by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright May 18, 2009
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             House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) caused quite a stir telling the press May 7 she was not apprised by the CIA or Bush administration about waterboarding or “enhanced interrogation techniques."  Pelosi insisted she was briefed only once in Sept. 2002, later finding out that terror suspect Abu Zubaydah was waterboarded 83 times in Aug. 2002.  “She made some outrageous accusations last week where she said that the CIA lied to her and lied systematically over a period of years.  That is a very, very serious charge,” said Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-N.Y.), ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee.  Hoekstra may be technically correct that the House Speaker learned more than once about the CIA or military’s enhanced interrogation techniques.  Despite the technicality, the Bush White House kept watereboarding and “enhanced interrogation techniques” close to the vest.

            When President Barack Obama authorized his Justice Dept. to declassify and release Bush White House “torture” memos April 16, the public and members of Congress were stunned by revelations.  Finding out that Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was waterboarded 183 times shocked many people.  Hoekstra and House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) lead the current GOP attack on Pelosi, diverting attention from their Party’s chaos.  “Lying to the Congress of the United States is a crime,” Boehner told John King on CNN’s “State of the Union,” insisting that Pelosi offer evidence for her allegations.  Boehner and Hoekstra know that the Bush White House, CIA and Pentagon don’t make a habit of loudly advertising the use of “enhanced interrogation techniques,” including waterboarding.  Intelligence agencies do their utmost to operate discreetly.

            Pentagon and CIA officials, rightfully so, kept a tight lid on the use of “enhanced interrogation techniques.”  Obama made the Bush memos public to emphasize that his administration prohibited interrogations techniques banned by the Geneva Convention and regarded as “torture” by most, if not all, human rights’ organizations.  Whether or not Pelosi was briefed more than once on “enhanced interrogation techniques” doesn’t contradict either her recollection or perception that she was briefed only once in Sept. 2002.  “I believe in the integrity of the men and women who sacrifice to keep us safe.  Not the woman who has been caught flat-footed, lying to our face.  I say it her and I say it rather clear—It’s time for Nancy Pelosi to resign and get out of here,” wrote former Arkansas Gov. and GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.  Huckabee is likely to run again in 2012.

            Since Obama released the State Dept. memos, former Bush administration officials have been on the defensive, blaming the White House for damaging U.S. national security.  Former Vice President Dick Cheney has led the GOP charge to justify “enhanced interrogation techniques,” urging the CIA to declassify more memos.  CIA Director Leon Panetta, President Bill Clinton’s former chief of staff, responded vaguely to Pelosi’s charges.  “Let me be clear:  It is not our policy or practice to mislead Congress.  This is against our laws and our values,” said Panetta, not denying Pelosi’s key allegation that the CIA mislead her, Congress and the American people on the extent of controversial interrogation techniques.  Whatever the CIA policy, it’s only reasonable that a spy agency wouldn’t publicly advertise its secret intelligence-gathering techniques and methods.

            Republican strategist and former Reagan aid Ed Rollins blasted Pelosi for raising CIA deception.  “This is a self-inflicted wound . . . She brought the whole subject up,” Rollins insisted.  “She started this.  I think it was the worst week she’s had.  I’m not accusing her of lying or any of the rest of that, but I think she certainly doesn’t have her facts correct,” scoring as many political points as possible at a time of chaos in the Republican Party.   Only a week ago, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, representing the “new” GOP, asked his fellow Republicans to toss the late President Ronald Reagan out as the Party’s icon.  Rollins and other Republicans hope that Pelosi’s faux pas carries over to the White House, damaging Barack’s approval ratings.  Pelosi’s remarks, while not politically correct, meet the test of plausible deniability, since the CIA is a spy agency known for secrecy.

            Republican attempts to discredit Pelosi seek to regain some momentum heading into next year’s midterm elections.  Rollins talks about Pelosi’s “self-inflicted” wounds.  But nothing hurts the Republican Party more than the internecine warfare between conservatives and moderates.  Jeb Bush’s attempt to distance the GOP from Reagan directly relates to the battle between conservative talk show icon Rush Limbaugh and Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, the new face of the Republican Party.  No one alive today articulates the conservative manifesto and parrots the Reagan talking points better than Limbaugh.  “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,” wrote Pelosi in a veiled mea culpa.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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