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 ...
Its gonna be a long couple of years
Quick! What's the capital of Abyssinia?
It's already been a long couple of years.
It poses the question "if the intelligence chief aint too bright who we gonna talk to?"
Abyssinia City?
Oh...wait. Never mind.
He's dumb, but he's not the only one. The whole damn Congress is filled with people who's only qualification for the job is that they look good on camera.
The Democrats can just be critical, they have no idea what to do they can just criticise those that are doing.
From "Monty Python and The Holy Grail."
Blue? No...
Capital of Assyria?
**Rep. Silvestre Reyes**
In a way this is frightening, but in a way it is good.
Unelect the dimocrats in 2008!
BTW, it's Pelosi'fault!!!!!!!!
No, the only "terrorists" in the eyes of the Reyes and the DNC have (R)'s next to their name. Its going to be the 90's all over again.
No! Green!....No!!!!!
Addis Ababa.
We're in trouble. The only reason Chairman Reyes was appointed by Speaker Pelosi was to throw a bone to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. This is yet another bomb that will explode in the speaker's lap.
That's not the only qualification! They also need lots of blind party loyalty.
Where's Jack Ryan when you need him?!
Assyria...Damascus, no?
What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?
BUT BUT BUT I thought the media liked pop quizes. Remember how the Left savaged candidate Bush when quized about world leaders and Gore Junior put his hand up to say "I know! I know! Pick me!"?
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