WASHINGTON (CNN) – Speaker Nancy Pelosi responded Friday to CIA Director Leon Panetta's public disagreement with her charge that she was misled by the agency on the use of waterboarding and other aggressive interrogation techniques.
"We all share great respect for the dedicated men and women of the intelligence community who are deeply committed to the safety and security of the American people," she said in a statement issued by her office. "My criticism of the manner in which the Bush Administration did not appropriately inform Congress is separate from my respect for those in the intelligence community who work to keep our country safe.
"What is important now is to be united in our commitment to ensuring the security of our country; that, and how Congress exercises its oversight responsibilities, will continue to be my focus as we move forward."
From CNN Politics
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When will politicians realize that it is better to admit to something rather than lie about it and be exposed. What she is doing is to change the question of misconduct from the bush admin and torture to her veracity and competence. As ashamed as I am to admit it, Gingrich is right- it now comes down to her and her honesty and capability to do her job, and to whether or not someody who cannot understand briefings should be allowed to attend them.
This woman is wacky. Now she says she respects the very people she called liars yesterday. It was the Bush Administration that misled and lied to Congress. She had better get herself a new shovel, the one she is using now isn't big enough any more.
Again, these types of stories get us away from the real issue, and that is our government tortured it's prisoners. This Pelosi thing is just a side show...
Nancy, Nancy! Keep on blaming Bush and keep on beating around the bush until you get dizzy and confuse everybody. If you were telling the truth, you would have said just one short sentence. You remind of the Court Jester.
How can anyone take up for this woman? They must be far left wingnuts who can't or won't see what a lier this woman is. She needs to go back to where she came from and stay there. This country would be a lot better off without her.
There was an interview somewhere when Bush was still in office where she said she was sworn to secrecy in those intel meetings, and that she could not object to anything, nor tell anyone. That is why impeachment was never on the table. She knew what was going on but was bound by an oath not to tell...and Bush knew she wouldn't. Now she is stuck, and I almost feel sorry for her.
The bottom line is though, that they did lie to her about WHY they needed to torture people. It was not to protect Americans at all; it was to link Iraq with 9-11 to save their sorry behinds. And it did not work! It never works, and I believe as the real criminals here are brought to account, Pelosi will be found to be just a bit player who really had no options at the time (and maybe not now either.)
I hope the right wing nuts realize that after a full investigation, they are really going to be embarassed by the Bush Administration violating the only reason to use torture: To protect us from an imminent attack, not to try to establish a phony link between Iraq and al Qaeda.
Was Panetta CIA Director under Bush, no. Does he know what went down under Bush's CIA, NO!
Nancy Pelosi is turning out to be quite the tap dancer. If she spent as much time representing the people as working to stay in power, she might have remembered accurately what she had been told and when. I think she ought to take her act on the road and leave the House to people who are serious about their responsibilities.
Are all you right wing nuts upset with Pelosi because she opposed invading Iraq in Bush's phony war?
The debate is over whether or not the president should have the authority to make tough decisions in drastic times.
I say yes, the democrats are diverting attention from the real issue. Obama does not want that responsibility, he is not a leader.
it's time for our President to step in and tell lying pelosi to resign, you can't have it both ways pelosi, you lied and you know that you did, our country's safety is more important than your lies.
I believe there's only two people in this country that believes and supports Nancy Pelsoi...Keith Obermann and Rachel Madcow.
Pelosi and Reid are dinosaurs and not fit to lead in the new post-modern Democratic party. Which is more of a rainbow-world-view than a collection of self-interest groups. Would like to see them replaced with younger, untainted, more global/forward looking people (of color).
Gee-I don't care what Pelosi knew or when, I want those responsible for approving and ordering the torture of prisoners. They have dishonored those who put their lives on the line daily defending our nation and our Consitution, they are less than scum and are on the same level as those we are fighting.
Yeah, sure Nanc. After you sat silent on "Enhanced Interrogation" techniques, and it came out that there was torturing going on, you jumped on the "bad Bush admin was torturing" through 2 elections. And now it is clear that you were aware of them 2002 and ddn't say a word. Then you come out and blame the CIA for lying and misleading congress and now you want to unite after blaming the folks who do this important work to keep your a88 and ours safe.
speaking of a88es,....
Time for Nancy to go. We cannot allow her CYA campaign to deflect attention away from holding Bush Administration war criminals accountable for their actions. Seems likely that she knew what was going on by 2003. She should have joined the tens of millions of us who were screaming bloody murder about the villians who made our nation a nation of torturers.
So when is SHE going to give up her chartered jet? She lynched all the automotive execs but she has her own leased jet for her little communte from Cali to DC...she can fly COACH.
My god. I can not believe some of the comments here.
How can ANYONE defend this lady?
Just look at the way she acts, and look at her body language during the news conference. Please people,,, LISTEN to this woman.
If you want your Democratic President to survive. This lady has to go.
I did not vote for Obama, but I do want him to do well, for the sake of the USA. But I have said it for months, Pelosi will ruin him.
I'm soooooo sick of the Republican Party!
First of all, lets not lose focus on the real problem, and that is TORTURE!! it doesnt matter what pelosi knew and when. There is nothing she could have done to stop bush and company from torturing people. many protests were submitted to Bush by the democrats to stop torturing. We dont need to be investigating pelosi on what she knew, we need to be investigating the former bush admin officials and prosecuting them!!!!!!! Republicans broke the law and thats the bottom line!!
Try to remember that when the breifings were supposed to have happend Leon Panetta was not the CIA director. So why wouldn't the CIA lie when they watched Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Powell lie to the nation, who cares about a few politicians, they have little value in the game of life.
My god Pelosi is a liar. Either that or she is senile. She knows the libtards with believe her regardless though. Let's look at what she actually said.
Q: Madame Speaker, just to be clear, you are accusing the CIA of lying to you in September 2002?
A: Yes, of misleading the Congress of the United States. Misleading the Congress of the United States.
What is important now is to run this lying, dishonest politician out of office. Are you California voters listening to her deceitful testimony:?
I agree with David Brooks observation today that her press conference accusing the CIA of misleading Congress was "pathetic", but I disagree with David Gergen's overly charitable view that either she or Panetta is lying. This insufferable woman is lying.