Posted on 12/10/2014 4:47:41 PM PST by Starman417
"I don't know that the report that was released yesterday is that historically accurate. It reads like a prosecutorial screed rather than a historical document."- Michael Hayden, Former CIA Director from May 30, 2006- Feb 12, 2009
For the most part, the narrative that the CIA tortured, that methods were "brutal", that the program wasn't effective in obtaining intelligence, that it played no role in the finding and killing of OBL, that those involved are war criminals- all of that is pretty much cemented in the minds of a number of Americans who are only reading the headlines and buying into much of the language of mainstream news. The Feinstein Majority Views Report has the rubber stamp of confirmation bias approval and pretense of objectivity and thoroughness. It is not that. The Minority Views Report is perceived as politically partisan (by those even aware of its existence) and any CIA rebuttal as suspect.
Senator Feinstein appears stubbornly resolved and unrepentant on possible ramifications. The argument is that the CIA program (most people fail to draw a distinction between CIA detention and interrogations and that of the DoD; and Feinstein's report was about the former) will be responsible for any repercussions; not release of the executive summary at this time in history. Feinstein, McCain, and those on the left of this issue believe this Report redeems us; that it proves to the world America's goodness. But similar to how the critics will fail to give credit to the CIA itself for self-analysis, self-corrections, reprimands of agents, etc., world opinion and human-rights lefties aren't congratulating Democrats for a job well-done. They are criticizing American leadership for not going far enough: "Where are the prosecutions?" "America is a hypocrite and has no business pointing fingers at other countries on human rights violations" Islamists and jihadists will not see America's goodness in exposing the CIA program. Their nature is to be in a perpetual state of outrage and indignation.
Democratic former Senator Bob Kerrey in USA Today:
I regret having to write a piece that is critical of the Democratic members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Most of them are former colleagues and friends. I hope they will remain friends after reading this.For eight years I served on this committee. I know how difficult and important the work of providing tough and fair oversight of our nation's $50 billion top-secret intelligence network.
I will wait until I have fully read and considered Tuesday's report to enter the debate over whether the CIA handled interrogation of detainees in an appropriate manner. Thanks to the 2005 and 2006 efforts of Senator John McCain I do not have to wait to be certain our interrogation policies and procedures are aligned with our core values.
I also do not have to wait to know we are fighting a war that is different than any in our country's past. The enemy does not have an easy to identify and analyze military. In the war against global jihadism, human intelligence and interrogation have become more important, and I worry that the partisan nature of this report could make this kind of collection more difficult.
I do not need to read the report to know that the Democratic staff alone wrote it. The Republicans checked out early when they determined that their counterparts started out with the premise that the CIA was guilty and then worked to prove it.
When Congress created the intelligence committees in the 1970's, the purpose was for people's representatives to stand above the fray and render balanced judgments about this most sensitive aspect of national security. This committee departed from that high road and slipped into the same partisan mode that marks most of what happens on Capitol Hill these days.
Hugh Hewitt with Max Boot:
HH: In the minority report, it says that the majority report that Senator Feinstein released today includes indications of political consideration. Specifically, it says we found indications of political considerations within the study, for example, the study uses out of context quotes from certain minority members to suggest incorrectly that they supported certain positions taken by the study. The study omits additional comments by the same members which contradict the out of context statements. That tells me, Max Boot, that had they waited even two more weeks, this report would not have been written the way that it is, meaning that it’s written by, in essence, an illegitimate body that has been repudiated by the country.
(Excerpt) Read more at floppingaces.net...
Verdict first, trial after!
“Sentence first! “Verdict afterward!’’.— The Red Queen, “Alice In Wonderland’’.
George Zimmerman and Darren Wilson, please pick up a white courtesy phone near you.
Feinstein is using this as a smoke and mirror ploy to detract from what the CIA was looking for when she was a
“person of interest.” This will unfold and this macho woman/guy will be exposed. The Great OZ has spoken.
Bob Kerrey was last heard from when trying to regain a Senate seat in Nebraska after having lived in NY for many years. But before that he was known for his comment about Bill Clinton being a very good liar.
If he thinks they are full of crap then he needs to start talking specifics! Screw security classifications!
Roland Friesler could not have written a better accusation.
Reminds me of the Dellums report.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.