After Claiming He Couldn’t ‘Imagine’ The CIA ‘Would Mislead Us,’ Boehner Acknowledges They May Have
After Claiming He Couldn’t ‘Imagine’ The CIA ‘Would Mislead Us,’ Boehner Acknowledges They May Have
Last week, after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) asserted in a press conference that she believed the CIA had misled her in a briefing on interrogation, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) scoffed at the idea that the CIA could have been dishonest. “It’s hard for me to imagine that anyone in the intelligence areas would mislead us,” said Boehner in his own press conference.
But on CNN today, Boehner acknowledged that members of his own party, such as Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI), have previously accused the CIA of lying to Congress. Pressed by Wolf Blitzer, Boehner did not disagree with Hoekstra’s allegation that the CIA lied to Congress in a previous case:
BOEHNER: Pete Hoekstra did say that. And the Inspector General at the CIA did an investigation and it became clear that some CIA operatives did in fact cover this up. This is not, we’re talking about two different issues here. All the facts in this case are on the table and the truth is now known to all, to everyone.
BLITZER: So, based on what you know on that case involving Hoekstra, the case he was interested in. Do you agree that the CIA then lied to Congress?
BOEHNER: I know as much about this case as Pete Hoekstra does and the Inspector General did in fact do an investigation, produced a report and frankly supported, I think, Pete’s claims.
Watch it:
As Boehner’s acknowledgment makes clear, the idea that the CIA could potentially mislead Congress is not beyond the realm of possibility. In fact, in a speech today, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), a former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, argued that “the CIA has a very bad record when it comes…to honesty. It goes back a long time.” He supported his point by citing “a handful of examples in the past where the CIA has withheld key information from Congress.”
Transcript:
BLITZER: Last year, the ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, Pete Hoekstra of Michigan, he said this in response to a case that he was watching very closely, an American citizen who was killed in a plane crash, a cover up-alleged involving the CIA. He said these words: “We cannot have an intelligence community that covers up what it does and then lies to Congress.” That’s what Pete Hoekstra said in 2008.BOEHNER: Pete Hoekstra did say that. And the Inspector General at the CIA did an investigation and it became clear that some CIA operatives did in fact cover this up. This is not, we’re talking about two different issues here. All the facts in this case are on the table and the truth is now known to all, to everyone.
BLITZER: So, based on what you know on that case involving Hoekstra, the case he was interested in. Do you agree that the CIA then lied to Congress?
BOEHNER: I know as much about this case as Pete Hoekstra does and the Inspector General did in fact do an investigation, produced a report and frankly supported, I think, Pete’s claims. And all we’re trying to do here in both cases is to get to the bottom, and get to the truth. And it’s the truth that we want here. And the fact is is that CIA director Panetta issued a very strong letter to Speaker Pelosi, making it clear that in his opinion they did not mislead her or lie to her. And so I want to either see the documents or see the speaker apologize.
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As Boehner’s acknowledgment makes clear, the idea that the CIA could potentially mislead Congress is not beyond the realm of possibility
– - What’s also not beyond the realm of possibility is the GOP becoming a legitimate political party anytime in the forseeable future.
May 20th, 2009 at 6:50 pmThe CIA has a long history of misleading. Recall the Bay of Pigs?
http://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2009/05/that-truth-telling-cia.html
May 20th, 2009 at 6:50 pmok. … from that first link:
May 15, 2009
Reporting from Washington — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday accused the Bush administration and the CIA of misleading Congress about waterboarding prisoners, escalating a political fight with Republicans over her knowledge of the treatment of detainees.
that’s what i thought!
on ed the other night, david ignatius was criticizing her for offending the PANETTA CIA… ed caught it, but didn’t push it…
May 20th, 2009 at 6:58 pmis he going for another round? what?
i can’t get a direct link to the video, but look for “Pelosi’s Case Strengthens?”, 5/19, after clicking on any video here:
May 20th, 2009 at 7:06 pmhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30031533/
The CIA is a terrorist organization. It has been torturing and murdering residents of the third world for the last fifty-five years. Go back and study their crimes in Vietnam and South-east Asia in the 1960s and 1960s: it will open your innocent eyes…
May 20th, 2009 at 7:10 pmExactly, James Sayre. Have you read Alfred McCoy?
http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/1795/alfred_mccoy_on_the_cia_s_road_to_abu_ghraib
You know what I can’t imagine John Boehner?
A straight man spending so much time at the tanning salon.
May 20th, 2009 at 7:20 pmBut Boehner couldn’t imagine the CIA lying to Congress?!
May 20th, 2009 at 7:20 pmThis is why I believed Nancy Pelosi from day one. Boehner and his posse of thuglicans have stirred up this shyte storm without any evidence of Pelosi’s involvement.
In fact, in a speech today, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA),
Dog, Tp, put it in bold or sumpthin, will ‘ya? Give us some warning. Casually reading that made my eyes cross momentarily, and I threw up in my mouth, a bit.
May 20th, 2009 at 7:26 pmWhat is it with this guy and his pink ties?
May 20th, 2009 at 7:27 pmLike the Federal Reserve Bank, the CIA is a government unto itself, arrogant, unaccountable, secretive, corrupt, devious and criminal. This state of affairs evolved in defiance of the Constitution’s checks and balances and has led to bad policies that have severely damaged our country. It’s long past time for a thorough Church Committee-type inquiry and remedial legislation, combined with prosecution of those who committed crimes under color of authority.
May 20th, 2009 at 7:35 pmIf these nitwits would just spend half as much time actually doing their job as they spend on trying to convince people that they are doing their job, they might — just might — accomplish something.
I can only begin to imagine the feigned outrage that Democrats would inspire if they behaved this way.
May 20th, 2009 at 7:40 pmIt must be a slow news day: someone is listening to Boehner again. Who was the lucky person who managed to catch him sober?
May 20th, 2009 at 7:43 pmI think Boner is saying that the CIA does lie to GNOPers, but claims that the CIA lies to the Dems are outrageous, and Pelosi has slandered the great CIA and should step down.
Do I have that right?
PEACE
May 20th, 2009 at 7:49 pmspencers mom – yes I believe you got that JUST right!
May 20th, 2009 at 7:51 pmBoehner is just singing The Republican Theme Song. It’s the only way they know to discuss the issues.
May 20th, 2009 at 7:51 pmI find it interesting and frustrating when folks like Boehner or anyone else refer to a huge organization like the CIA as one person or entity, and not individuals in that entity.
There are persons who are now lying about what Nancy Pelosi knew way back when. But the entire CIA is not–can not–be lying. There are PLENTY of honest operatives working at the CIA…Valerie Plame, anyone?
No, these are Dick Cheney’s dead-ender spooks who have all the cable news gasbags in a he-said-she-said uproar. It means nothing. Nancy Pelosi is NOT in any legal trouble. She’s in POLITICAL trouble because she did not, and COULD not stop Bush from torturing terror suspects. If she had said anything or done anything, she would have been charged, BY BUSH, for revealing a classified secret.
Don’t let anyone tell you anything different. Forget this issue, because in six months it will either disappear, or it will be the basis for bringing charges on Bush & CO. Either or…
May 20th, 2009 at 7:54 pmPinko ties.
May 20th, 2009 at 8:04 pmI love the irony of Arlen “Single Bullet Theory” Specter calling the FBI dishonest. Like the kettle calling the pot black.
May 20th, 2009 at 8:22 pmRepublicans need to come up with a device that lets them know whether they are “coming” or “going”. They seem unable to figure this out on their own.
May 20th, 2009 at 8:33 pmHey, Mr. Tangerine Man
May 20th, 2009 at 8:37 pmFlip a Flop for me.
Another cow gas moment from Boner. Nothing new. Just another Boner bonerhead moment from Mr. Tan man.
May 20th, 2009 at 8:51 pmBoner is like a political zombie who has had his brain eaten.
May 20th, 2009 at 9:21 pmHe doesn’t even come close to making sense.
I anticipate apologies will be forthcoming.
Perhaps I shouldn’t hold my breath.
May 20th, 2009 at 9:25 pmIOKIYAR
IOKIYAR
IOKIYAR
Hypocrisy, thy name is Republican.
May 20th, 2009 at 9:56 pmWhat I don’t understand (being a sensible and sane reality-based life form, of course) is that all this hue and cry about Nancy Pelosi creates diametrically opposing conclusions:
IF – Nancy Pelosi is guilty of covering up torture…
THEN – the Bush Crime Family is guilty of ordering the torture Nancy allegedly covered up.
I don’t get it.
But then again, I’m not a Republican. (Fervent thanks to FSM!!!!)
May 20th, 2009 at 9:57 pmLeftside Annie Says:
What I don’t understand (being a sensible and sane reality-based life form, of course) is that all this hue and cry about Nancy Pelosi creates diametrically opposing conclusions:
IF – Nancy Pelosi is guilty of covering up torture…
THEN – the Bush Crime Family is guilty of ordering the torture Nancy allegedly covered up.
I don’t get it.
Yes, you’ve got it. It’s the Republicans who don’t get it yet. But don’t forget, they also insist that what we did wasn’t “torture.”
So, in reality, according to what they Republicans have been saying, Nancy Pelosi is guilty of covering up the fact that we were not torturing people. And she ought to resign for that.
Got it now? ;)
Where does the Republican National Committee find these candidates?
May 20th, 2009 at 10:04 pmAlexLawyer Says:
Like the Federal Reserve Bank, the CIA is a government unto itself, arrogant, unaccountable, secretive, corrupt, devious and criminal. This state of affairs evolved in defiance of the Constitution’s checks and balances and has led to bad policies that have severely damaged our country. It’s long past time for a thorough Church Committee-type inquiry and remedial legislation, combined with prosecution of those who committed crimes under color of authority.
May 20th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
I am in 100% agreement with you on all points, AlexLawyer. I believe that you have summed up the scope of the problem and its resolution quite succinctly. Nicely done!
May 20th, 2009 at 10:05 pmIs the CIA an unnecessary relic of the Cold War?
May 20th, 2009 at 10:17 pmI don’t know how Wolf Blitzer could stand looking at that gigantic orange face of John Boehner. I’d puke.
May 20th, 2009 at 10:21 pmWayne Ant Schneider Says:
Leftside Annie Says:
What I don’t understand (being a sensible and sane reality-based life form, of course) is that all this hue and cry about Nancy Pelosi creates diametrically opposing conclusions:
IF – Nancy Pelosi is guilty of covering up torture…
THEN – the Bush Crime Family is guilty of ordering the torture Nancy allegedly covered up.
I don’t get it.
Yes, you’ve got it. It’s the Republicans who don’t get it yet. But don’t forget, they also insist that what we did wasn’t “torture.”
So, in reality, according to what they Republicans have been saying, Nancy Pelosi is guilty of covering up the fact that we were not torturing people. And she ought to resign for that.
Got it now? ;)
OoooOOOoooh, Wayne!! My head is spinning!!!!!
May 20th, 2009 at 10:48 pmThe clumsy presentation of Boehner’s today illustrates the extent Republicans will stretch a vague point to deflect culpability. Considering the gravity of the topic, the congressional Republicans may be attempting a preemptive move to cover their own members. This could account for the Pelosi focus.
May 20th, 2009 at 11:19 pmThe Cheney/Bush accountability for the torture policy is shaping up to be very serious and an early disconnect by congressional Republicans from Cheney/Bush is designed at damage control. The focus on Pelosi may be the only move the congressional Republicans have, as clumsy as it may be. The other attempted at legitimizing the policy has failed the public opinion test (may just of backfired).
The focus on Pelosi may tarnish the representative, but the net result will be a greater focus on Cheney/Bush and the appointment of a special prosecutor.
When Leon Panetta released the CIA report on torture he prefaced that with “our contemporaneous records”. What does Panetta mean when using such language. Well, it means that is was a reconstruction from recollection. Why was this necessary. Because there is no official record, making this a he said/she said episode. What else did these contemporaneous records produce. Well, for one thing, the 2002 account contains language not developed by the CIA until 2006. This means that the CIA is still lying about what went on inside the CIA during this critical period by making the report into a self-serving document to cover their arse. The more these details emerge the more this story will turn back to the real issues, i.e., how the policy on torture emerged and how it was put into practice. This is where the focus belongs and the sooner this happens the better.
May 20th, 2009 at 11:36 pmIS IT POSSIBLE THAT THERE CAN BE THIS MANY PEOPLE THIS STUPID?
I do not believe so. The Republican would have the American people think they honestly believe the bullsh*t they recite from talking points on a daily basis. Channeling what they conceive is the mantra of Ronald Reagan they simple repeat the same theories and campaign slogans from the 1980’s as if the world has stood still. In actuality they are not even advocating Reagan’s policies which leads me to believe they were using him too. They want us to believe they are authentic and sincere but they won’t stop stealing and practicing hypocrisy. We, as a people cannot, neither should we suspend commonsense in the desire of having a two party system. Maybe if they stop lying, if the male members would stop having sex with young boys, if the female members would stop talking like they’re on a bad acid trip (Michelle Bachman), if they would stop wiring tax dollars to their best friends (Haliburton, KBR, Blackwater), stop allowing natural disasters to overtake the citizenry (Katrina) and just simply stop lying so damn much, we would entertain the thought of allowing them back in the game. But alas, they are unable to do any of the above. I think we will have to just wait until this generation of Republicans dies off and hopefully the next generation will be better.
This is 2009, a magnificent brilliant young man has taken the reins of power in the United States and they act as if it’s the year of Jimmy Carter. He consistently runs rings around them in the political arena and they stand still chanting the same thing as if mesmerized by some belief that if they just keep repeating it he will miraculously disappear. It’s literally unbelievable. Had I been stationed in a foreign country, as I was from 70-73 and come back home and somebody told me this had happened I would not believe them. It’s incredulous!
Every week they think they have tricked him into looking bad but their little stupid tricks backfire on them each time. They remind me of the gang that just couldn’t shoot straight.
I by no means expect them to simply lay down and let Mr. Obama have his way with them but this is ridiculous. They are putting up no sane challenge. All of their weapons are antiquated and rusty. Their gunpowder is soaking wet. Their shields were developed before the dawn of armor piecing bullets and this young man is annihilating them. He embarrasses them at will. Most of the time it appears he makes a conscious effort to try and NOT make them look too bad in public. We have basically become a one party country and we will be until this new political master gets tired of playing the game or serves his constitutionally limited two terms, whichever comes first. I really fear he will tire of them out of sheer boredoom before eight years are up. It’s almost child abuse to watch Mr. Obama interact with them on the world stage. All over Europe people are shaking their heads in unbelief. Israel’s prime Minister came this week and was so taken back by this new President he was almost speechless. He came half thinking he might be able to roll him like he had done American Presidents in the past and was dumbfounded. Instead of meeting a man who would allow him to promote policies that were completely unfair to the rest of the Middle East he faced a man who calmly explained to him how he was being unreasonable and unfair and that we would no longer support Israel bullying their neighbors while receiving gifts of multiple weapon program and foreign aid at the American taxpayer expense. It was incredible. Netanyahu knew much better than to argue with the President so he left pouting, like a little boy who had been taken to the woodshed. AMERICA IS BACK AND IT FEELS SO GOOD, SO DAMN
May 21st, 2009 at 12:35 amdhampton100 at 33 I agree with you 100%.
May 21st, 2009 at 12:53 amBoehner wants to see the documents, all the while knowing that Peolosi was not allowed to keep any records or documents about the briefing.
May 21st, 2009 at 1:15 amThe Republican Party is like a zombie–basically dead, but still capable of doing harm.
May 21st, 2009 at 5:46 amGulf of Tonkin?
Iran-Contra?
Weren’t these huge deceptions with far-reaching ramifications?
I don’t think we can know all of the less-notorious incidents.
But to flatly say that the CIA should never be questioned, nor do they ever lie to the public is simply ridiculous on its face.
May 21st, 2009 at 7:55 amBoehner has not one single shred of credibility remaining. He is a disgrace to Congress and his party.
May 21st, 2009 at 8:14 amOf course they lie. They are spies and that’s what they are trained to do for a living. It’s just part of the job. No surprises here.
May 21st, 2009 at 8:21 amI’m surprised he didn’t break down and start crying.
May 21st, 2009 at 9:06 amPanetta’s statement that it is not the policy of the CIA to lie to Congress is not incongruent with with the truth as policies are merely aspirational. A policy often is not acheived in reality and you know there are rogue elements that are staying in the CIA just to give the new Chief Executive and Congress fits, if nothing else worhtwhile to them, and who would willingly shirk the policy.
May 21st, 2009 at 9:08 amwmhogg Says:
Boehner wants to see the documents, all the while knowing that Peolosi was not allowed to keep any records or documents about the briefing.
Boner is a dick.
May 21st, 2009 at 10:31 amAm with Pelosi. Screw Newt, The CIA, The Lazy ASS Media and for sure SCREW the republicans!!!
May 21st, 2009 at 2:48 pm“Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), a former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, argued that “the CIA has a very bad record when it comes…to honesty. It goes back a long time.”
What organization takes the “Understatement of the Year” nominations?
May 22nd, 2009 at 2:01 am