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The CIA, the Republicans, and the Truth
Author: BobR
Date: 07/10/2009 12:24:49
The Republicans in DC have shown themselves to be good at the things that don't help America, and poor at the things that do. Their policies ended up allowing a self-regulated banking market to trash the economy, an anti-science approach to result in a climate on the brink of disaster, and aggressive foreign policy to put us in a miasma in the Middle East. So what are they good at? Messaging and faux outrage.
A classic example is the "CIA lied to Congress" story. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused the CIA - an organization of professional liars - of lying to them. Although one would think Pelosi naive for assuming the CIA would always be truthful with them, the Republicans (and their propagandist mouthpiece FAUX News) rode it like a thoroughbred, calling for Nancy Pelosi's head. The reality is that the CIA has admitted that was the case. So how do you suppose the Republicans are handling this?
First, it was CIA Director Leon Panetta that admitted in sworn testimony that the charges were in fact true:
An ex-CIA agent weighs in:
That would seem to put this to rest, right? In fact - one would hope the Republicans would apologize for their histrionics, their accusations, their smears. But "apologize" is not part of their DNA, nor is admitting they're wrong, nor is - it seems - facing reality. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) wants committee members to take a lie detector test before receiving classified CIA briefings. No lie:
So apparently, Boehner believes that Panetta's testimony stating the CIA lied to Congress is ... a lie? :huh:
Either that, or the facts are inconvenient and he would prefer to stay on message despite his actions being exactly what started all of this - a lie. Perhaps the Republican leadership has a different definition for "truth" than the rest of us.
A classic example is the "CIA lied to Congress" story. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused the CIA - an organization of professional liars - of lying to them. Although one would think Pelosi naive for assuming the CIA would always be truthful with them, the Republicans (and their propagandist mouthpiece FAUX News) rode it like a thoroughbred, calling for Nancy Pelosi's head. The reality is that the CIA has admitted that was the case. So how do you suppose the Republicans are handling this?
First, it was CIA Director Leon Panetta that admitted in sworn testimony that the charges were in fact true:
Pelosi accused the CIA of "misleading the Congress of the United States."
Republican senators screamed.
"It's outrageous that a member of Congress should call a terror-fighter a liar," howled Missouri Senator Kit Bond, the vice chair of the Senate intelligence committee. "It seems the playbook is, blame terror-fighters. We ought to be supporting them."
CIA officials denied lying to Congress and the American people, and that seemed to be that. "Let me be clear: It is not our practice or policy to mislead Congress," said CIA Director Leon Panetta. That is against our laws and values."
But, now, we learn that, in late June, Panetta admitted in secret testimony to Congress that the agency had concealed information and misled lawmakers repeatedly since 2001.
Some of the details of Panetta's testimony are contained in a letter from seven House Democrats to Panetta that was released Wednesday morning.
An ex-CIA agent weighs in:
"If they actually, purposefully lied here, the next piece of this investigation — I’m thinking about this as a former prosecutor, now — I want to know, was it one briefer who just screwed up?" [Former CIA agent Jack] Rice incredulously asked. "Was it the CIA who drove them to screw up? Or was it the White House who drove the CIA to tell the briefer to screw up? … That’s the real question now."
He added that members of Congress who had every lawful reason to expect to be given classified intelligence should be upset that the agency withheld information.
That would seem to put this to rest, right? In fact - one would hope the Republicans would apologize for their histrionics, their accusations, their smears. But "apologize" is not part of their DNA, nor is admitting they're wrong, nor is - it seems - facing reality. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) wants committee members to take a lie detector test before receiving classified CIA briefings. No lie:
A leading Republican on Thursday said lawmakers should be forced to take lie detector tests before receiving classified briefings, as debate intensified over lying between the intelligence community and Congress.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), a member of the Intelligence Committee and the ranking Republican on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said requiring polygraph tests would safeguard the information and clear up who is being told what.
[...]
...Issa’s suggestions seemed to be at odds with more senior Republicans.
Hoekstra quickly shot down the idea of forcing members to submit to polygraph tests, arguing that constitutional separation-of-powers protections would prevent the FBI or the CIA from administering the test to federal lawmakers.
And Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said claims that intelligence officials lied to Congress are not valid.
“I do not believe that the CIA lied to Congress,” Boehner told reporters on Thursday. “I’m still waiting for Speaker Pelosi to put up the facts or retract her statement and apologize.”
So apparently, Boehner believes that Panetta's testimony stating the CIA lied to Congress is ... a lie? :huh:
Either that, or the facts are inconvenient and he would prefer to stay on message despite his actions being exactly what started all of this - a lie. Perhaps the Republican leadership has a different definition for "truth" than the rest of us.
