Pelosi Raises Battle To Fever Pitch: “The Bush Administration Flat-Out Lied To Congress” - “A Reckless Act By A Politician” - With Video
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s extraordinary accusation that the Bush administration lied to Congress about the use of harsh interrogation techniques dramatically raised the stakes in the growing debate over the Bush administration’s anti-terrorism policies even as it raised questions about the speaker’s credibility.
Pelosi’s performance in the Capitol was either a calculated escalation of a long-running feud with the Bush administration or a reckless act by a politician whose word had been called into question. Perhaps it was both.
For the first time, Pelosi (D-Calif.) acknowledged that in 2003 she was informed by an aide that the CIA had told others in Congress that officials had used waterboarding during interrogations. But she insisted, contrary to CIA accounts, that she was not told about waterboarding during a September 2002 briefing by agency officials. Asked whether she was accusing the CIA of lying, she replied, “Yes, misleading the Congress of the United States.”
Washington now is engaged in a battle royal of finger-pointing, second-guessing and self-defense, all over techniques President Obama banned in the first days of his administration. Both sides in this debate believe they have something to prove — and gain — by keeping the fight alive.
Both sides have champions and villains. Pelosi has become a lightning rod for criticism from conservatives, and a hero to the left, much as former vice president Richard B. Cheney has become a target of the left and the darling of many on the right.
The speaker’s charges about the CIA’s alleged deception and her shifting accounts of what she knew and when she knew it are likely to add to calls for some kind of independent body to investigate this supercharged issue, though Obama and many members of Congress would like to avoid a wholesale unearthing of the past at a time when their plates are full with pressing concerns.
Closing the books on the George W. Bush years has proven harder than anyone imagined — certainly harder than Obama hoped. The intensifying argument over what the CIA told Pelosi and when comes on top of the debate over whether any Bush administration officials should face legal action for their roles in authorizing or implementing the interrogation policies and whether a national commission is needed to get to the truth.
The speaker’s discomfort was evident yesterday as she was grilled by reporters for the first time since the CIA issued information suggesting that she and others were told about the use of the techniques, including waterboarding, at a classified briefing on Sept. 4, 2002. Pelosi was then the ranking Democrat on the House intelligence committee.
The CIA said the briefing included Pelosi and then-Rep. Porter J. Goss (Fla.), who was the committee chairman at the time and who later became CIA director. Two House aides also attended. The CIA’s account said the subject was enhanced interrogation techniques and the particular methods used on Zayn al-Abidin Muhammed Hussein, better known by the nom de guerre Abu Zubaida.
Five months later, on Feb. 5, 2003, after Pelosi had left the intelligence committee, the CIA briefed the panel’s chairman and ranking minority-party member on the detainee interrogation program. Pelosi said her aide Michael Sheehy, who attended that briefing as well as the September briefing, told her that agency officials said they had used waterboarding in some cases. “He said that the committee chair and ranking member and appropriate staff had been briefed that these techniques were now being used,” she said yesterday. “That’s all I was informed.”
Conservatives say that, if Pelosi was so opposed to torture, she should have spoken out forcefully when she learned that these techniques were being employed. Her failure to do so then leaves her in a weakened position to protest now, they argue. An op-ed article by senior Bush White House adviser Karl Rove in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal asked directly: “So is the speaker of the House lying about what she knew and when? And, if so, what will Democrats do about it?”
Pelosi gave some ground on the question of whether she had been informed that waterboarding was being used — though by her account she did not learn about it until February 2003, rather than in 2002, and then only from her aide. Instead of registering her protest to the administration, she said, she set out to help Democrats win control of Congress and elect a Democrat as president.
But in attempting to defend herself, Pelosi took the remarkable step of trying to shift the focus of blame to the CIA and the Bush administration, claiming that the CIA accounts represented a diversionary tactic in the real debate over the interrogation policies. That amounted to a virtual declaration of war against the CIA at a time when the Obama administration already has rattled morale at the agency with the release of Justice Department memos authorizing the harsh interrogation techniques.
House Republican Leader John A. Boehner (Ohio) was quick to challenge Pelosi. Within minutes of her contentious news conference, he emerged to question her accusations. He left no doubt that Republicans believe that the speaker has made a major misstep that will hurt her and perhaps her party as this controversy plays out.
The various parties all have their own priorities now. Pelosi not only wants to clear her name but also favors a truth commission to answer questions about how the interrogation policies came to be and whether they were as effective as Cheney and others claim. Cheney is determined to defend the policies he helped shape and to force the new administration into a different posture on its anti-terrorism strategy. Outside groups, and the grass-roots activists they speak for, are prepared to continue litigating the Bush presidency.
Obama has already moved on his policies, deciding to fight the public release of photos showing U.S. soldiers abusing prisoners after earlier saying he favored their release. He cited potential danger for U.S. soldiers that could be caused by the photos’ release, but he must have concluded that the photos would set off another storm at home as well.
The president wants the focus kept on the future and the energies of his entire administration, from the CIA to the Defense Department, as well as the relevant committees on Capitol Hill, engaged in producing an effective policy in Afghanistan and sorting through such difficult questions as what to do with the detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, once that facility is closed next year.
Pelosi is not out of the woods. She could have saved herself some trouble by admitting earlier that she had been informed that the CIA was using waterboarding. By doing what she did yesterday, she has assured that she will remain a central character in the political fight that is raging. But whether by design or accident, she also succeeded in enlarging a controversy that is no longer a sideshow.
 |
|
It’s over Nancy, resign.
Just resign before the CIA press leaks completely destroy you.
And no Nancy, not even Panetta can shutdown the press leaks, you really, really, pissed-off the wrong individuals over there at Langley.
She’s acting like a 5 yo. Why is she still speaker of the house?
Fuck that bitch…she’s 3rd in line of the power house. This is serious shit!
Yep, this BITCH has got to FALL and fall quickly
CIA or Blinky? My $$ are on the CIA. I promise you, will see tears from Blinky before this one is over.
I personally advocte the IMMEDIATE and VIOLENT take down of the Democrats…since they are Illegitimate office holders after stealing elections for a long time.
Glad to answer your “we the people” vote counting.
How many of us are computer savy, accountants, systems analysts, managers, etc.
WE THE PEOPLE go to each County election board, State Election Board…..and, WITH GUNS DRAWN AND READY TO FIRE, take the books to AUDIT THEM. WE THE PEOPLE should be able to tell FAKE NAMES, ADDRESSES, NAMES of DEAD from DEATH REGISTRIES that are very much available online.
WE THE PEOPLE find the Pricinct workers and we “sweat the shit out of them.” WE THE PEOPLE know the GUILTY Poll Workers that were doing the hanging chad shit in Florida….We know the name of the guy that was a Democrat with the voting machine in his car.
In places like Ohio, Alabama and that had same-day Registration and Voting. WE THE PEOPLE know that ACORN were those voters….WE THE PEOPLE SAY THAT ALL SAME-DAY VOTES FOR OBAMA ARE OBAMA AND DEMOCRATS ARE OUT.
WE THE PEOPLE go to EVERY SINGLE DEMOCRAT HQ IN COUNTRY….FIND EVERY NAME THERE….WE can get them to talk. We can practice waterboarding techniques of the Democrats ourselves.
WE THE PEOPLE have the Power. IF WE’LL JUST USE IT AND QUIT SAYING WELL……one of these days I’m going to do something.
WE THE PEOPLE can stop Obama RIGHT NOW, if we will get off our asses and DO IT NOW.
Reply
Joe Average
May 15, 2009 at 8:37 pm
A little more…
There has got to be 1,000-2,000 OF US in every large community. If we do our TEA PARTY MARCHES the get the Election BOOKS, and go after DEM HQs the cops would dare do anything. I am sure WE THE PEOPLE would pick up the Military and Guardsman on OUR side.
Then, other WE THE PEOPLE Tea Parties can MARCH on State Election offices at the same time…
We could have done this on the April 15th Tea Parties. Just think, if we had done it, Obama would be running for the hills or under arrest for treason. Maybe, this should be the plan for the next Tea Parties.
Wow.
I always wondered what one had to do to get their very own FBI and Secret Service file.
Now I know.
…………………..
I don’t believe we need an armed insurrection.
We can beat these clowns by turning their own techniques upon them.
Specifically; Alinski’s Rules for Radicals and most important of all…
The Light of Truth. They, meaning the Media, Hollywood, Socialists,Communists and Progressives,(including RINOS), in America can not tolerate/survive in the light of truth.
All it should take is the number of Patriots you’ve mentioned above. Patriots who welcome and can withstand the same or worse treatment “Joe the Plumber” and Gov. Palin received.
Then all you advocated above could be done through the legal system. Yes it can, no Judge wants to be on the receiving end of a political “tar & Feathering”.
I’m pretty sure Pat may have some or all of that in mind for a future ACTIVE mission.
Just saying.
This is finially doing the pitchforks and torches, for real instead of just griping about losing more and more freedom.
Take It BACK.
Cool your jets Joe.
Just watch and keep your powder dry. These ass-hats are going down in flames on their own accord. I understand your righteous anger but they after 100 and some days are bleeding to death by cuts from a thousand wounds.Do the tea party thing and work tirelessly to make yours and others opinions known. There are millions of us just as disgusted with the state of current affairs but these clowns are coming apart at the seams and do not require any rash actions at this time.Doing something stupid will just gum up the works now and reflect poorly on the rest of us.There are plenty of other avenues that need to be exhausted first. 
WE ARE THE CITIZENS. WE DON’T EVN KNOW IF OBAMA IS A CITIZEN.
Proof that even dumb bitches can get elected to congress.
YOU’RE RIGHT. I KNOW WHAT I WANT TO SAY, BUT I AM SAYING IT WRONG.
What I think I am trying to say is that Somebody knows the truth and where the secrets are kept.
Yes Mike, I understand your comment about FBI and NSA, etc. And I was not saying that I am going to do anything or try to hurt anyone or be a part of anything…I MYSELF HAVE NO VIOLENT INTENT TOWARDS OBAMA OR ANY OTHERS. I just think military should ARREST HIM, there is enough evidence of him not being a citizen for that.
As for my tea party comments, Somewhere in the back of my mind is a movie scene that had George Wentz (from Cheers) leading a crowd to “find the answers” by opening the books at City Hall or Mayor’s Office to “shed light” on the truth.
Now your talking smart, we don’t have to go after people with pitchforks to get information of wrong doing. All we need to do is concentate on these ACORN bozo’s and a few elected democrats. These people cannot keep from messing up no matter what. Just relax, sit back wait….and observe.
Your average ACORN jerko is a loser, they can’t do anything else but run around and copy peoples names and they fuck that up. Most of them are stoned, probably on percription medication like prozac cause they are so neurotic. Its a proven fact no conspiracy of dunces can overcome the cleverer, better organized albeit smaller group.
Billy/Madjack