RSS Feed MenuNancy Pelosi is at it again. She does not seem to understand who the enemy is regarding the War on Terror. Instead of coming up with ways to combat the terrorists, she tries to handcuff the intelligence community. In the past, she falsely denied being informed about the enhanced interrogation techniques and with the aid of Congressman Jim McDermott sneakily tried to insert a provision into an intelligence bill which would have limited the CIA’s effectiveness. Now she wants to require intelligence agencies to inform all members of the intelligence committee instead of a select few as is currently the case. She also wants to give the Government Accountability Office the power to review intelligence programs.
It seems that no one other than Pelosi and her supporters think these requirements are a good idea. President Obama has said he will veto the bill if they include Pelosi’s provisions and former President Bush has also gone on the record against them. A former high-ranking CIA official stated that “the White House (Brennan) and CIA (Panetta) are fighting this because it creates more of a possibility for leaks to happen.” Another former CIA official wanted to emphasize that by doing this “Pelosi is robbing the intelligence community of agility. Accountability is already in place with the oversight committees and the inspector general. This just adds another layer of bureaucracy.”
To get her way Pelosi is not allowing the intelligence authorization bill to go to the floor unless these provisions are included. Because Senator Feinstein is a little more sensitive regarding these issues she has responded to Pelosi by holding up Gen. James Clapper’s DNI nomination until there is an authorization bill. Basically it comes down to these two California Democrats trying to hold each other hostage. All those interviewed felt that this shows how broken down the oversight structure is because there is no leadership direction. They also pointed out that for the last five years there has not been an authorization bill passed. A former CIA official noted that both Feinstein and Pelosi “are doing the country a disservice and are harming the country. This is just irresponsible on their parts.”
Former CIA Director Michael Hayden summed it up best when he commented that Pelosi’s provisions are unnecessary because “historically we have found that [the current arrangement] has been a good way to protect sensitive information and keep members of Congress informed. These provisions create more second guessing and are bad ideas.”
Watusie // Jul 13, 2010 at 2:38 pm
“Now she wants to require intelligence agencies to inform all members of the intelligence committee instead of a select few as is currently the case.”
Currently the info goes only to the “Gang of Eight”. Of which she is a member. She wants that to be expanded to ALL members – Republican and Democrat – of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees.
How, exactly, is that a “Power Play”, when she is bringing MORE elected representatives of the people – from both parties – into the process?
balconesfault // Jul 13, 2010 at 2:40 pm
In the past, she falsely denied being informed about the enhanced interrogation techniques … Now she wants to require intelligence agencies to inform all members of the intelligence committee instead of a select few as is currently the case.
Given that the “false denial” is a classic he-said/she-said situation … it makes absolute sense that she would support provisions to require briefing of the entire intelligence committee. Particularly when there is as little comity and trust between the leadership of the two political parties as there is now. More people being included in the discussion is better to avoid the possibility of these little disagreements.
It might not be better for an administration that wants to be able to pressure and “roll” a specific congressperson on a critical issue, and I have no doubt that once this power is in Obama’s hands he’s loathe to give up a tool that could be useful at some time. Fortunately, the Speaker of the House does not see her job as being a tool of the Administration.
Would that we had that level of pushback from Congressional leadership through most of the oo’s.
drdredel // Jul 13, 2010 at 4:24 pm
@balcon
right on!
War on Terror my right nut. Do any of these clowns know how to do a simple cost/benefit analysis? These “terrorist” have proven time and again that they are a rag-tag team of buffoons that can’t get anything as simple as blowing up a propane tank in an SUV or getting their underwear to detonate as planned, right. Can we PLEASE stop talking about this as a “WAR” and deal with it the way we deal with any other miscreants? How many wars are we looking to lose, anyway?! We keep starting wars that are unwinable (drugs, poverty, terror to name but a few) and then we can’t just call it quits when it no longer makes any sense, MOSTLY because we have called it a war! No one wants to give up on a war, but giving up on stupid, cost-ineffective, self destructive, policies is much easier!
So… can we rename this the “Stupid Cost-Ineffective, Self Destructive, Anti-Terror effort”? Should I start a petition?
I know it’s controversial to say this, but enough ooga booga, already!
LFC // Jul 13, 2010 at 4:34 pm
The author lost me at “enhanced interrogation techniques”. Anybody who uses that dodge for what has been known for centuries as torture has already showed their hand.
jreb // Jul 14, 2010 at 9:42 am
So “drdredel” if we rename it the problem will magically disappear. The “reach out with an unclenched fist” has worked so well for this administration hasn’t it. Why would anyone want a Congress which has so little respect nationally to have more insight on this nation’s intelligence operations?
Reality Chick // Jul 15, 2010 at 4:38 pm
What is it with the P’s…
Palin, a joke,
Pelosi, a master manipulator…
What happened to the competent few advising the less knowledgeable many?
It seems that now, we have neither the competent few nor the somewhat knowledgeable many.
Leadership and enthusiasm continue to be confused with one another.
Bickering only reinforces our helplessness.
Spy chief confirmation hearing set for next Tuesday – CNN | The Fresno News // Jul 25, 2010 at 10:01 pm
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