House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the CIA "misled" her about waterboarding.
What difference does it make, in the grand scheme of things, whether Pelosi is telling the truth? Maybe the CIA did; maybe the CIA did not. So what? Well, it makes a great deal of difference — and not only because if true, the CIA didn't just "mislead" Pelosi but also committed a crime.
People like Pelosi, who once supported waterboarding — just like the folks who once supported the war — now attempt to rewrite history.
The country turned against former President George W. Bush and Republicans because of the war in Iraq. Yes, many Americans reversed their previous support of the war because of its unexpectedly high human and monetary costs. Yes, many turned against the war because, in its early stages, Iraq seemed on the verge of civil war. To many, the toppling of dictator Saddam Hussein backfired — and made America less, not more, safe.
But what turned growing unease over the war into outright disdain for Bush? As to the case for war — the assumption that Saddam possessed weapons of mass destruction — many Americans feel flat-out lied to.
This brings us to waterboarding.
Like Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib, waterboarding serves as a metaphor for the former President's alleged deceitfulness and villainy. Pelosi denounces waterboarding as torture, yet another outrage by the lying, scheming, manipulative Bush administration.
Pelosi, at first, said she knew absolutely nothing about the administration's use of this "enhanced interrogation technique." The CIA disputes this. But by her own admission, the agency told her that it was considering using waterboarding. Wasn't that enough for the speaker to have thundered her disapproval? What about a letter of protest to the Bush White House? What about moving to cut off funds to prevent the agency from employing a technique that she purportedly finds so offensive?
The CIA pushed back. The agency said that it informed Pelosi, who received briefings, that it not only intended to use waterboarding but, in fact, had used waterboarding. Former CIA Director Porter Goss said that the CIA provided accurate information to Pelosi. Goss further said that the only objection during the briefing was the concern as to whether the CIA was going far enough.
Current CIA Director Leon Panetta agreed with Goss.
In a memo to CIA employees, Panetta said, "CIA officers briefed truthfully on the interrogation of Abu Zubaydah, describing 'the enhanced techniques that had been employed.'" Panetta also wrote: "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."
Now, the retreat.
Before declaring in a news conference that she no longer wants to stress the matter, Pelosi praised the CIA. Pelosi said, "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." Does her respect extend to former CIA head George Tenet? Tenet served under former Presidents Clinton and Bush. As for believing Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction, Tenet described the case as a "slam-dunk." Does she now "respect" that he made that assertion in good faith?
So, what does all of this tell us?
It tells us that in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, most Americans — including the Democratic leadership in Congress — wanted to prevent another attack. Despite their newfound "outrage" over torture, people like Speaker Nancy Pelosi understood, accepted and even encouraged harsh interrogation techniques to prevent another attack.
As to the case for war, all 16 intelligence agencies concluded — at the highest level of probability — that Saddam Hussein possessed those stockpiles. Yet people like Sen. Ted Kennedy said things like "week after week after week, we were told lie after lie after lie." And many Americans — especially those predisposed to believe the worst of the Bush administration — completely bought it. "Bush lied, people died" became a refrain uttered endlessly by Bush haters.
But Bush didn't lie — and the Democrats know it. Indeed, to extricate herself from Torture-gate, Pelosi now compliments the CIA, the very agency Bush relied on in making the case for war.
But public opinion turned against the war. Then waterboarding became "torture." And Bush became not simply a commander in chief who, in good faith, relied on near unanimous but faulty intelligence. He became, as then-Minority Leader Harry Reid said, "a loser" and "a liar."
Disgusting.
Larry Elder is a syndicated radio talk show host and best-selling author. His latest book, "What's Race Got to Do with It?" is available now. To find out more about Larry Elder, visit his Web page at www.LarryElder.com. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
CREATORS SYNDICATE COPYRIGHT 2009 LAURENCE A. ELDER
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Dear Larry Elder, Pelosi lies and all her buddies back her up! All her buddies lie and she backs them up! Taxpayers are fed up her and buddies leading Americans into the 'bottomless pit' for their Greed! As for the 'grinning' pirate and his buddies that were shooting to kill our Americans over the waters, Taxpayers say 'Shoot to kill and don't bother asking questions', as it's your life over theirs - and theirs are no longer important! They chose to maim, rape, rob and kill all Americans, and if you think Americans are going to take this sitting down, they're not! It's back to 'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth!'
Even on American streets, daily, illegitimates, of all races, are stealing, maiming, raping and killing because this is the way they're being raised. Politicians are responsible for this as social and welfare programs generated this mess, so politicians would get elected, and won't stop until we send them all to Gitmo and let them learn to work for a living or starve, as this is what they're doing to Americans since they've sold our jobs for a retirement they don't deserve! By the way, they need to take all prisoners now in custody with them, so we can rid America of it's jails, prisons, social and welfare give-a-ways, and get terrorism off American streets, forever!
WAKE UP AMERICA!
I'm forwarding the article below, sent to me, as your readers might want to see that other Americans really care about what the politicians are doing corrupting and bankrupting America!
Shirley deLong
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What a letter to the editor........ This was written by a Canadian woman, but oh how it also applies to the U.S. , U.K. And Australia
THIS ONE PACKS A FIRM PUNCH
Here is a woman who should run for Prime Minister!
Written by a housewife in New Brunswick , to her local newspaper. This is one ticked off lady.
'Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on 11th September, 2001 and have continually threatened to do so since? Were people from all over the world, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan , across the Potomac from the nation's capital and in a field in Pennsylvania ?
Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?
And I'm supposed to care that a few Taliban were claiming to be tortured by a justice system of the nation they come from and are fighting against in a brutal insurgency.
I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 11th September, 2001.
I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere belief of which is a crime punishable by beheading in Afghanistan
I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.
I'll care when the cowardly so-called 'insurgents' in Afghanistan come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques and behind women and children.
I'll care when the mindless zealots who blows themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.
I'll care when the Canadian media stops pretending that their freedom of speech on stories is more important than the lives of the soldiers on the ground or their families waiting at home to hear about them when something happens.
In the meantime, when I hear a story about a CANADIAN soldier roughing up an Insurgent terrorist to obtain information, know this:
I don't care.
When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank:
I don't care.
When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed 'special' food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts:
I don't care.
And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled 'Koran' and other times 'Quran.' Well, Jimmy Crack Corn you guessed it,
I don't care!!
If you agree with this viewpoint, pass this on to all your E-mail friends Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behaviour!
If you don't agree, then by all means hit the delete button. Should you choose the latter, then please don't complain when more atrocities committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great Country! And may I add:
'Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Soldiers don't have that problem..'
I have another quote that I would like to add, AND........I hope you forward all this.
One last thought for the day:
Only five defining forces have ever offered to die for you:
1.. Jesus Christ
2.. The Canadian Soldier.
3.. The British Soldier.
4.. The US Soldier, and
5.. The Australian Soldier
One died for your soul, the other 4 for your freedom.
Comment: #1
Posted by: Shirley deLong
Sun May 31, 2009 2:36 PM
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From the article: "But Bush didn't lie"
Of course Bush lied. He lied about Iraq's aluminum tubes and unmanned drones. Bush was stupid enough to "think" that basing his Iraq policy on Ahmed Chalabi was a good idea.
Bush should be held accountable for his lies and outright idiocy. Right-wingers, such as Mr. Elder, don't believe in accountability. They don't believe in holding people accountable policies based on dishonesty and idiocy.
Comment: #2
Posted by: Pericles
Mon Jun 1, 2009 9:18 AM
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