What Pelosi Knew

The Atlantic ^ | May 8, 2009 | Marc Ambinder

[americanophile]

Responses among the cognoscenti to the CIA's contention that it briefed Nancy Pelosi on the use of enhanced interrogation techniques are fairly typical. Those inclined to defend Democrats point to the CIA's history of misleading Congress and the incomplete record the CIA's notes sketch out; those inclined to indict Pelosi are throwing out terms like "hypocrite" and worse. The document itself is an interesting artifact of our intelligence culture and its relationship to the oversight committees. The White House might have been reluctant to share details of certain programs; it's hard to know what the CIA's motives were. By statute, they're required to provide Congress with information that holds themselves accountable, and Congress's ability to independently verify these facts is very limited. Pelosi, and Porter Goss, were the two ranking members of the House Intelligence Committee. That they were the only two so early briefed shows how highly classified and sensitive the program was at the time. It was probably an "Unacknowledged SAP" -- a "special access program," meaning that it was not only classified, dissemination of information about the program had to be communicated through highly classified channels. Let's peel back a layer or two about these briefings. Goss, a former CIA case officer, was in a much better position to process the information contained within the briefing than Pelosi. There is no evidence that either Goss or Pelosi objected to the "EITs" -- as the CIA still calls them. Pelosi last week said she had no idea that EITs were even being used and insisted that the subject of waterboarding never came up. That's hard to swallow, even if you believe the claim about waterboarding. Why would the CIA even brief Pelosi about EITs if it had no intention of using them?

[americanophile]

She has lied to the American people as Speaker of the House. Why is there no call for her resignation?

[Corin Stormhands]

[jaydubya2]

From the briefing:

"Briefing on EITs including use of EITs on Abu Zubaydah...and a description of the particular EITs that had been employed"

Abu Zubaydah was one of the three detainees that was waterboarded, they talked about the EITs they used on he at the breifing, yet Pelosi knows nothing of the waterboarding?

[fleagle]

The sad thing is, no one cares. The Dems get a free pass on anything and everything. I mean, we all care and right-thinking people all over this country care, but I assure you the MSM doesn’t care, Dems don’t care, and libs don’t care. Like a friend of mine in Pennsy who I discussed the ACORN voter fraud issue with. He said, to paraphrase, “Oh, nobody would care one bit about ACORN, or even know who they were, if it weren’t for Fox News.” And that was it. No discussion about voter fraud and no concern of Obammie’s connection to ACORN or the fact that ACORN is on board to work on the 2010 census. I reminded this friend that Dems are supposed to be the ones with a big chip on their shoulders over anything stinking of voter fraud. Again, with a dismissive wave of the hand the conversation, from his point of view, was over. It’s like this with ALL subjects.

[americanophile]

It’s a bald-faced lie. She should resign...and the GOP should call on her to do so.

[americanophile]

We need to be as good at playing the ‘outrage’ card over real issues as they are at playing it over nonexistent ones. We need to force accountability, or just give it up right now and surrender to socialism.

[JoanneSD]

This is so sad, we dont have Republicans who will demand a hearing on this at least.. I called a Republican from my home town in Michigan, and his aide who answered the phone acted like he did not know any thing about it..he said he would pass my concern on... blah

[andy58-in-nh]

Why is there no call for her resignation?

Because... she's... a... Democrat.

In the court of public opinion (as held by the mainstream media), Republicans are judged by their flaws and are assumed guilty. Democrats are judged by their promises and are presumed innocent.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Grassley, Bond, Lugar; all napping.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Hoekstra is making noises...FR thread:

Pelosi under renewed fire over interrogations

And see Video....linked at post #39:

*************************************

Bill Hemmer Video

Hoekstra phone interview on FNC this morning

[fleagle]

Oh, I agree with you American. I do. I’m just not sure how to best get my beliefs across to those who want to shut me down. I believe we need to play the outrage card carefully and intelligently. People want so badly to portray us as hysterical, eeeeevil Republicans.