by Greg Miller
Congressional leaders were briefed repeatedly on the CIA's use of severe interrogation methods on Al Qaeda suspects, according to new information released by the Obama administration Thursday that appears to contradict the assertions of House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
The records describe dozens of congressional briefings about CIA decisions that since have emerged as major sources of controversy -- including the agency's use of waterboarding and its destruction of videotapes of interrogation sessions.
A chart compiled by the CIA indicates that Pelosi (D-San Francisco) was briefed on Sept. 4, 2002, on the agency's interrogation of alleged Al Qaeda operative Abu Zubaydah, and that the session covered "the particular [enhanced interrogation techniques] that had been employed." The chart does not list the specific methods covered during the briefing. But during the preceding month, the CIA had used the simulated drowning technique known as waterboarding on Abu Zubaydah at least 83 times, according to a Justice Department memo released last month.
Pelosi has acknowledged being briefed on the CIA's interrogation program, but said she was told only about methods the agency was considering, not about techniques it had actually employed.
As recently as a week ago, Pelosi said, "We were not -- I repeat were not -- told that waterboarding or any of these other enhanced interrogation methods were used."
Brendan Daly, a spokesman for Pelosi, disputed the CIA's account. "As this document shows, the speaker was briefed only once, in September 2002," he said Thursday. "The briefers described these techniques, said they were legal, but said that waterboarding had not been used."
See the full report on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's CIA briefings in Tribune newsapers and here in the Swamp:
The CIA declined to comment on why the chart does not make it clear whether waterboarding was covered in the Pelosi briefing. But a federal official familiar with the list indicated that the agency's records may not have been that specific. "The descriptions don't go beyond what the records themselves say," said the official, who requested anonymity when discussing intelligence matters.
Republican congressional officials familiar with the document and other still-classified records on congressional briefings said it would have been negligent for CIA briefers to fail to mention the use of waterboarding after Abu Zubaydah had been subjected to the method so extensively.
Overall, the chart describes 40 briefings over a seven-year period during which CIA and other U.S. intelligence officials described the agency's interrogation program to senior lawmakers.
The records were requested by congressional Republicans, who have accused Democrats on Capitol Hill of hypocrisy for expressing outrage in recent weeks over the CIA's use of harsh interrogation methods after the release of Justice Department memos describing them in detail.
Porter J. Goss, former House Republican and former CIA director, wrote last month in an opinion piece that he was "slack-jawed to read that members claim to have not understood that the techniques on which they were briefed were to actually be employed; or that specific techniques such as 'waterboarding' were never mentioned." Goss described the lawmakers' claims as "a disturbing epidemic of amnesia."
Goss attended the September 2002 briefing with Pelosi in what the records indicate was the first time congressional officials were told about the so-called enhanced interrogation program. At the time, Goss was chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and Pelosi was the panel's ranking Democrat.
In other entries on the chart, waterboarding is specifically mentioned. In February 2003, for example, the records indicate that Sens. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.) were told about the agency's interrogation methods "in considerable detail," including "how the waterboard was used." Roberts was chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee at the time, and Rockefeller was ranking Democrat. In recent years, Rockefeller has been an outspoken critic of the CIA's interrogation program.
"Sen. Rockefeller was briefed but was not presented with the full picture, nor was he told critical information that would have cast significant doubt on the program's legality and effectiveness," said Jamie Smith, a Rockefeller spokeswoman. "With more information coming to light in 2004, Sen. Rockefeller became increasingly concerned about the program, and in early 2005 he launched a full-scale effort to investigate. The Senate Intelligence Committee's review is ongoing, and he believes it is critically important that there be a full accounting of the Bush administration's interrogation policies."
The records indicate that Rep. Jane Harman (D-Venice) and other lawmakers were told in early 2003 that the CIA intended to destroy videotapes of interrogation sessions. Harman, then the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, has said that she sent a letter to the agency at the time warning that doing so was a "bad idea." The tapes were destroyed in 2005, after the scandal over detainee abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.
Although the records describe early briefings on the CIA program, they also indicate that the operation was shielded from the vast majority of lawmakers for years. It wasn't until September 2006, four years after Goss and Pelosi initially were briefed, that the agency's interrogation program was described to the full House and Senate intelligence committees.
Richard Simon contributed to this report.
Comments
Democrats and politicians alike - be warned! The Prez is out to eliminate any threat to his power and chances for re-election. Even those in his own party.
Posted by: Paul | May 8, 2009 8:37 AM
Gee, it seems she lied. Is anyone surprised?
Here's a WP link on it too:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2009/05/cia_says_pelosi_was_briefed_on.html
and here’s a list of some other Democrats who were briefed:
http://www.humanevents.com/downloads-pdfs/EIT%20Briefings.pdf
You see names like Harry Reid, Diane Feinstein, Russ Feingold, Carl Levin, Jan Schakowsky, Jerrold Nadler, etc. – and many were briefed multiple times.
Just considering Pelosi, when you consider what she is lying about, she should resign.
Posted by: Alz | May 8, 2009 8:45 AM
she is a woman and a democrat she can deny and lie as much as she wants. "I never had prior knowledge." blah blahh republicans the britich and the chinese often step down quickly and avoid the embarrassment for their party. Plenty of GOP casualties over th years,
Perception is reality.
Posted by: jeffs | May 8, 2009 8:49 AM
Would Nan Nan be a "go along girl" for torture and destruction of evidence?
She has been curiously silent on the subject since 2002, right?
She's just another example why the idea of gender as the #1 criterion for selection to anything is a terrible idea.
She's lucky the rest of the House "leadership" is so weak--no one dare challenge her.
Hoyer would have made a far more credible Speaker.
Posted by: Milton Friedman | May 8, 2009 8:54 AM
With Mr. Obama in WH and Democrats majority in Congress terrorists can finally sleep sound.
Posted by: TAD | May 8, 2009 9:00 AM
Some one seems to be lying, America wonders who.
Posted by: Inky | May 8, 2009 9:00 AM
Just goes to prove the duplicity of the Dems. The scream about "torture" when they knowingly went along with it. "Hypocrite" is such an inadequate word.
Posted by: Just some guy | May 8, 2009 9:01 AM
If Pelosi or any other Democrat knew and did nothing in response, then they should answer for it, just the same as the Republicans.
This is not a partisan issue.
Posted by: Liz | May 8, 2009 9:13 AM
Nancy Pelosi is a bald faced liar. She knew. This is the leadership of the "party" and shows the dangerous path we are on.
Posted by: Red Blooded American | May 8, 2009 9:17 AM
Even with the truth staring you in the face, deny, deny, deny!
Posted by: springfield | May 8, 2009 9:18 AM
This women is delusional!. On top of that she's also incompetent. This women would not know the truth if it hit her between the eyes. Do the right thing step down!. Now, would be a good time.
Posted by: Paul | May 8, 2009 9:36 AM
This would mean that Pelosi is a liar.
.
Wasn't Clinton impeached for that?
Posted by: Greg | May 8, 2009 9:41 AM
Pelosi, just another politician with a "selective memory" I'm sure the CIA told them all what they were doing, when and to who. I don't believe Pelosi when she say she was not informed of the interrogation methods being used. "Selective Memory" in my book is called LYING !
Posted by: AEM | May 8, 2009 9:48 AM
It seems that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has the virus that affects many Politicians and that is loss of memory. Another virus she has caught is to deny everything. That second virus has been caught by many of our own Chicago Politicians. Those two viruses have not been caught by a vast majority of the General Population. The Public has been affected by a third virus and that is be indifferent or believe everything our elected officials, like Nancy Pelosi said, even when they are caught in a Big Lie.
Posted by: Depot Jim | May 8, 2009 9:56 AM
Would some one tell what power a "ranking member" has. Nice title, but of no value in determing policy. Just ask the current GOP members.
Posted by: Jack O'Dowd | May 8, 2009 9:59 AM
Put Pelosi under oath! This way when she lies, she can be removed from office.
Posted by: TA | May 8, 2009 9:59 AM
Would some one tell what power a "ranking member" has. Nice title, but of no value in determing policy. Just ask the current GOP members.
Posted by: Jack O'Dowd | May 8, 2009 10:00 AM
Perhaps Condi and Nancy can share a cell.
Posted by: Flo | May 8, 2009 10:03 AM
Pelosi is either lying or incompetent...I suspect both
Posted by: DB Cooper | May 8, 2009 10:04 AM
She can cling to the bottom of the Obamabus with the rest of the Obama supporter's he tossed there during the campaign.
His 20 + year preacher and spitual mentor Rev. Wright, his 20 + year campaign bundler, friend and confidant Tony Rezko, his friend and terrorist Billy Ayers and let's not forget, his grandmother.
Hey Don F. what's the body count today in Afghanistan? still writing to your buddy Barry to get them out safe - NOW!
Posted by: springfield | May 8, 2009 10:06 AM
Any member of congress, regardless of party, needs to be called to the carpet for this. This is totally unacceptable. Anyone who knew and did nothing is complicit. The US signed two treaties after WW11 stating specifically that we would not use waterboarding as an interrogation technique. It's the law and we deliberately broke it. I am firmly convinced that Cheney was the catalyst behind the implementation of all of this. He needs to be held accountable.
We are better than this.
Posted by: Mr. Wright | May 8, 2009 10:11 AM
While the article does not mention that it was venerable Democrat Leon Panetta, head of the CIA, who released the report indicting the honesty of his co-Californian Pelosi, it is nonetheless a key point. The question raised is whether Obama, through Panetta, is out to de-fang Pelosi to remove one more competitor for national headlines.
Posted by: Erica | May 8, 2009 10:26 AM
Top Dems, beware your Messiah is obviously not going to let anything get in the way of re-election. The Rattle Snakes are starting to get restless.
Posted by: Kevin | May 8, 2009 10:27 AM
Come on, let's hear from all the folks who complain that the Tribune and all media has a liberal bias.
Posted by: Jose | May 8, 2009 10:39 AM
Stop Nancy from her lies.
BOTOX her lips!!
Posted by: Don | May 8, 2009 10:43 AM
Enough with the 'he said -she said" garbage. This was wrong, just like the WWII internment camps were wrong. For God's sake, stop agrueing about who knew what when, decide not to do it again, pass a law that says so and Get Back To Work on today's problems.
South Africa could get past horrific acts done in the name of freedom or defending the country. Why can we?
Democrate and Republicans, ENOUGH There is more than enough blame to go around.
Posted by: quercus | May 8, 2009 10:47 AM
Ah....a breath of fresh air for the rabid. A story....not proved mind you, but a least a story to produce the usual suspects. I'll wait for the facts...I learned that from being told there were WMDs in Iraq. That we would be greeted as liberators, that they were in their last throes, that they would fire whoever outed a CIA operative, or that the republican party is "conservative". I know...I know...Bush is long gone. That's why it was Bush who dropped the ball on 9/11.
Posted by: bill r. | May 8, 2009 10:50 AM
Pelosi states, "It must have slipped my feeble mind." Time to go lie on someone elses dime Speaker.
Posted by: Jo | May 8, 2009 10:50 AM
tooth and nail that self entitled wealthy imbecile will cling to her position of power. We are all fools for tolerating this culture of corrputionand lies
Posted by: jeffs | May 8, 2009 11:02 AM
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Posted by: OLIVE GROVE BOOKS | May 8, 2009 11:13 AM
Stop Nancy from her lies.
BOTOX her lips!!
Posted by: Don | May 8, 2009 11:16 AM
It doesn't really matter who was briefed. The information was classified the above report doesn't make Pelosi a liar, it confirms what she said. The records don't even show that water boarding was discussed; it just implies that Pelosi should have known it was being used. Even if she did at the time, nothing would have happened as I said above it was classified information and the Dems had no power of Congressional oversight. There were no investigations by the "rubber stamp" Republican Congress into these matters. This is just another smoke screen and a concerted effort to shield those guilty of Torture and lay the blame elsewhere.
Posted by: Tim | May 8, 2009 11:32 AM
Pleazzzee, Nancy, with the botox smile, caught in a moment of amnesia or just outright lying? Nancy needs some soft interrogation here to get to the truth. 40 some "detailed" briefings without anyone objecting. 13 some intelligence funding votes without questions about known EIT programs. Let us have some transparency. Congress keeps detailed minutes of these briefings, so let the American folks see them. Hard to believe all this was covered up by the awful Bushies. Wait until Obama releases the prison photos. The Islamic world will blow up and lives will be lost. They will not be dancing and cheering as they did after 9/11. All this so Obama and the Dems can feel vindicated in their hypocrisy. Do you feel more secure against "man made disasters" with this lot? I think not.
Posted by: bubba Porter | May 8, 2009 11:32 AM
Such an inconvenient truth.
Posted by: Bob | May 8, 2009 11:35 AM
George Bush said "We do not torture." Condi Rice said "We did not torture." So at least we now have bipartisan fibbing.
Posted by: rupert | May 8, 2009 12:52 PM
When Stalin took over half of Poland in WW II he took it easy on Polish women:
He just had them beaten with rubber truncheons and had the interrogators pull their hair out, handful by handful.
Since Nancy approved the Bush Torture regime's definition of torture,
perhaps she would like a visit to
Uncle Joe's Beauty Salon.
Posted by: Milton Friedman | May 8, 2009 1:01 PM
THOSE ALLEGEDLY BRIEFED BY THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION WOULD HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF AND OR PROSECUTED FOR TREASON DURING A TIME OF WAR HAD THEY REVEALED WHAT THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION TOLD THEM, AND THEY ARE STILL SUBJECT TO PROSECUTION IF THEY REVEAL WHAT THEY WERE TOLD.
We shouldn't still be in a position where political spin of any persuasion is arguably relevant. We should be investigating and letting the chips fall where they may. Also, the opportunity to testify under oath will give those who are in the right the ability to factually/legitimately defend themselves against false, incomplete and or inaccurate accusations.
It is my understanding that whatever members of congress were briefed on, they were required to sign a non-disclosure agreement which mandated prosecution if they EVER revealed what they were told. Had they revealed "state secrets" during a "time of war", the Bush administration would have accused and or prosecuted them for treason!
Posted by: osage | May 8, 2009 1:03 PM
Is anyone surprised Nancy Peloony lied? Anyway, Obama is in big trouble now. You don't cross the Queen B of the House and get away with it! Also, I say Peloony should be waterboarded to get her to speak the truth!
Posted by: John D | May 8, 2009 3:56 PM
What Pelosi and others similarly situated need to remember is that the new President does not have any baggage to speak of.
In fact, he made a notable speech against the Iraq war in October 2002, the Daley Plaza speech.
He has nothing to hide or be ashamed of.
Lesser figures in DC should not try to lie and sanitize their prior conduct.
So don't try to tell lies about your past conduct.
The secret archives might open and release some damaging material.
As they seem to have done here.
Maybe it is time for a new Speaker.
Hoyer. Or maybe that young guy from Michigan.
One thing sure: the whole metaphysics of torture as expounded by Bush won't withstand examination all all those who helped enable it had better 'fess up and start with their mea culpas now, rather than try to lie about what they did or failed to do.
Posted by: ornery | May 8, 2009 5:21 PM
Myabe that Botox needle hit a few of Nancy's memory cells. Hope the needle didn't hit too many brain cells, since Speaker Dimwit doesn't have too many to spare.
Posted by: Terry | May 8, 2009 7:30 PM
Utterly amazing, she's STILL lying-
She says she was told the Bush Adm. was considering using "in the future" only. So that means that she was not told "they (EITs) were being used".
But even that is at odds with the CIA memo dated to 9-4-02 that says Pelosi received a "briefing on EITs (enhanced interrogation techniques), including use of EITs on Abu Zubaydah, background on authorities and a description of particular EITs that had been employed."
Apparently Obama and Pelosi forgot something: the CIA kills people.... it's in their job description. Did Pelosi think these killers were going to meekly take one for the team, when the team captain is a lying, incompetent, arrogant nebbish with no real-world experience and who told them they need to kiss his ring?
Pelosi is a Machiavellian, no-talent hack who's made a lot of enemies. Going to be hard to BS her way out of this one.
http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Reaganite Republican Resistance | May 8, 2009 8:35 PM