Congress 'shares' blame for interrogation row

Eli Lake and Bill Gertz:

In a rare gesture, House intelligence committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes sent a letter this week to all CIA employees suggesting that Congress shared some blame for the CIA interrogation controversy and should play a more robust role in the intelligence policymaking process.

The letter, which was sent Wednesday and made available to The Washington Times on Thursday, appeared to undercut remarks by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that there was little Congress could do about harsh interrogations, including waterboarding. The Times reported last month that members of Congress, including Mrs. Pelosi, California Democrat, had been briefed on numerous occasions about the interrogation program for high-value detainees.

"One important lesson to me from the CIA's interrogation operations involves congressional oversight," wrote Mr. Reyes, Texas Democrat. "I'm going to examine closely ways in which we can change the law to make our own oversight of CIA more meaningful; I want to move from mere notification to real discussion. Good oversight can lead to a partnership, and that's what I am looking to bring about."

The letter both seeks to excuse Democrats who were briefed after Sept. 11, 2001, about interrogation techniques such as waterboarding and at the same time suggests that members of Congress cleared to receive highly classified material have a responsibility in the future to let their criticisms be known.

The budgeting process for the intelligence community gives members of the oversight committees authority to withhold funding for activities without disclosing classified programs. Nonetheless, last week, Mrs. Pelosi said of the briefings she received between 2002 and 2006, "They don't come in to consult. They come in to notify."

In the letter, Mr. Reyes expressed support for rank-and-file CIA employees.

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I think this is another recognition that Democrats know their position is a screw up that is deeply unpopular at the CIA. In seeking to excuse Democrats it is typical of how they always try to avoid responsibility. It further lowers my respect for the Democrats in Congress who would put Americans at risk to avoid discomforting our enemies.

Jed Babbin confirms my speculation on the Democrat screw up.

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... what apparently pushed her into a panic was the feedback she and other Democrats are getting from the CIA. Pelosi learned that her actions, and those of President Obama and other Democrats over the past ninety days have so damaged CIA morale that the agency’s ability to function could be in danger.

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Babbin also analyzes the rest of the letter. Democrats know they are in trouble with the CIA and with the public on this issue. They should be worried about the voters reaction to their destruction of our intelligence gathering ability. If there is another attack that we don't stop, it is own them.