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 ...
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...
"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. ;)
someone should tell Reyes to use wikipedia :)
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
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
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!
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!
Oops...sorry, thought I was typing a freepmail!
*PLEASE IGNORE THIS DISTRACTION FROM THE MAIN THREAD...CONTINUE PERUSING THIS THREAD ON THE NEXT POST*
:)
Stupid? Pshaw! The man graduated from El Paso Community College!
Just what I thought, the democrats don't even know who we are at war with either.
lol
Louie, Louie
At some point in the interview, Reyes asked Stein to ask him questions in Spanish. That damned English is soooo confusing.
Spot on! Now back to our regularly scheduled programming... ;)
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?
Addis Ababa. And I'm a lowly truck driver. We should expect more from our "leaders".
Nice going, CC!
You've got my vote!
-Rex
Fast guess! London!
Fast guess! London!
Great post. We do not have much time to come up with a successful plan to countering the media.
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