Pelosi's Loss; Our Gain (by William Fisher)

[Leo 9]

May 19, 2009 at 11:12:45

Pelosi's Loss; Our Gain

by William Fisher


Congressional Democrats and many Washington journalists are predicting that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's current dispute with the Central Intelligence Agency may ultimately hasten the push toward the last thing Republicans want -- a comprehensive investigation of prisoner detention and interrogation during the administration of former President George W. Bush.

The Pelosi controversy centers on whether the House's top Democrat was briefed in 2002 by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that waterboarding and other abusive interrogation techniques were being used when she was chair of the House Intelligence Committee.

Pelosi says the CIA told her waterboarding was not being used; she has accused the agency of misleading Congress. The CIA claims it informed her, as well as a small number of other Congressional leaders.

While President Barack Obama appears to be ambivalent about a comprehensive look-back, many of Pelosi's House colleagues - and much of the media -- are ramping up their calls for an independent 9/11-type commission to investigate not only what Pelosi knew and when she knew it, but what happened to detainees during the Bush years.

If there is a full-blown investigation of Bush-era policies, it is sure to drill down into the CIA's activities following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and in the year-long run-up to the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq.

snip

A cornucopia of politically charged information is virtually certain to surface if the Pelosi-CIA contretemps leads to formation of a commission to conduct an independent investigation.

If such a commission is formed, much of its work will likely be conducted behind closed doors. The public may initially learn very little about the details because virtually all the CIA-related material will be classified and it will probably take considerable time for a declassified version of the body's report to become available publicly.

But many in Washington are saying that, even absent an official investigation, much more information about the CIA's detention and interrogation practices is likely to find its way to the media in dribs and drabs.

About which we should all say: Bring it on!"


http://www.opednews.com/articles/Pelosi-s-Loss-Our-Gain-by-William-Fisher-090519-391.html

[polichick]

1. I certainly wouldn't want a 9/11-type commission if it means no prosecution.

[Leo 9]

2. That might not be up to just U.S.

Other countries could prosecute, based on whatever evidence is available.

[polichick]

3. That would be great imo - just like Saddam. How appropriate.