In Baghdad, Pelosi Quizzed Young Soldier on 'Intelligence That Got Us Into the War'

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Did anyone really believe that Nancy Pelosi's recent whirlwind visit to Iraq was truly the "fact-finding" mission she billed it to be? I doubt it. But just in case there are some credulous folks out there, here's proof that rather than trying to find facts, Pelosi wanted to promote a political agenda.

Have a look at this video clip from her January 26th visit. Exactly two minutes in, Pelosi, seated with Jack Murtha, is speaking with the young female Army soldier who is seen facing the camera. Here is the exchange:

Young Army Soldier: "I'm a 96th Bravo Intel Analyst. I work as a Sunni analyst in a fusion cell."

Nancy Pelosi: "Let's talk about the intelligence that got us into the war. That would be interesting to start with."

Think about it. If Pelosi were truly interested in "finding facts," she might have asked this young analyst about the strides we are making with Sunnis and the cooperation we're receiving against al-Qaeda in Iraq, about new cooperation we're receiving from Shia government leaders in rooting out death-squad leaders -- and what might happen to those efforts if we followed Mr. Murtha's recommendation and "redeployed" our folks to Okinawa.

Instead, with her eyes firmly fixed in the rear-view mirror and on domestic politics, Pelosi seeks to lure the analyst into a discussion of the intelligence from five years ago that led to the decision to go to war - something clearly outside the soldier's areas of responsibility or expertise.

This is not "fact-finding" - it's an attempt to use our brave soldiers as extras in Pelosi's political stunt film. Has anyone seen a MSM report on Pelosi's attempt to exploit the solider for political ends? Neither have I.

Mark was in Iraq in November. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Pelosi-phony-fact-finding-mission ping to Today show list.

Note that video could take some time to load. Relevant conversation comes exactly two minutes in.

[zook]

I had the same thoughts myself. I'd like to see her arrested for endangering troop morale.

[mkjessup]

Bela Pelosi and Yellowstain Jack Murtha need to take a tour of Sadr City late at night, preferably with the U.S. National Anthem blasting from their unarmored SUV's stereo speakers.

[Republic]

I am astounded that she would ask such a question of of a military specialist. It is pathological...she is searching for soundbites to use here. She is sick. And should be kept as far away from Iraq as hitlery should be kept from the WH. Sick, sick people!

[Arrowhead1952]

This B**** is so stupid she thinks a soldier know what intelligence was used?

I'm starting to think she and murtha are contemplating "suicide by soldier".

[bjc]

Equally important it shows that Pelosi has little if any understanding of how things work in the military. Instead of first asking the soldier what an intel analyst in a Sunni fusion cell does, Ms Pelosi assumes that an intelligence analyst has access to all intelligence.

[EndWelfareToday]

What a joke.

[ex-Texan]

Pelosi is playimng hard ball. Is anybody surprised? She was forced to sit on her hands during Bush's SOU address. She hardly could contain her anger. She was gulping like a fish and blinking like a psychotic. The first thing she does is fly to Iraq and confront the troops about her theme song: "Bush lied, people died." Pelosi is as predictable as a clock.

It's way past time for speaking out about Iran and Syria. Every time Bush speaks out, Pelosi and company begin whining like old women. Bush should have gone public with that info about Saddam smuggling Iraq's WMD to Syria. But that would have required he point the finger at Putin. Sad, but true. Before the last election I was saying that Bush needed to go public about Russian duplicity to save the GOP a huge defeat. Bush chose to remain silent. Blame Putin, not Bush. The Russians were playing chess like masters.

[bannie]

If he weren't an American Soldier, he would have feared the crazy lady.

[merry10]

The iraq study group report states that we need a troop surge for a period of six months to help stabilize the region. The study group recommends that ALL the recommnedations should be followed thru with, for one is contingent on the other (I decided to read it yesterday based on the troop surge). President Bush, reportedly skeptical at first of the report, seems to have embraced it. The group included Democrats, Leon Panetta, Hamilton, and Vernon Jordan. None of these men have been interviewed in the MSM regarding the surge. Their plan recommended it. The ISG was not even brought up in the SOU speech.

[cyclotic]

I hope the Air Force decorates the entire crew who were forced to fly that planeload of pond scum into a war zone.

[TexasCajun]

Hezbolla troops, whose mission Nancy really supports!

Nancy! Nancy! Nancy!

[NonValueAdded]

Excellent point, bjc, but unfortunately one that will be buried by her friends in the MSM. The ironic thing is that Pelosi probably had more access to the justifying intel than did that soldier. It was pure sound bite and it wouldn't surprise me to learn that it was scripted and rehearsed by the RATs on the trip.

[silverleaf]

Pelosi attempted to lead a young soldier into a discussion that was intended to lead to doubting the integrity and wisdom of her Commander in Chief and the policies of the United States government. IN the battle theater.

Shameless. Shameless.

[jocko12]

Another big waste of my tax paying money.

[Coldwater Creek]

The worst trouble that my husband got into as a counterintel officer was when a Senior officer tried to take the information that was handcuffed to my husbands wrist. He had been ordered to shoot first and ask questions later. He just couldn't kill one our own.

[SIDENET]

I hope the Air Force decorates the entire crew who were forced to fly that planeload of pond scum into a war zone.

I hope that the Air Force disinfects the plane.

[jsh3180]