In the aftermath of some very difficult and significantly negative comments made by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), concerning her recollection of a CIA intelligence briefing back in 2002. The issue of enhanced interrogation techniques and or torture of terror suspects has again raised its ugly head. Pelosi has maintained that in briefings in the Fall of 2002, with the CIA, that she was told that water boarding was not being used as a interrogation technique. In addition, Pelosi maintained that the CIA has had a habit of either misleading or out and out lying to the U.S. Congress. She has subsequently said that in 2003, she was made aware of the enhanced techniques, but was not complicit in the matters due to secrecy rules and existing Federal laws that prevented her from speaking up in opposition to the techniques.
Pelosi Charges Republicans With Changing Debate Away from Bush Administration Torture
According to Speaker Pelosi, House and Senate Republicans are rushing to the aid of the CIA in order to protect Bush Administration officials and CIA employees who both came up with and implemented the policies and programs that led to enhanced interrogation techniques including torture. Republicans had been on the defensive over the Obama Administration's push to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as well as recent revelations of formerly classified documents detailing Bush Administration authorization of enhanced interrogation techniques. Pelosi and other Democratic leaders have been calling for some type of Truth Commission or other congressional investigations to look at the potential culpability of various personnel in both the Bush Administration and the CIA , perhaps even leading to their criminal prosecution.
Gingrich Goes on the Offensive
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich went on the attack this week with several other current Republican House and Senate members in an effort to discredit the current Speaker and call into question her patriotism and judgment. In an interview with Good Morning America, Gingrich told Diane Sawyer that, "She really disqualified herself as Speaker. I think the Democrats should get a new Speaker. Pelosi's allegation basically smears the U.S. intelligence community, leaving her disqualified to be behind only the Vice President in the presidential succession order. Leaving her in place is very dangerous to the country."
Gingrich went on to say, "The case against Nancy Pelosi remaining Speaker of the House is as simple as it is devastating. The person who is number two in the line to be commander in chief can't have contempt for the men and women who protect our nation. America can't afford it. Speaker Pelosi has damaged America's safety...America is losing ground because of Pelosi's contempt for [the people] who defend her. Democrats owe it to their country and our national security to replace Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House."
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