Who is right, Pelosi or Panetta?

[Reba]

Panetta Defends CIA against Pelosi's Accusations
Agency not in habit of fibbing, says Dem-appointed director

By DAVID ESPO

WASHINGTON — The head of the CIA defended the agency Friday against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's charge that she was misled in 2002 about the use of waterboarding, but he said it ultimately is up to Congress to decide where the truth lies.

"Let me be clear. It is not our policy or practice to mislead Congress," CIA Director Leon Panetta wrote in a message to agency employees that was released to the public. "That is against our laws and our values."

Referring to Pelosi's remarks, he said, "The political debate over interrogation reached a new decibel level yesterday."

Panetta's rebuttal was far more muted that a counterattack the Republicans unleashed against Pelosi.

"I think her accusations against our terror-fighters are irresponsible and, according to the CIA's record, Speaker Pelosi was briefed on what had been done," said Sen. Kit Bond of Missouri, the senior Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee. "It's outrageous that a member of Congress would call our terror-fighters liars."

Pelosi drew the criticism a day after opening her weekly news conference with a prepared statement accusing agency briefers of misleading her in 2002 in connection with the use of waterboarding, an interrogation technique that simulates drowning.

In the statement, she repeated that she was not told that waterboarding had been used, even though it had been, and said an aide informed her of its use after other lawmakers had been briefed in 2003.

Pelosi has been the target of a campaign orchestrated in recent days by the House Republican leadership, which is eager to undercut her statements as well as stick Democrats with partial responsibility for the use of waterboarding in the Bush administration.

Some Democrats have expressed surprise that she chose to inject herself more deeply into the controversy, especially at a time when President Barack Obama enjoys widespread public support and Republicans are suffering extremely low approval ratings. Associates of the California Democrat say she decided it was an error to allow Republican attacks to go unanswered any longer.

At the White House, spokesman Robert Gibbs decided to stay out of the controversy. "I appreciate the invitation to get involved but I'll decline to R.S.V.P.." He said the president wanted to look forward, not back.

Panetta, a former Democratic lawmaker from Pelosi's home state of California, said records from the period "indicate that CIA officers briefed truthfully on the interrogation of (terrorist suspect) Abu Zubaydah, describing 'the enhanced techniques that had been employed.'"

He cited a "long tradition in Washington of making hay out of our business. ... But the political debates about interrogation reached a new decibel level yesterday when the CIA was accused of misleading Congress."

He added, "We are an agency of high integrity, professionalism and dedication. Our task is to tell it like it is — even if that's not what people always want to hear."

An unclassified chart released last month by the CIA describes a total of 40 briefings for lawmakers over a period of several years on enhanced interrogation techniques. Pelosi's name appears once, as having attended a session on Sept. 4, 2002, when she was the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. Former Rep. Porter Goss, R-Fla., who at the time was the chairman of the committee and later became CIA director, also was present.

While Goss has scoffed at Pelosi's description of the briefing, other lawmakers have challenged the accuracy of the CIA's overall reconstruction of events.

Panetta Defends CIA against Pelosi's Accusations | NBC Washington


If Panetta is right, should Pelosi apologize, resign, or both?

 

[netrox]

Who cares? I don't think she recalled a discussion about waterboarding. I would probably overlooked as well.

"Enhanced interrogation" sounds so glossed over.

 

[Hear Again]

Who cares?

I agree. We have more important things to worry about in this country.

 

[Foxrac]

Kick Pelosi out of congress, that all I care and democrats are better off to pick new majority leader to prevent any ruin their reputation.

 

[jillio]

The whole point is just the Repubs way of attempting to distract from the actual issue...did the U.S. engage in interrogation techniques that were illegal?

 

[Jiro]

The whole point is just the Repubs way of attempting to distract from the actual issue...did the U.S. engage in interrogation techniques that were illegal?

and another question is - who allowed it to happen?

 

[Hear Again]

The whole point is just the Repubs way of attempting to distract from the actual issue...did the U.S. engage in interrogation techniques that were illegal?

The sad truth is that if Pelosi were a Republican, none of this would even be of concern.

 

[Jiro]

Now I understand. Blame Pelosi so the focus can be taken off of the real problem.

actually no. that's not all. REMOVE those responsible. Pelosi should resigned. Where's accountability? Where's transparency?

During the whole time since Speaker of House, Pelosi has been nothing but a hypocrite. What a major disappointment.

 

[Hear Again]

During the whole time since Speaker of House, Pelosi has been nothing but a hypocrite. What a major disappointment.

See my edited post.

The fact of the matter is that Pelosi can do nothing right as far as the Republicans are concerned. That is disappointing.

 

[Hear Again]

actually no. that's not all. REMOVE those responsible. Pelosi should resigned. Where's accountability? Where's transparency?

Now you suddenly worry about accountability when no one made former President Bush accountable for his actions? If Pelosi is expected to be held responsible, George W. Bush should too.

 

[Jiro]

Now you suddenly worry about accountability when no one made former President Bush accountable for his actions? If Pelosi is expected to be held responsible, George W. Bush should too.

that's up to Obama and Attorney General. I'm not asking Pelosi to be held example but I'm asking for her resignation. She's not doing a great job and her voice means nothing to me. She should give up her seat to someone more credible and promising.

 

[Foxrac]

that's up to Obama and Attorney General. I'm not asking Pelosi to be held example but I'm asking for her resignation. She's not doing a great job and her voice means nothing to me. She should give up her seat to someone more credible and promising.

Second here, she seems make democrats looks bad and would be scare for democrat supporters in 2010 election, repeat of 1994 election.

 

[jillio]

that's up to Obama and Attorney General. I'm not asking Pelosi to be held example but I'm asking for her resignation. She's not doing a great job and her voice means nothing to me. She should give up her seat to someone more credible and promising.

Why should Pelosi be held accountable if the Commander in Chief is not going to be held accountable? That is nothing more than scapegoating to create an appearance of dealing with those who are responsible.

 

[Hear Again]

Why should Pelosi be held accountable if the Commander in Chief is not going to be held accountable? That is nothing more than scapegoating to create an appearance of dealing with those who are responsible.

 

[Hear Again]

that's up to Obama and Attorney General. I'm not asking Pelosi to be held example but I'm asking for her resignation. She's not doing a great job and her voice means nothing to me. She should give up her seat to someone more credible and promising.

Why do you think Pelosi is doing a poor job?

 

[Jiro]

Why should Pelosi be held accountable if the Commander in Chief is not going to be held accountable? That is nothing more than scapegoating to create an appearance of dealing with those who are responsible.

again - that's up to Attorney General to prosecute Bush. Again - Obama is all about "change, accountability, and transparency." Louis Caldera resigned because of Air Force One fiasco. General McKiernan was removed. Pelosi should resign since she's useless and a hypocrite.

Please give the job to someone who actually preach what he/she does and someone with credibility.

 

[Hear Again]

Second here, she seems make democrats looks bad and would be scare for democrat supporters in 2010 election, repeat of 1994 election.

I highly doubt Pelosi is going to have any impact on the 2010 election.

 

[Hear Again]

again - that's up to Attorney General to prosecute Bush. Again - Obama is all about "change, accountability, and transparency." Louis Caldera resigned because of Air Force One fiasco. General McKiernan was removed. Pelosi should resign since she's useless and a hypocrite.

Please give the job to someone who actually preach what he/she does and someone with credibility.

What do you mean by "transparency" and why do you think Pelosi isn't credible?

 

[Jiro]

Why do you think Pelosi is doing a poor job?

do you really really really want me to show you that? What you can do to save my time is to look back to her speech she made on first day of her job about what she promised to do. and what she criticized about Bush Administration when her dirty hands were in it. That's for starter.

Pelosi = useless. hypocrite. disappointment. incredible.

 

[Hear Again]

I think everyone (Democrats and Republicans alike) are all on the bandwagon to attack Pelosi without good reason.