Dumb answers of intelligence chief

The Times ^ | December 13, 2006 | Tom Baldwin

[MadIvan]

He is expected to have an acute understanding of terrorist groups and their threats to American interests. But the incoming chairman of a congressional intelligence committee was yesterday struggling to explain his ignorance of al-Qaeda and Hezbollah.

Silvestre Reyes, the Democrat chosen to head the House of Representatives committee, was asked whether members of al-Qaeda came from the Sunni or the Shia branch of Islam.

“Al-Qaeda, they have both,” he answered, adding: “Predominantly probably Shi’ite.”

In fact, al-Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden as a Sunni organisation and views Shia Muslims as heretics. The centuries-old now fuels the militias and death squads in Iraq.

Jeff Stein, a reporter for Congressional Quarterly, then put a similar question about Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia group. “Hezbollah. Uh, Hezbollah . . .” replied Mr Reyes. “Why do you ask me these questions at five o’clock? Can I answer in Spanish? Do you speak Spanish?” Go ahead, said Stein. “Well, I, uh . . .” said the congressman.

His apparent ignorance of basic facts have raised fresh questions over his suitability for the key intelligence post — as well as the judgment of Nancy Pelosi, the new Speaker of the House, who picked him for the job. She has already been criticised for trying to oust her deputy Steny Hoyer, in a poll among Democrat congressmen after the mid-term elections.

There was further controversy over her choice of Mr Reyes over the head of Jane Harman, who had been the committee’s most senior Democrat but was said to have upset Ms Pelosi. At the time Mr Reyes said he had “very strong credentials” for the job — “credentials which could stand up to anybody”.

Yesterday he said in a statement: “The CQ interview covered a wide range of topics other than the selected points published in the story. As a member of the intelligence committee since before 9/11, I’m acutely aware of al-Qaeda’s desire to harm Americans. The committee will keep its eye on the ball, and focus on the pressing security and intelligence issues.”

Earlier this year Stein flummoxed two Republicans on the committee, Jo Ann Davis and Terry Everett, with similar questions about the differences between Sunni and Shia. “One’s in one location, another’s in another location. No, to be honest with you, I don’t know,” replied Mr Everett.

Stein has also caught out Willie Hulon, chief of the FBI’s new national security branch when he was asked to which branch of Islam were Iran and Hezbollah belonged. “Sunni” he replied. “Wrong,” said Stein.

Stein has defended his use of such questions: “To me, its like asking about Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland — who’s on what side? Its been five years since these Muslim extremists flew hijacked airliners into the World Trade Centre. Is it too much to ask that our intelligence overseers know who they are?” Indeed, Trent Lott, No 2 in the Republican Senate leadership, said recently: “It’s hard for Americans, all of us, to understand what’s wrong with these people . . . They all look the same to me.”

The report from the Iraq Study Group expressed amazement that more was not being done to “understand the people who explode roadside bombs”. Only six people in the US Embassy in Baghdad are fluent in Arabic, about two dozen of its 1,000 employees having some familiarity with the language.

[Honorary Serb]

Silvestre Reyes is completely unqualified for anything to do with intelligence, in any legitimate definition of that word. He should be made chair of the dumb-dumb committee instead!!!!

As for Nancy Pelosi, she is so intent on punishing her enemies in her own party (including any Democrat who believes that the US should be able to defend itself) that she is destroying the ability of her own party to run the Congress! She should resign as Speaker, and join Reyes on the dumb-dumb committee as well!!

[Honorary Serb]

See my post #41. Pelosi's snubbing of Jane Harman proves my point!

[MadIvan]

The good news is if Pelosi continues to make decisions as poor as this, the Democrats will nicely self-destruct. Whether the Republicans are cohesive enough to take full advantage is another matter.

Regards, Ivan

[fishergirl]

LOL!!!

[fishergirl]

You're right about the media with their behindcovering. Looks like they'll be working overtime now.

[Honorary Serb]

The good news is if Pelosi continues to make decisions as poor as this, the Democrats will nicely self-destruct.

Wrong! Congress will self-destruct!!!!

Especially in dangerous times like these, it seems to me that we need an effective Congress.

[prairiebreeze]

ping

And FWIW, Lott's comment, while pathetic also struck me funny. He gets a "A" for honesty. LOL

[George Smiley]

This is another self-inflicted wound by Nancy Pelosi. Oh, dear, is right.

One managerial school of thought says you should never promote anybody smarter than you are lest they rise and take away your own job.

I think we're in deep doodoo if that is Pelosi's operative model.

[alnick]

I really do think this nation is cursed. Look at the people who are so-called "leaders" of this nation.

That's because the electorate is too lazy to inform themselves. It's disgusting.

[mware]

Just heard an interview with the guy from the Congressional Quarterly who interviewed Reyes.

He just said that he has got thousands of emails from around the world and they run 95% being appalled with Reyes's lack of knowledge of basic background.

[VxH]

[“Why do you ask me these questions at five o’clock? Can I answer in Spanish? Do you speak Spanish?” ]

A.T.F.U.

[VxH]

[This bunch would make the Keystone Cops look like brain surgeons.]

Charley Foxtrot... cha cha cha.

[VxH]

[That's because the electorate is too lazy to inform themselves.]

 

Inform themselves?

 

Why would they want to do that when they've got a 50" HDTV and a 12 pack?

 

Bread and Circuses.

 

An ignorant and obese population is an obedient population.

 

And yes, it is disgusting.

 

But hey, at least my stock in the Pharmaceutical companies that produce diabetic glucophage and insulin is going up.  /sarc.

[Robwin]

After reading all the comments about this, I can't help but believe Freepers are missing the most important part of this story. To wit,

Silveste Reyes is the first Hispanic to be the chair of the House Intelligence Committee.

[VxH]

>> missing the most important part of this story

I got it. See post 51.

This guy is seriously ATFU and the committee will soon be FUBAR.

[ctdonath2]

Makes sense that he doesn't know.

Why should he? the only thing he and his crew care about is getting out of there. He has no incentive to actually learn about diversity in that region - and what the consequences of that diversity means. Only surrender matters; to whom doesn't matter.

BTW: pardon me trying to keep up ... did this nitwit get confirmed?

[humint]

"Al-Qaeda, they have both," he answered, adding: "Predominantly probably Shi’ite." This is a very common view. Many people believe that 9/11 bombers came from Iraq, Iran and Syria.

Do you suppose it is safer to understand or ignore the world around us? Should there be a citizen quiz, and if one fails it, are they nothing more than slaves to the citizens that passed it? Maybe that's how the world works... --- The cat killed the curious but curiosity killed the cat --- In terms of knowing the difference between Sunni and Shi'ite and who subscribes to either, what exactly would that qualify a person to do anyway? Let's look at it another way. What if I offered you a method, 84% accurate under almost every circumstance, that could determine if a man or woman was a threat to your predefined "interests"! Then told you, it didn't make a difference if the person was Shi'ite, Sunni or Kurd? Of course I'm surprised this guy didn't know the difference, but does it make a difference that he didn't know the difference?

The words are in your court... do you ever intend to return a serve? NE1410IS

[Mrs Ivan]

Oh, dear.

That's really wierd! That is exactly the comment I made when I posted the coverage from the Telegraph - I've only just read this now.

Bizarre!

[MadIvan]

We think the same, darling. Frightening to some, but true. :)

Love, Ivan

[Mrs Ivan]

Frightening to some, but true.

Me included! ;)

Anyhoo - totally off topic, flight is delayed until 13:00 - its a conspiracy!