Pelosi And The Torture Briefings

By Steve Hynd

A report which strongly suggests that Nancy Pelosi and other key Dems knew a lot more than they've admitted about the Bush administrations' torturous ways has been leaked within minutes of it hitting Congress, by those with a vested interest in implicating their opponents. That a covering letter saying the report may or may not be trustworthy wasn't leaked at the same time just proves the leakers were furthering an agenda.

But Josh Marshall has it right: let's not fool ourselves.

Speaking for myself though I'd be very surprised if the key Democrats at the time weren't briefed on a lot of this stuff. And to the extent that they didn't know the details, that it might have been not wanting to know rather than having been kept in the dark.

If it turns out that the Democrats in leadership were really kept wholly in the dark about this stuff, that'd be nice to know, I guess. I'd like to think they're not compromised. But expecting or hoping for that strikes me as a recipe for disappointment and eventual special pleading in their defense.

I'd add that if Pelosi and others knew details that made it obvious torture was being carried out - and they probably did - I would have no mercy in my heart for them. They would be complicit accessories, just as guilty by their silence as those who ordered, carried out or wrote legalistic mumbo-jumbo justifying these criminal acts.

Josh calls for a Truth Commission, "probably one that at least on first blush is not about assigning blame or recommending punishment but simply finding out, in as disinterested a manner as possible, just what happened and who knew and okayed it". But that crimes were committed is clear. A prosecutor is what's needed and let the chips (and bipartisan indictments) fall where they may.

Comments

[geoff]

I don't believe any gov't statement military or not, maybe I should say I'm very very skeptical instead of don't believe. However I'm generally confused by the game playing about killing civilians. It seems to me the only place the bs statements would have any effect are in the homeland, amongst true believers and MSM types, so why lie since absolutely no one believes anything occupying forces say in the place they are occupying. The damage from this latest demonstration of fiasco warfare was done I expect within hours after the bombs were dropped. So is the point to actually terrify the local population. I'm thinking it is just that but stories are needed for the home audience to feel good and continue believing in the myth of bravery, service, dedication. The deaths are always there were really only 1 or 2 not the 10, 20, 30 , 100 civilians claimed by families and their deaths were because the taliban were using people as shields etc. etc. etc..

If the insane group responsible for the NYC 9/11 segment investigated the outcome of that atrocity, I suspect they might concluded that there were not approximately 3,000 people killed when the towers fell there were only 250 as that was maybe the number of complete bodies recovered. Of the 250 most were wearing red suspenders and thus members of a financial institution and likely receive very very large bonuses. There were 1 or 2 poor souls who were kitchen or janitorial staff identified by clothing who were forced, at barely liveable wages, to serve the white collar crowd.

It's fun to imagine alternatives.

[geoff]

Even thought I've just now poured myself a whisky I seemed to have trouble getting my comment with the correct entry, sorry. My comment above should be under this note. Sorry, again.

[geoff]

Now for my real comment to this entry, have you seen this disturbing CNN item from a few days ago. I would think the result could play well from skilled hands that like to fiddle, eh.

"See I told you Americans/Westeners don't care about law and justice. They only care about being brutal to Muslims who they hate and torture. Did they torture anyone who wasn't a Muslim or dark skinned?"

Boy someone could work the results of that poll that into a nice little conspiracy theory.

Also, unfortunately, it could mean that there would be in the future, Obama aside - maybe he is an anomaly, real suspicion and caution in dealing with Americans (viewed internally as anti-Americanism could get a solid foothold - gads to be know as the enemies of all humankind maybe a title to aspire to within some places but I think those places are only in the middle of North America. I don't think this would be a good thing generally for all us humans.

[distributorcap]

there is so much more to this --- being the skeptic i am - i believe this is precisely why impeachment, trials, commissions etc are all off the table

[zenpundit]

"I'd add that if Pelosi and others knew details that made it obvious torture was being carried out - and they probably did..."

Of course she knew. How could she not know when career employee managers have a vested CYA interest in making sure the chairman and ranking minority member are clearly, comprehensively and repeatedly informed about any activities that could potentially cause the career manager to be scapegoated later on. These fifty to sixty something guys went through the Church-Pike hearings and the Iran-Contra-Hearings and learned that pols are not trustworthy masters.

Imagine, further, if a career employee type or especially an appointee, was also caught intentionally having kept the minority in the dark about controversial operations. Everybody was briefed on IC committees except those who flat out refused to be.