CIA Chief Rebuts Pelosi's Charges

[Tashah]

CIA Chief Rebuts Pelosi's Charges
By Perry Bacon Jr. and Joby Warrick
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, May 16, 2009

CIA Director Leon Panetta yesterday rejected House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's charge that the agency misled her about its use of coercive interrogation methods, escalating a controversy that has dogged the speaker for weeks and intensifying a debate over Bush administration policies that the Obama administration has tried to avoid.

Panetta, whom President Obama tapped to lead the CIA this year, reasserted the agency's claim that it told congressional leaders about the use of such methods during a closed-door briefing in September 2002. Pelosi (D-Calif.) has acknowledged attending the briefing but says she was told only that the CIA was considering the use of waterboarding, a technique that simulates drowning.

"It is not our policy or practice to mislead Congress," Panetta said in a message meant to shore up employees of his agency, which is at the center of a relentless political firestorm over Bush policies and the Iraq war. "Our contemporaneous records from September 2002 indicate that CIA officers briefed truthfully on the interrogation of [terrorism suspect] Abu Zubaida, describing the 'enhanced techniques that had been employed.' "

Source: Washington Post

CIA Director Panetta is a former Democratic congressman from California appointed by Mr. Obama to head the spy agency. It seems strange to me that Panetta would publicly contradict Pelosi - the most powerful Democrat in Congress - without being damn sure his rebuttal was indeed the truth.

Dollars to donuts the Sunday morning political talk shows have no shortage of Democratic Senators and Congressmen covering Pelosi's political backside.

 

[American]

See that? Lying bitch should be frog marched down Pennsylvania Avenue.

 

[Renae]

IS anyone really shocked about this?

 

[EulyssElvisCaustic]

she's caught in a lie .....and will shortly decide that "we need to move on"...this is "old news" ...and does NOT amount to anything....

what all this shows ...is that Dick "topgun" Cheney was right all along.

 

[Catman]

she's caught in a lie .....and will shortly decide that "we need to move on"...this is "old news" ...and does NOT amount to anything....

what all this shows ...is that Dick "topgun" Cheney was right all along.

It sure loooks like Pelosi is in a hole and can't stop digging. She should be placed under oath.

 

[Spartacus FPV]

You mean, she's a politician? Noooooo!

 

[Redress]

she's caught in a lie .....and will shortly decide that "we need to move on"...this is "old news" ...and does NOT amount to anything....

what all this shows ...is that Dick "topgun" Cheney was right all along.

Pelosi lying has zero to do with whether Vice President Cheney was right about much of anything.

As things right now stand, all this is is a distraction. Whether Pelosi is being honest, or lying, well, best way to find out is to investigate everything to do with the whole torture/EIT thing. Then we know, and can stop speculating.

 

[Councilman]

This picture should come with a warning like: You are about to view a picture that has not been air brushed and therefore my cause you to throw up. We assure you this is a sort of human and not something from another plant artificially created to frighten the hell out of you.

The sad thing is nothing will come of the revelation that she's a serial liar. It is however curious that Panetta came out and nailed her for it. It makes me wonder if she's going to be told quietly by the Administration that she's out lived her usefulness and it's time for her to step down and fade away.

 

[American]

Pelosi lying has zero to do with whether Vice President Cheney was right about much of anything.

As things right now stand, all this is is a distraction. Whether Pelosi is being honest, or lying, well, best way to find out is to investigate everything to do with the whole torture/EIT thing. Then we know, and can stop speculating.

So the lying Democrats are going to investigate themselves? :spin:

 

[Redress]

So the lying Democrats are going to investigate themselves? :spin:

You have evidence that democrats in general are lying? Of course you don't, so your whole premise here falls apart.

 

[American]

You have evidence that democrats in general are lying? Of course you don't, so your whole premise here falls apart.

Who's been supporting Pelosi in her lies all these years? You think I trust them to investigate their own speaker?

 

[Redress]

Who's been supporting Pelosi in her lies all these years? You think I trust them to investigate their own speaker?

I think the people supporting Pelosi are the people who voted her into office. Other than that, right now, the democrats are largely not rallying around her.

Pelosi is only guilty of any crime if the EIT used are illegal. The democrats are the only ones who want to investigate the usage of torture/EITs. SO, based on that, I would say it's the democrats who actually want to investigate, the republicans who are just making alot of noise.

 

[Triad]

Heres routine 5 form Pelosi.

"We all share great respect for the dedicated men and women of the intelligence community who are deeply committed to the safety and security of the American people. My criticism of the manner in which the Bush Administration did not appropriately inform Congress is separate from my respect for those in the intelligence community who work to keep our country safe. What is important now is to be united in our commitment to ensuring the security of our country; that, and how Congress exercises its oversight responsibilities, will continue to be my focus as we move forward."

Glenn Thrush: Hill Intrigue - POLITICO.com

Pathetic.

 

[akyron]

This picture should come with a warning .

She reminded me of a couple of other cartoon/TV villains.

 

[akyron]

ABC, CBS and NBC Ignore Pelosi’s Torture Hypocrisy



"The broadcast networks have offered ample coverage of Democratic allegations that the Bush administration used either immoral or criminal methods in prosecuting the War on Terror. Can’t they spare a few moments to note that one of the loudest complainers is someone who knew all about it years ago — and has recently had a suspiciously shifting story about what she knew and when she knew it?"


Did anyone expect them to act differently? Like reporters maybe?

 

[danarhea]

Did Panetta really rebut Pelosi's charges? Not really. From his statement, it is clear that he is responding to the present situation, and not to past facts.

Article, with link to Panetta's statement, itself is here.

Is Pelosi lying? I don't know, although it is plainly clear that she is a political animal who would go down on a billy goat if it helped her own political career. I must say the same is certainly apparent about those who are attacking her right now.

 

[Triad]

He went further then that yesterday or the day before.

Leon Panetta warns against politicization of CIA - Josh Gerstein - POLITICO.com

 

[Moon]

Did Panetta really rebut Pelosi's charges? Not really. From his statement, it is clear that he is responding to the present situation, and not to past facts.

Article, with link to Panetta's statement, itself is here.

Is Pelosi lying? I don't know, although it is plainly clear that she is a political animal who would go down on a billy goat if it helped her own political career. I must say the same is certainly apparent about those who are attacking her right now.

She's changed her story several times. I think she's covering her ass for failing to take action against something she now claims she opposes, and is looking for a fall guy. Problem is, Panetta's decided it ain't gonna be him.

 

[akyron]

Did Panetta really rebut Pelosi's charges? Not really. From his statement, it is clear that he is responding to the present situation, and not to past facts.

Article, with link to Panetta's statement, itself is here.

Is Pelosi lying? I don't know, although it is plainly clear that she is a political animal who would go down on a billy goat if it helped her own political career. I must say the same is certainly apparent about those who are attacking her right now.

An agenda driven opinion blog isnt the best place to look for facts.

How about a report?

Report: Aide Told Pelosi of Waterboarding Use
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was told in February 2003 by her intelligence aide, Michael Sheehy, that waterboarding was used on CIA detainee Abu Zubaydah, according to a report.


Spot the discrepancy within the first six short paragraphs.

 

[Redress]

She's changed her story several times. I think she's covering her ass for failing to take action against something she now claims she opposes, and is looking for a fall guy. Problem is, Panetta's decided it ain't gonna be him.

Panetta would not be the fall guy. He was not in the CIA in 2002. He does seem to be looking out for his people though, which is commendable. Other than that, you are probably right.

 

[jallman]

You have evidence that democrats in general are lying? Of course you don't, so your whole premise here falls apart.

I do. They are politicians. Nuff said.

 

[Redress]

I do. They are politicians. Nuff said.

Like, touche and stuff.

 

[Moon]

Panetta would not be the fall guy. He was not in the CIA in 2002. He does seem to be looking out for his people though, which is commendable. Other than that, you are probably right.

Maybe I wasn't clear. She tried to make the CIA out to be the bad guy, and probably expected Panetta to agree with her. He didn't take the bait. I'll be honest...I always thought Panetta was a slimy snake-like creature, but I'm rather impressed with how he's handled the CIA so far.

 

[akyron]

Maybe I wasn't clear. She tried to make the CIA out to be the bad guy, and probably expected Panetta to agree with her. He didn't take the bait. I'll be honest...I always thought Panetta was a slimy snake-like creature, but I'm rather impressed with how he's handled the CIA so far.

It can get nasty when snakes fight each other.


Its worse when they tag team people