Posted on 12/12/2006 4:02:16 PM PST by 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.
Nothing about him inspires confidence. I lived in El Paso when he was in charge of that part of the border, and he always struck me as being dumb as a box of rocks.
O.M.G.W.A.R.F.N.
Scary.
Will America wake up by 2008, or will the Dems retain Congress as President Hitlery takes office in Jan 2009?
“It’s hard for Americans, all of us, to understand what’s wrong with these people . . . They all look the same to me.”
I wouldn't trust the safety of my budgie to this dimwit.
I really do think this nation is cursed. Look at the people who are so-called "leaders" of this nation.
Boy does Nancy have a problem now. There is no way that Harmon, who should have gotten the position would have gotten those questions wrong.
LOL, I am stealing that line.
Regards, Ivan
The woman is an example of the worst qualities of women.
LOL..yes we are :-)
This is a very common view. Many people believe that 9/11 bombers came from Iraq, Iran and Syria.
Yeah, I think they wore the same dress to a cocktail party and Nancy has never forgiven her.
Regards, Ivan
hahahaha good one gator- I propose this be a new bumper sticker!
"Muslims? I dunno, are they the ones with the crescent or the six-pointed star?"
And, this, ladies and gentlemen, is exactly why it's important to vote for qualified, intelligent, experienced people to represent you in Washington!! You never know which dumbbell we elected may end up with a critically important committee chairmanship like this.
Despite popular belief, Congress is NOT a jobs program to send someone who has no marketable skills!! We need to make sure that we know the background, history, record and blood type of EVERYONE we send to Washington.
This guy is so stupid, he's not only going to give stupid people a bad name, he's liable to get the US murdered out of existence by Islamofascists!!
It really does not matter which path you take to the latrine, they all lead to the same hole.
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