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 ...
Sit a soft chair, get a beer and watch the fun. So far this moron has not done anything correct.
Haile Selassie Lion of Judah Ping!
"You don't know how is on first." Silly, everbody knows WHO is on first!
He has all he needs for the job, the ZEE factor.
And many of them fail at that too.
If that were true, then Britany Spears would be head of the House Ways and Means Committee.
"Its gonna be a long couple of years"
I guess that all depends on what the terrorists have planned!
See, it really doesn't matter. Kind of like Harmon's staff.
he heh
You had "conservative" Democrats lie to Americans to get their party a majority Congress.
You also had a RINO former Rat Governor in Texas LIE to Texan voters about his position on defendng the border against illegal immigration and deportation.
Elected politicians are lying to the conservatives at every turn just to get their votes. Throw the bums out.
The GOP had better get serious in the primaries or the party is going to collapse.
Start the list of Rat corruption and scandals starting election day 2006. Pin it all on Rat leadership. "Most ethical" my ***.
The answer is "42." Duh. ;)
Thankfully, this man doesn't DEVELOP the intelligence information, he's only the figurehead on the committee. That being said, it's disturbing he's so ill-informed about what's going on, when he's supposed to be the one casting votes for his constituents in Congress.
Sorry, hon, that dog won't hunt. There are a lot of men who fit that voter description, too.
And I might add they can repeat the same trite soundbites over and over again. The "debates" between the candidates is always a laugher too. Just the same soundbits repackaged for the occasion.
cute!
Actually...the question from the movie was "What is the capital of Assyria?"
That's what Southern folks say when they take their leave...
So long, Dave! Abyssinia!
;->
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