The Pelosi distraction

Peter Brooks:

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Fact is, we'll probably never really know what happened in those CIA briefings to Capitol Hill, because the records of the meetings are likely based on notes scribbled by the staff in attendance.

But the reality is that this brouhaha is more about politics than about our national security -- and that's a shame.

The effort by those on the Left to reach back and possibly punish those who were involved in keeping this country safe in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks is just downright wrongheaded -- and will only hurt our national security.

For instance, the last thing Panetta needs is to be distracted by a battle royal with the speaker of the House. He has a real job to do in advising the president daily on the threats this country faces.

We need the CIA focused on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, catching Osama bin Laden and monitoring Iranian and North Korean nuclear and missile programs, to name just a few extremely pressing problems, not wasting time on what happened years ago in a congressional briefing room.

This incident must also be having a chilling effect on the morale at CIA headquarters in Langley and in the field, where there are probably worries that a witch hunt reminiscent of the late 1970s might be in the offing.

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But the mixed signals now coming from liberals in Congress, including talk of a "truth commission," is leading those who go in harm's way to protect the US to question whether we are moving on -- or if it's time to seek legal counsel.

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Our national security is earned one tough day at a time by brave, well-intentioned Americans. We can't allow some on the Left to kick around their efforts like a political football, distracting them from the important tasks at hand.

If we do, there is sure to be a price to be paid.

The Democrats pushing this mess are more interested in politics than national security. They have a misguided belief in their own righteousness, which includes a faith that their moral preening will impress our enemies. We paid a heavy price for that on 9-11.