CIA Director Leon Panetta struck back at Speaker Nancy Pelosi today in a memorandum to CIA employees saying that she was fully and truthfully briefed in 2002. He indirectly accuses Pelosi of “making hay out” of the CIA and misrepresenting her briefing for political purposes. I discussed the Pelosi story last night on this segment of Countdown.
In his memorandum below, Panetta says “Let me be clear: It is not our policy or practice to mislead Congress. That is against our laws and our values. As the Agency indicated previously in response to Congressional inquiries, our contemporaneous records from September 2002 indicate that CIA officers briefed truthfully on the interrogation of Abu Zubaydah, describing “the enhanced techniques that had been employed.”
He adds “[u]ltimately, it is up to Congress to evaluate all the evidence and reach its own conclusions about what happened.” Leaving this growing controversy to Congress with its continued machinations and manipulations is ridiculous. It is time for a special prosecutor who will not be hampered by grants of congressional immunity and leaked intelligence.
Message from the Director:
There is a long tradition in Washington of making political hay out of our business. It predates my service with this great institution, and it will be around long after I’m gone. But the political debates about interrogation reached a new decibel level yesterday when the CIA was accused of misleading Congress.
Let me be clear: It is not our policy or practice to mislead Congress. That is against our laws and our values. As the Agency indicated previously in response to Congressional inquiries, our contemporaneous records from September 2002 indicate that CIA officers briefed truthfully on the interrogation of Abu Zubaydah, describing “the enhanced techniques that had been employed.” Ultimately, it is up to Congress to evaluate all the evidence and reach its own conclusions about what happened.
My advice—indeed, my direction—to you is straightforward: ignore the noise and stay focused on your mission. We have too much work to do to be distracted from our job of protecting this country.
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. Keep it up. Our national security depends on it.
For the full story, click here.
Patty,
Two words for you to think about while mulling people reactions to the never ending bout between you and Jill and Bron:
Excessive defensiveness.
It’s not a charge. It’s not a claim. Just something to think about when you consider some of the reactions I’ve been reading. I’m all for standing up for one’s self, but there is a line between solid defense and undermining one’s positions by unwarranted or unnecessary attack. It weakens the strength of your attack when you do go on the offensive. See PETA for plenty of examples of this tactical issue.
Staying parallel to the shore was working. Maybe not as personally satisfying but it was working.
Again, just something to think about.
“Let’s do something useful with some of this vitriol. I propose a penalty for incivility in posting. We are on our honor to comply. I suggest the following:”
Mespo,
Couldn’t agree with you more but here’s the rub. How and who defines vitriol and incivility. Some here take offense when their arguments are disputed and would call that uncivil vitriol.
—
I consider harassment, including sexual innuendo offensive. I have dealt with chauvinist pigs my entire working life.
Being a woman AND especially my occupation as a doctor will never be some jerks excuse to treat me like a doormat. Whatever problem they have with my successes are theirs. If they try to make them mine, watch out. I will respond but not in any way that feels good. You want respect, you have to BE respectable.
I respect myself enough to stand up for myself and I will continue to do it.
And yes, mespo, I do believe our problem child Bartlebee, Cromagnum, Waynebro, Gaylord Focker et al IS still with us.
No doubt in my mind.
“Let’s do something useful with some of this vitriol. I propose a penalty for incivility in posting. We are on our honor to comply. I suggest the following:”
Mespo,
Couldn’t agree with you more but here’s the rub. How and who defines vitriol and incivility. Some here take offense when their arguments are disputed and would call that uncivil vitriol. JT is our judge and has intervened at times, but he has a rather full plate and to put the responsibility on his shoulders is unfair. I’m for your suggestion if you show me how we can define and enforce it.
If nothing else, M72, you highlighted the issue.
Buddha:
You and Seamus are good for a 12 passenger van a month at $5.00 a pop.
Dudes, this is the road to economic elitism in trolling/insulting; what are po-folks with more vitriol than money gonna’ do? And what about people that don’t speak Latin-Latin, only pig-Latin? Could you build a time-payment option into this plan so some of us can participate? Please?
BIL: “Just cut me and Seamus loose and soon the March of Dimes can buy a car so they won’t have to march anymore.”
*ROFLMAO*
lol
PayPal.
You’re all moderately insane.
I kinda dig that about this place.
Must be why I feel right at home. 😀
And if JT would just give the word and a button to click, we could make some lucky charity very lucky indeed. I can be as filthy as a dozen sailors. I know. I’ve seen me do it. Just cut me and Seamus loose and soon the March of Dimes can buy a car so they won’t have to march anymore. The problem is I don’t think we can trust the trolls to be on the honor system. I mean, seriously . . . do you really want to put people who back and act as apologists for torturers on the honor system? I think not.
Yep, Bernie gave you away…
He did go off on Big Easy today of course.
FF LEO,
It could be me, you, you, you . . . All is Latin of course.
AnonY: Think about who might be the, erm, most prevalent offender…
FF LEO,
I assure you mine is a better cause. I will set it up and show you. The Widow and Orphans need your support. Please send money, preferably cash.
Pay Pay. No Credit Cards. No Transaction Fees. No Traces. All legitimate I assure you.
I am only kidding you.
AnonY,
If we have a PayPal button on this blawg then we all will have one place to pay and with accountability for us all, if you know what I mean…Plus we could donate extra if we wanted.
FF LEO,
Use my Pay Pal. I am trying to help Bernie and the Widows and Orphans Fund. That is a Good Charity, I will assure you.
Okay M72,
I assume that you will ask Prof T. if he can put a PayPay button on this blawg and as you know Larry offered to spiff-up the title page.
Bron98:
I like the Latin idea too.
FFLeo:
I like your idea better. Let’s see if JT will go along.
FF LEO,
I just happen to have a pay pal account that you can use.
mespo727272
Who can argue with that?
****************************
I can, I am just not paid by the word here.
Mespo:
how about with one consideration-you can insult the other person as long as it is in latin, is not foul language and is grammatically correct.
This serves two purposes:
1. makes you feel better
2. keeps latin alive
it is win win