Who is lying: Pelosi or CIA?

House Speaker Pelosi just needs to shut up. In her press conference last week she made the claim that the CIA “misled” her in September of 2002 and was not told that water boarding was being done, especially on Abu Zubaydah. Friday, after Speaker Pelosi’s grandstand, CIA Director Leon Panetta stated, “CIA officers briefed truthfully on the interrogation of Abu Zubaydah, describing ‘the enhanced techniques that have been employed’”.

According the law of the land, it is a crime to lie or mislead Congress. If this is the case, why is it okay then for Speaker Pelosi is able to stand there and lie to the American Public? The surprising message being lost here is the lack of defense of Speaker Pelosi by the White House. Why might this be?

Perhaps it is because the CIA did let Congress know of the techniques being used to ferret out information. On CNN’s State of the Union, Rep. John Boehner said, “If the speaker is accusing the CIA and other intelligence officials of lying or misleading the Congress, then she should come forward with evidence and turn that over to the Justice Department so they be prosecuted. And if that is not the case, I think she ought to apologize to our intelligence professionals around the world.”

As I am writing a promo came on MSNBC for Hardball. Chris Matthews’s teaser put forth the question if the Republican Party is using the Pelosi CIA attack as a distraction to Bush era policy. Now, I understand that Chris Matthews is a commentary but many people in our realm feel he is a news reporter. Why doesn’t the liberal media focus on Pelosi’s retort to CIA Panetta’s charge that she was given full disclosure?

Speaker Pelosi shifted her focus from the CIA to the Bush administration when she put out the statement last Friday, “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.” Really? Is Speaker Pelosi for real? As it has been reported, she first claimed that she was never briefed only to later soften her stance then to an outright blast of the CIA.

It was the role of the CIA to inform Congress of the techniques used, which according to CIA Panetta was done in September 2002. I would love to see a truth commission as it will bring to light to truth. My only concern is if the media will report the facts and not add their bias.

Pelosi is caught red handed

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held a news conference today in an attempt to clear the air on her knowledge of water boarding. Prior to the meeting today, House Speaker Pelosi contended that she was never briefed on the use of harsh tactics, i.e. water boarding. In her press conference today, she contracted her previous statement when she announced that in September 2002 she was briefed on “enhanced interrogation techniques” were going to be used. The CIA is still contending that both House Speaker Pelosi and Rep. Porter Goss were briefed on the “use of EITS”.

The five months after September 2002 briefing, the CIA briefed Chairman Harmon who in turn, according to her press conference, was “informed” about the CIA briefing of Chairman Harmon and the use of EITS. Now President Obama is doing an about face on releasing additional photos of prisoner abuse. Why? As the debate of CIA Memos continues, it will be interesting to see what the “truth” commission is able to ferret out.

Former Vice President Cheney has been asking for further CIA memos to be released to the public and House Speaker Pelosi asked that the briefing she was given in September 2002 be released as well. The use of water boarding is just one EIT used, so is House Speaker Pelosi okay with the rest but draws the line at water boarding?

Will America see a Nixon cover-up or will President Obama finally have the opportunity to break away from the choke collar that House Speaker Pelosi has on the White House?

You can see House Speaker Pelosi attempting to absolve herself from any responsibility of the use of EITS. Judge for yourself.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2009/05/pelosi_accuses_cia_of.html?hpid=topnews