 70s. For those of you who don’t remember that last exercise in Liberal preening, the damage done to the intelligence services was overwhelming and pervasive. It has NOT been forgotten or forgiven, and there is a very strong belief throughout the various intelligence organizations that it will not be permitted to happen again, no matter what the price.
With that said, I share the concerns of many on this thread. Much as I like watching Pelosi get hers, I don’t care for the intelligence agencies using ‘leak warfare’ to undermine a legitimately elected member of the government. I didn’t like it when the CIA decided to undermine Bush, and I don’t like it now. Pelosi is slime (actually, that isn’t really fair…it insults slime…), but she is also the Speaker of the House, and the CIA has no business playing this sort of game…
Exactly the same game as when Valerie Pflame got her husband, known critic of the Bush administration, a contract to do an “objective” investigation into purported Iraqi purchases of uranium from Niger. If anyone thinks that wasn’t a political mission, then ask yourself one question: Why didn’t Joe Wilson have an NDA, on a CIA contract, fer chrissakes? He goes, comes back, and files two reports — one to get paid, and the other with the NY Times?
What is sauce for the Texas gander, is sauce for the Californicator goose…
and:
Contrary to the suggestions that this is our intelligence agencies playing kingmaker, it appears quite clear that this memo was generated in response to a request by Congress, not sure which committee. If there is no classified information in it, then it is fully releasable and should be released to the public. As distasteful or delightfully humorous (in a schadenfreude sort of way) as this may be, this is our republican (as in “rule of law”) government at work–the executive branch DNI is responding to a request from the legislative branch.
Which, btw, leads me to with draw earlier suggestions that this was cleared through NSC and the President. This appears to be just another product prepared by lawyers for lawyers.
The problem is, there really are people out there who want more 9-11’s and, they would be inconsiderate enough to blow something up while the show trials were going on – thus, no Obama second term.
Listen to the left talk about Pres. Obama and it will strike you that there is an absolute assumption that he’ll serve two terms. I have heard no one talk about whether anything he does will have any effect on a victory in 2012. You’d think the man won’t even have to run.
“You’d think the man won’t even have to run.”
Run?
He’s already President. Why run again and subject the nation to a traumatic count and counter-count of votes, undervotes, and overvotes?
Last I heard there was some talk of bringing the U.S. Census under White House control. Whatever became of that?
Sounds like it is a done deal. Is there anyone who thinks that the White House (either party), let alone BHO, ACORN and Rahm Emanuel will not politicize/skew the results?
What the hell, the Constitution is only a guideline, right?
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2009/May/07/groves_pledges_to_run_2010_census_free_of_politics.html
[...] Madame Speaker, didnt anyone ever tell you not to mess with The Company? [...]
[...] CIA is refusing to back down in face of Speaker Pelosi’s carefully worded denials that she had been fully briefed on expanded interrogation techniques that some have chosen to label torture – an emotionally loaded but practically ambiguous term that apparently no longer means what it used to: Intelligence officials released documents this evening … http://www.neptunuslex.com/2009/05/08/taking-on-the-speaker/ [...]
I think two things happened:
1. This letter was requested by someone in Congress.
2. Said request was fulfilled with far greater candor and vigor than many would anticipate.
Think of it this way, a grandstanding city official -the mayor perhaps- panders to hysteria over some police action, threatens careers of respected and connected police officers and officials.
Then another official, with due authority, like the DA, sends a request: “Do you have that report on the mayor’s DUI? I seem to forget the details.”
I imagine some brother officers would turn up the original report, the dash cam tape, and perhaps a mug shot.
I also think no one has any respect for Pelosi’s intelligence. They are letting her know that they can run circles around her. Grasping ambition and vindictiveness only gets you so far. Probably a bridge to far in Nancy’s case.
The CIA is like any other corporate entity – doing what is best for itself. Doubt the country is a concern.
Nancy Pelosi – ibid.
The CIA will do as it wills, esp with a president it doesn’t think will back them. It disagreed with Bush, but suspect it may be worse for President Obama – a threat to their freedom from a jail cell.
This isn’t so difficult to figure out. The Obama administration is in flux, cabinet heads have yet to be named and there’s already talk of prosecuting folks who work for the administration (and have not yet been dismissed) for doing what they were asked.
Then comes a query — was Pelosi briefed?
Why yes, yes she was, and here’s what she was briefed upon.
CIA isn’t fighting Pelosi, I suspect, they’re fighting against a change of administration bringing about retroactive change in the rules of engagement.
The beaurocracy will live to fight another day, and the field agents will be spared.
Pelosi? Obviously didn’t understand that a change in administration doesn’t mean a change in civil service positions, and they’re not beholden to a party, they’ve a union to help protect them.
I expect CIA is firing back, change the rules and the laws and you’ll find we’ve a lot on you that, would the media discover it, might be embarassing.
Nice office you’ve got here, Speaker. Be a shame if anything were to happen to it.
Following orders is one thing. To have a new boss say they’re changing the orders and after the fact say they’ll possibly prosecute you for doing your job? Yeah, you can bet there’s a block of employees who want to tell the boss to get stuffed, high and hard with a left-hand twist.
– Max
Why do you think the people of California want her in DC. If she is on the East Coast, she can’t screw up the State of California as badly. Somebody needs to put her in a home for the terminally stupid and SOON. She is a danger to herself and everyone else in this country. Actually, she fits right in with most of the rest of them right now. Glad I don’t work in DC anymore. The place is nothing but a huge nest of pit vipers and it used to be a wonderful place to be. The attitude now is unGodly and just plain mean with no accountability by those in power. The inmates have truly taken over the asylum and the leader is in the White House and his minions are on The Hill led by Miss Pelosi.
Hey. Now that she’s been outed with facts as the obfuscating, lying Wicked Witch of the West do ya thinks her constituents will vote her outta office? Or maybe her lapdogs in congress will make her step down as speaker?
Methinks not..what does that say about them too?
b2
I’m not certain, B2. I’ll get back to you once Senator Kennedy is re-elected. If he’s elected after he has died, I’d say Peolsi has nothing to fear from the electorate.
– Max