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 ...
Sad, isn't it? America deserves better.
This leads to a bunch of empty suits having enormous power.
IMHO, having to pass a test to prove you know at least something about the job makes sense to me.
Never happen though. All the arrogance and narcissism will get in the way. It's also gonna get a bunch of us killed.
Er - you don't know who is on first?
Who's president of the Belgian Congo? Or Rhodesia? The next two years will hopefully not be too deadly.
I don't think it matters to the Dems if he knows anything about intelligence matters. They don't intend to do much about National Security anyway. At least he can wear a nice, tasteful suit.
Great minds and all that:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1751698/posts?page=31#31
You should hear this guy's spanish accent.
"If you don't have the basics, how do you effectively question the administration?" he asked. "You don't know who is on first."
It sounds like you just came up with that, but you've put your finger on "Critical Theory", part of Gramscian Communism, Political Correctness, and the Hegelian Dialectic. Google Critical Theory and you'll see that this is a well planned strategy.
African or European?
Poor Matthew is so slow. This post began quite early this morning. :>)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1751683/posts
This is really unbelievable. The Democrats are willfully ignorant about national security, because it just isn't as important to them.
George: Condi! Nice to see you. What's happening?
Condi: Sir, I have the report here about the new leader of China.
George: Great. Lay it on me.
Condi: Hu is the new leader of China.
George: That's what I want to know.
Condi: That's what I'm telling you.
George: That's what I'm asking you. Who is the new leader of China?
Condi: Yes.
George: I mean the fellow's name.
Condi: Hu.
George: The guy in China.
Condi: Hu.
George: The new leader of China.
Condi: Hu.
George: The main man in China!
Condi: Hu is leading China.
George: Now whaddya' asking me for?
Condi: I'm telling you, Hu is leading China.
George: Well, I'm asking you. Who is leading China?
Condi: That's the man's name.
George: That's who's name?
Condi: Yes.
George: Will you, or will you not, tell me the name of the new leader of China?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir? Yassir Arafat is in China? I thought he's dead in the Middle East.
Condi: That's correct.
George: Then who is in China?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir is in China?
Condi: No, sir.
George: Then who is?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir?
Condi: No, sir.
George: Look Condi. I need to know the name of the new leader of China. Get me the Secretary General of the U.N. on the phone.
Condi: Kofi?
George: No, thanks.
Condi: You want Kofi?
George: No.
Condi: You don't want Kofi.
George: No. But now that you mention it, I could use a glass of milk. And then get me the U.N.
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Not Yassir! The guy at the U.N.
Condi: Kofi?
George: Milk! Will you please make the call?
Condi: And call who?
George: Who is the guy at the U.N?
Condi: Hu is the guy in China.
George: Will you stay out of China?!
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: And stay out of the Middle East! Just get me the guy at the U.N.
Condi: Kofi.
George: All right! With cream and two sugars. Now get on the phone!
I think it is post TV, i.e. 1960 NIxon/Kennedy....and probably amounts to the most "charm", or "charisma"..... Men are susceptible as well.
That said, I am a pro good looking, "most presidential looking by the polls", "becoming a good conservative" by Tom Delay, "a possible Reagan like conservative by Newt Gingrich.... Mitt Romney....lolol He is the best looking of any repub or dem candidates i think.
King Leopold II?
Calypso Louis Farrakhan!
ROFL!!!
A and C are probably smiling down on you from heaven as we speak. LOL!!!
After November 7, America deserves exactly what it's about to get.
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