[STARWISE]

CIA gave Pelosi a headsup before Panetta smackdown

Speaker Nancy Pelosi got a headsup from the CIA Friday just before Director Leon Panetta issued a staff-wide memo -- leaked to the press -- warning Pelosi to back off accusations that the CIA lied to Congress about interrogations.

The D.C. Examiner reported earlier this afternoon that the White House had told Pelosi about the Panetta memo, but a Democratic source says it was the CIA that actually alerted Pelosi that Panetta was about to make a statement.

In his memo, Panetta defended his agency: "Let me be clear: It is not our policy or practice to mislead Congress. That is against our laws and our values. As the Agency indicated previously in response to Congressional inquiries, our contemporaneous records from September 2002 indicate that CIA officers briefed truthfully on the interrogation of Abu Zubaydah, describing “the enhanced techniques that had been employed.”

But Panetta sort of left Pelosi an out, saying "ultimately, it is up to Congress to evaluate all the evidence and reach its own conclusions about what happened."

Pelosi later softened her critique of the CIA, saying she was more upset with the Bush administration's tactics and had no problem with the hard working analysts at the spy agency.

[Paladin2]

Only the CIA is allowed to (secretly) politicize itself.

[skinkinthegrass]

Leon Panetta warns against politicization of CIA

What a load of CR@P!
It started in 1977 (during Jimmah "Malaise" Carter only term)
IIRC, this B@st@rd was in Congress @ the Time.

"When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators." - P. J. O'Rourke
“The problem with socialism is that you eventually, run out of other people’s money.” - Margaret Thatcher
"There are two sets of rules. One set for the rulers and another for the rest of us." —Richard Yancey, former IRS tax collector

[hoosiermama]

Has Leon been given the assignment of removing Nancy from being third in line before Biden’s illness returns and BO’s BC comes to a head? Inquiring minds want to know! Better than any Soap Opera! ;~)

[delacoert]

Panetta said he wants to expand briefings to the full intelligence panels, not just their leaders.

Yeah, that'll work well. (Paneta Clue: LEEEEEEEEEEAKS)

[saganite]

The CIA has been politicized for years. Panetta’s warning is just to let Nancy know that politicians shouldn’t presume too much when they criticize the CIA.

Cause we got the dope on you, see!

[FDNYRHEROES]

To be polite...Nancy is a Liberal MORUNT!
There...I said it.

[jeffc]

With Panetta being a loyal Demo, methinks somehow that his “warning” against politicizing the CIA is probably more directed at Repubs who would use the CIA to try to bring down Nazi Pelosi.

[FlyingEagle]

It must be scary to have the CIA on your case, even if you are the speaker. She pissed off the wrong guys.

[wastedyears]

That picture of Pelosi will give me nightmares.

[M. Espinola]

Enjoying the Dem infighting show:

[PhilDragoo]

[nikos1121]

Has anyone seen this guy Panetta. I think his appointment speaks mcuh about Obama’s opinion of the CIA.

This guy is a Mr. Magoo. OF all people to put in head of the CIA.

This guy is a joke. Is anyone taking him seriously?