Nancy Pelosi | 05/12/2009 8:45 am
Pelosi Knew About Waterboarding, but Didn't Think It 'Appropriate' to Object

Nancy Pelosi has known since February of 2003 that the CIA was using waterboarding, yet did nothing about it.
There’s been speculation that the House Speaker knew of the methods since 2002, but she denied knowing the specifics of the harsh interrogations. New records show, however, that CIA officials briefed Pelosi staffer Michael Sheehy on the waterboarding of suspect Abu Zubaydah. Sheehy later told Pelosi, a Democrat from California. He also informed her that Jane Harman, who was also at the briefing, had penned a letter of objection for the CIA. Pelosi did not add her name to that letter, a move that Republicans claim proves Pelosi’s acquiescence.
A Pelosi friend, though, says the lawmaker didn’t speak up "out of respect for the ‘appropriate’ legislative channels," according to Politico. Since Pelosi herself wasn’t at the 2003 briefing, said the source, she felt Harman’s letter was the best route.























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If she did, indeed, know about waterboarding back in 2003, that would hardly make her a war criminal. But if she knew and insists otherwise that would make her one of those people who will not acknowledge that the immediate post Sept 11 atmosphere allowed for methods that now seem abhorrent.
I’m sitting on the edge of my seat on this one because "where there’s smoke there’s fire" and the memos, hopefully, will bring the others who knew center stage.
Could Dick Cheney have been right? We will finally get an answer to this question.
In no way can he be compared to Hitler and Stalin.
Here’s what Hitler and Stalin had in common: ruthless violence. Both used ferocious internal repression. The edge here goes to Stalin. Even Hitler’s armies of snoopers, his 95 Germans a day convicted of political crimes in 1933-39, his political murders, concentration camps and killings of Jews and left-wingers in that period, cannot match Stalin’s record. Russia had traditions of secrecy and violence; but the isolation, paranoia and terror that kept the Soviet people in thrall for so long exceeded anything comparable, anywhere, ever.
And, you are comparing Cheney to these two horrible men? Dick Cheney and millions of Americans feel that this administration is putting our country at great risk.
Cheney has praised the Bush administration’s terrorism efforts. "I think those programs were absolutely essential to the success we enjoy, of being able to collect the intelligence that let us defeat all further attempts to launch attacks against the United States since 9/11," he said.
Cheney, Bush, the White House attornies and so far, Pelosi all knew about the waterboarding technique….and this cannot in any way be compared to the destruction Hitler and Stalin brought to innocent people. The terrorist who was waterboarded was not innocent….he had knowledge of the terrorist group of 9/11.
I will not respond to Frank’s post , but will to his (as well as yours again) here.
Evoking Hitler and Stalin is ineffectual, juvenile and ignorant debate tactic. First of all, if we were indeed living under a similar type of government, Frank would not have the ability to write what he did. I have said this a million times, I do not agree with some of what these people say, but will always defend their right to say their opinions.
Freedom of speech… interesting concept. Often, most especially on these message boards lately, it seems to only go the way of the liberal. You want to talk about censorship? Let’s talk about our Darling Community Manager/Site Monitor who deliberately deletes post from "right" leaning posters on a daily basis. Hitler/Stalin behaviour anyone?
Second of all, even freedom of speech has limitations. Ever taken a college law class Frank? Obviously not. Because if you did, you’d know that even freedom of speech has limitation. Ever heard about yelling "Fire" in a movie theater? Here’s the legal case so you can study up on it…. maybe you missed it…..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schenck_v._United_States
Calling people Hitler and Stalin is inflamatory speech. To equate Cheney to Stalin and Hitler does a grave disservice to the people who survived the Holocaust… or don’t you believe in that either, Frank?
Deber, keep up the good fight. And remember, it’s not too much longer that they can blame everything on Bush, FOX, or conservatives… pretty soon now they will have to start taking responsibility for themselves.
Frank. Shame on you.
YOu want inflammatory well here goes:
"This war [between liberals and conservatives] has to be fought with the scale
and duration and savagery that is only true of civil wars." – Newt Gingrich
“We’ll defeat them [the democrats] and crush their institutions… a cornered
rat fights. The left is playing for its life and will fight harder than anyone on
the right sees”. – Grover Norquist
“We will not try to reform existing institutions. We only intend to weaken
them and eventually destroy them” – The manifesto of the Paul Weyrich—
inspired New Traditionalist Movement
“There is a cultural war going on for the soul of this country… the issue is
making this God’s country again” Ralph Reed
“Our goal is a Christian nation. We have a biblical duty; we are called by God
to conquer this country.” Randall Terry
Will you join me in a Declaration of War?” “There is no middle ground… the
church is marshalling its forces.” – Fund Raising letter from Jerry Falwell
” We are involved in a “cultural war” for the very soul of America… [We are]
recruiting “soldiers in the army of Christ… [There are] “five key fronts in the
modern-day culture war”– Rev. D. James Kennedy, Coral Ridge Ministries
4
It is dominion we are after, not just a voice. It is dominion we are after, not
just influence. It is dominion we are after, not just equal time. World
conquest. That is what Christ has commissioned us to accomplish.” – George
Grant, former executive director of D. James Kennedy’s Coral Ridge Ministries.
“Man your battle stations. Ready your weapons. They say this rhetoric is so
inciting. I came to incite a riot.…Man your battle stations. Ready your
weapons. Lock and Load.” – Rev. Rod Parsley
“ We ’ re on the beaches of Normandy and we can see the pillbox entre n c h m e n t s
of academic and media liberalism. We’ll take back our country for Christ.”
– Rev. Russell Johnson, head of the Ohio Restoration Pro j e c t .
Rush Limbaugh: “I tell people don’t kill all the liberals. Leave enough so we
can have two on every campus—living fossils—so we we’ll never forget what
these people stood for.”
Ann Coulter: “My only regret with Tim McVeigh is that he did not go to the
New York Timesbuilding”
Bill O’Reilly: “Americans who work against our military once the [Iraq] war is
underway will be considered Enemies of the State by me. Just fair warning to
you, Barbara Streisand, and others who see the world as you do. I don’t want
to demonize anyone, but anyone who hurts this country in a time like this,
well, let’s just say you will be spotlighted.”
Glen Beck: “Hang on, let me just tell you what I’m thinking. I’m thinking
about killing Michael Moore, and I’m wondering if I could kill him myself, or
if I would need to hire somebody to do it. No, I think I could.”
Eric Erickson (Redstate.com): “At what point do [people] get off the couch,
march down to their state legislator’s house, pull him outside and beat him
to a bloody pulp for being an idiot?”
Michael Savage: “I say round liberals up and hang em’ high. When I hear
someone’s in the civil rights business, I oil up my AR-25.”
Dick Morris: “Those crazies in Montana who say ‘we’re going to kill ATF
agents because the UN’s going to take over.’ Well, they’re beginning to have
a case.”
G . G orden Liddy (broadcasting advice on how to kill law enforc e m e n t
officers): “…head-shots, they are wearing body armor, head shots… or shoot
for the groin.”
Now go right ahead and talk to me about inflammatoriness.