As Senator Diane Feinstein releases the report of her committee’s investigation into CIA practices during the Bush Administration, and their use of Enhanced Interrogation Techniques in particular, many in the intelligence community are warning of potentially dire consequence as a result of this release.
The intelligence and diplomatic communities, and the U.S. military are on edge with the predictions of attacks against Americans serving overseas by a Muslim world further inflamed by the details included in the report.
And rightly so, considering the expected liberal slant sure to be evident in the conclusions reached by the Democrat controlled committee. It will be interesting though to learn whether or not former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s curious claims of CIA lying will be part of this several thousand page document.
“They mislead us all the time”, said then Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi about the CIA, when asked about her knowledge of waterboarding and other “Enhanced Interrogation Techniques” described during briefings provided to congressional leaders, including Pelosi, by the CIA. Interrogation techniques which at the time were being employed by the CIA on a select few of the senior al Qaeda terrorist leaders in U.S. custody at the time.
Contrary to the conclusions reached in the report, techniques that produced valuable intelligence that contributed to preventing attacks against Americans, and ultimately helped lead to the death of Osama bin Laden.
Listening to Speaker Pelosi’s subsequent comments and press conference following the stir created by her earlier allegations of CIA lying to Congress were tortuous affairs. On one press briefing Pelosi had to repeatedly refer to the prepared written statement she had previously given in order to answer simple questions from reporters. It was almost comical to watch if it wasn’t so disconcerting to know that someone of her level of responsibility was unable to answer a simple question without referring to notes. Appearing very much out of touch with reality. Or was she just being dishonest?
It is a serious crime for a government official to lie to Congress, which Nancy Pelosi clearly accused senior officials of the CIA with doing. A serious accusation that merited a thorough investigation to determine the validity of the charges. Without an investigation into serious charges of misconduct career government employees are left with a cloud hanging over them, and their professional reputations in question. They are owed an opportunity to clear their name, or be held accountable. Yet they were never afforded the opportunity to confront their accuser and clear their names.
At the time this soap opera was playing out, then Minority Leader John Boehner repeatedly challenged Pelosi to provide proof or evidence of her charges against the CIA. Yet once Republicans retook control of Congress and John Boehner became Speaker, the subject of Pelosi’s charges against the CIA was quietly dropped by Boehner. Professional courtesy?
Should the release of this report result in any Americans deaths, either overseas or here in the U.S. by a ‘lone wolf’ incensed by the details, will Senator Feinstein accept any responsibility? Or will she do as has been the practice of Democrats for the past decade and blame the previous administration?
Or she could just lie about it. After all, there is already a precedent for lying about the CIA.
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