Seeing a Catfight Where There Is None

[ProSense]

Seeing a Catfight Where There Is None

By: emptywheel Monday December 10, 2007 10:27 am

Spencer Ackerman has a more complete version of Nancy Pelosi's statement about when she was briefed on torture techniques.

On one occasion, in the fall of 2002, I was briefed on interrogation techniques the Administration was considering using in the future. The Administration advised that legal counsel for the both the CIA and the Department of Justice had concluded that the techniques were legal.

I had no further briefings on the techniques. Several months later, my successor as Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee, Jane Harman, was briefed more extensively and advised the techniques had in fact been employed. It was my understanding at that time that Congresswoman Harman filed a letter in early 2003 to the CIA to protest the use of such techniques, a protest with which I concurred.

And then he makes what I consider a gross misreading of the statement.

One: Pelosi isn't saying that she knew how detainees were interrogated. She's saying she was told that all techniques used in those interrogations were considered legal. So did she know what those techniques were, and what they entailed? We'll find out, or get stonewalled trying.

Two: Never mind the brief mention of Jane Harman's protest. Pelosi just threw Harman under the bus. It's no secret that the two Californians don't get along. But she didn't need to put the blame on her committee successor in her statement on this controversy.

Let's take the key clauses from Nancy's statement. I've bolded them up there in the statement so it's crystal clear that they're direct quotes, written in plain language.

1. I was briefed on interrogation techniques
2. Jane Harman, was briefed more extensively and advised the techniques had in fact been employed
3. Harman filed a letter in early 2003 to the CIA to protest the use of such techniques, a protest with which I concurred

[madinmaryland]

1. I don't see any disagreement between the two reps, either.

There seems to be a lot here that do see friction between the two, based on that artical.

I just see that Pelosi concurs with Harman. Looks like the end of the story to me.

:shrug:

[Captain Hilts]

2. World's worst catfight. nt