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FirmhandKY -> RE: Pelosi says Bush team misled her on waterboarding (7/10/2009 7:29:01 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: housesub4you
Well well well, it seems Pelosi was lied to ( http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/08/cia.congress/index.html?iref=newssearch ) I"m sure everyone who said she was nuts and supported the CIA will offer their deepest apologies.
I don't believe there is sufficient evidence to make much of any conclusion, so far.
From the article:
quote:
However, the June 26 letter from the seven House Democrats noted that Panetta told CIA employees in a letter dated May 15 -- in response to the Pelosi allegation -- that it was not CIA policy to mislead Congress.
"Let me be clear: It is not our policy or practice to mislead Congress. That is against our laws and values," the House Democrats quoted Panetta's letter as saying.
The letter from the House Democrats asked Panetta to correct his May 15 statement "in light of your testimony."
Asked about the Democrats' letter, CIA spokesman George Little said Panetta "stands by his May 15 statement."
"This agency and this director believe it is vital to keep the Congress fully and currently informed. Director Panetta's actions back that up," Little said in a statement. "As the letter from these ... representatives notes, it was the CIA itself that took the initiative to notify the oversight committees."
The letter that the article is talking about is pretty short. It's entirety:
quote:
Dear Director Panetta,
You recall, no doubt, that on May 15, 2009, you stated the following in a letter to CIA employees:
"Let me be clear: It is not our policy or practice to mislead Congress. That is against our laws and values."
Recently you testified that you have determined that top CIA officials have concealed significant actions from all Members of Congress, and misled Members for a number of years from 2001 to this week. This is similar to other deceptions of which we are aware from other recent periods.
In light of your testimony, we ask that you publicaly correct your statement of May 15, 2009.
Sincerely,
Anna G. Eshoo
John F Tierney
Rush D. Holt
Mike Thompson
Alcee L. Hastings.
Janice D. Schakowsky
Adam Smith
There are all kinds of unanswered questions in my mind. First, when did Panetta say what the seven members say he said? Where's the transcript? Was it a secret meeting?
Second, do the members not recognize that Panetta's letter to CIA employees can easily be seen as establishing policy for his tenure, not necessary making a claim about the past? Even if the letter was due to NP claim, I don't see that it directly addressed her claim at all.
More ... but having those two answered would help a lot, and until those are answered, I don't see how anyone can claim that NP was or wasn't lied to, based on these letters.
Firm
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