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Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
Drudge/CNN ^ | 12/11/2006 | Scott Anderson

Posted on 12/11/2006 8:02:34 AM PST by woofie

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, who incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped to head the Intelligence Committee when the Democrats take over in January, failed a quiz of basic questions about al Qaeda and Hezbollah, two of the key terrorist organizations the intelligence community has focused on since the September 11, 2001 attacks.

When asked by CQ National Security Editor Jeff Stein whether al Qaeda is one or the other of the two major branches of Islam -- Sunni or Shiite -- Reyes answered "they are probably both," then ventured "Predominantly -- probably Shiite."

That is wrong. Al Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden as a Sunni organization and views Shiites as heretics.

Reyes could also not answer questions put by Stein about Hezbollah, a Shiite group on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations that is based in Southern Lebanon.

Stein's column about Reyes' answers was published on CQ's Web site Friday evening. In an interview with CNN, Stein said he was "amazed" by Reyes' lack of what he considers basic information about two of the major terrorists organizations.

"If you're the baseball commissioner and you don't know the difference between the Yankees and the Red Sox, you don't know baseball," Stein said.

"You're not going to have the respect of the people you work with." While Stein said Reyes is "not a stupid guy," his lack of knowledge said it could hamper Reyes' ability to provide effective oversight of the intelligence community, Stein believes.

"If you don't have the basics, how do you effectively question the administration?" he asked. "You don't know how is on first."

Stein said Reyes is not the only member of the House Intelligence Committee that he has interviewed that lacked what he considered basic knowledge about terrorist organizations.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: alqaeda; alqaida; botch; democratblunder; hezbollah; immigration; islamonazism; nationalsecurity; waronerror; waronterror
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To: woofie

This is unbelievable. I would wager 80% of FReepers know that Al Q is primarliy Suni and they detest the Shia...

Whew...wonder if Pelosi even knows the difference?

Not an adult left in D.C. is there...


121 posted on 12/11/2006 4:33:13 PM PST by SE Mom (Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
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To: Danae

"But that was before I met him, so I was almost a Navy wife (phew)LOL"

Yes. You dodged a bullet, LOL! In my foolish youth I married a Navy SEAL. They are a breed unto their own. I don't think they should be allowed to mix with the general population. ;)


122 posted on 12/11/2006 5:10:36 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: woofie

someone should tell Reyes to use wikipedia :)


123 posted on 12/11/2006 5:26:36 PM PST by isom35
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Oh Girl... have you got that right. There is something that those guys gain, but the Price.... its pretty damn high on the loved ones. God Bless you!

Danae


124 posted on 12/11/2006 5:50:33 PM PST by Danae (Anail nathrach, orth' bhais's bethad, do chel denmha)
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To: woofie; All; gubamyster
Reyes could also not answer questions put by Stein about Hezbollah, a Shiite group on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations that is based in Southern Lebanon.

Maybe if he knew Hezbollah is all over Latin America and fast approaching the border he wouldn't be opposed to the fence that was VOTED in. Don't forget Reyes committee is also in charge of border security in the house.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1747051/posts

See post #6.

Various links regarding Hezbollah in Latin America:

Hezbollah in Latin America

Hezbollah south of the border

South America's 'tri-border' back on terrorism radar

Hezbollah Finances: Funding the Party of God

hezbollahlatinoamericabaseargentina

Hezboallah llama a la Yihad en América Latina

125 posted on 12/11/2006 6:12:23 PM PST by WatchingInAmazement ("Nothing is more expensive than cheap labor," prof. Vernon Briggs, labor economist Cornell Un.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

No...I was on a carrier, a jet mechanic!

Being a Navy Wife is a very, difficult job. My mom did it with six of us!


126 posted on 12/11/2006 9:58:59 PM PST by rlmorel (Islamofacism: It is all fun and games until someone puts an eye out. Or chops off a head.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Boy...talk about a coincidence...I watched "The Fellowship of The Ring" last night and tonight for the second time...:)

Impressive! Just completely impressive! I was off call, and able to completely relax, had a few beers and watched the second part tonight, came into it when they were trying to go through the snow over the top of the mountain...I was extremely impressed. You are correct about Aragorn being "The Man"...when I watched it this time, I really paid attention to the political undercurrent between Boromir and Aragorn...somthing I kind of glossed over last time.

How Boromir went from being in angry denial that this guy Aragorn was any kind of pretender to the throne, to the point where he lay dying with the arrows in him, fully accepting him as "my Brother… my Captain… my King" as his last words. Just very, very well done!


127 posted on 12/11/2006 10:08:29 PM PST by rlmorel (Islamofacism: It is all fun and games until someone puts an eye out. Or chops off a head.)
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To: rlmorel

Oops...sorry, thought I was typing a freepmail!

*PLEASE IGNORE THIS DISTRACTION FROM THE MAIN THREAD...CONTINUE PERUSING THIS THREAD ON THE NEXT POST*

:)


128 posted on 12/11/2006 10:11:50 PM PST by rlmorel (Islamofacism: It is all fun and games until someone puts an eye out. Or chops off a head.)
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To: woofie
While Stein said Reyes is "not a stupid guy,"

Stupid? Pshaw! The man graduated from El Paso Community College!

Education: AA El Paso Community College, 1977

129 posted on 12/11/2006 10:13:13 PM PST by Plutarch
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To: woofie

Just what I thought, the democrats don't even know who we are at war with either.


130 posted on 12/11/2006 10:57:37 PM PST by TheLion (We are not the health maintenance organization for Mexico)
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To: edcoil

lol


131 posted on 12/11/2006 10:59:35 PM PST by beyond the sea ( All lies and jest, still the man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.)
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To: BARLF

Louie, Louie


132 posted on 12/11/2006 11:01:25 PM PST by beyond the sea ( All lies and jest, still the man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.)
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To: woofie

At some point in the interview, Reyes asked Stein to ask him questions in Spanish. That damned English is soooo confusing.


133 posted on 12/12/2006 5:00:11 AM PST by wolfcreek (Please Lord, May I be, one who sees what's in front of me.)
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To: rlmorel

Spot on! Now back to our regularly scheduled programming... ;)


134 posted on 12/12/2006 7:42:21 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: woofie

Where's David Gregory when you need him? Shouldn't he be demanding that Pelosi apologize to America for giving the intel chair to a moron?


135 posted on 12/12/2006 8:08:49 AM PST by cookcounty (The "Greatest Generation" was also the most violent generation.)
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To: RexBeach
"Quick! What's the capital of Abyssinia?"

Addis Ababa. And I'm a lowly truck driver. We should expect more from our "leaders".

136 posted on 12/12/2006 8:12:22 AM PST by cookcounty (The "Greatest Generation" was also the most violent generation.)
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To: cookcounty

Nice going, CC!

You've got my vote!

-Rex


137 posted on 12/12/2006 8:42:39 AM PST by RexBeach ("In war there is no substitute for victory." Douglas MacArthur)
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To: RexBeach

Fast guess! London!


138 posted on 12/12/2006 6:16:50 PM PST by Temple Owl (Excelsior! Onward and upward.)
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To: RexBeach

Fast guess! London!


139 posted on 12/12/2006 6:16:51 PM PST by Temple Owl (Excelsior! Onward and upward.)
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To: rlmorel

Great post. We do not have much time to come up with a successful plan to countering the media.


140 posted on 12/12/2006 6:59:21 PM PST by Irish Eyes
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