Key Democrats Knew, Did Not Object to U.S. Torture Policy

by: Dark Wraith

Updated Decemeber 10, 2007, at 4:00 p.m. EDT Here's the joke for the evening: What's the difference between a Republican and a Democrat? The Republican thinks you're too stupid to care; the Democrat thinks you're too stupid to know.

It turns out that Reps. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Jane Harman (D-CA), and Sens. Bob Graham (D-FL) and John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV), were all extensively, thoroughly, and fully briefed in 2002 by the CIA about its overseas torture programs. Moreover, not only did none of them raise any objections other than for a minor, mealy-mouthed whine from Harman, but apparently someone in the group wanted to know if the CIA could push any harder on the detainees.

Words cannot even begin to adequately describe these appalling conspirators masquerading as some kind of actual opposition to the outrageousness of the Bush Administration.

The Republicans were right: leading Democrats knew all along that the United States was violating federal law, flouting international treaties, and acting against civilized standards of conduct; and here those pandering, craven conspirators—yes, conspirators—are, now acting like somehow they're not every bit as culpable and, indeed, guilty.

Now, be sure to go out and vote for some more Democrats. Let's take this country back from the Republicans. Let's put it in the hands of people who can still make you believe their lies.

Whatever gets you through the night, people.


The Dark Wraith is delighted to have made it to a century that offers no illusion of daylight.

Update: Pelosi Statement on Washington Post Report on Congressional Briefing of Administration Interrogation Techniques

Washington, D.C. -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement on a report in today's Washington Post about a congressional briefing on Administration interrogation 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."



The following, derived from commentary on the comments thread of the original story here at Big Brass Blog, is the writer's rebuttal:

First, let's go with Rep. Pelosi's statement: "The Administration advised that legal counsel for the both the CIA and the Department of Justice had concluded that the techniques were legal."

She saw the techniques for herself, including what by any legal standard is torture, and she is now claiming that, because counsel for those conducting and supporting the torture told her it was legal, she is not culpable.

That dog don't bark; that dog don't even whimper.

Absolutely not. She says she was briefed; her defense of her legislative conduct subsequently is thus: CIA lawyers, supported by John "Geneva Is Quaint" Yoo at Justice, told her they were doing legal things.

Now, let's get to the beauty: "[M]y successor as Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee, Jane Harman, was briefed more extensively..."

Caught and headed for the frying pan, Rep. Pelosi insists that the other furry creature is really the one we want for dinner.

And by the way, claiming she "...was briefed on interrogation techniques the Administration was considering using in the future" would make her a conspirator before the fact (were I to believe her now that she needs to spin what she seemed unable to recall until her enemies handed her her own two-faced backside). Conspiracy before the fact is considerably more serious than conspiracy after the fact.

The Dark Wraith wonders exactly who's handing these Democrats the shovel they're using so effectively to dig their own graves.