Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter calls for CIA briefing transcripts today. (AFP/Getty Images)
by Rebecca Cole
After seeing his seniority stripped last week by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), it looks like Sen. Arlen Specter got the memo and is now busily marching to the Democrats' tune.
On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania senator had harsh words for the CIA, telling a group gathered at the American Law Institute, "The CIA has a very bad record when it comes to -- I was about to say candid, that's too mild -- to honesty."
In remarks first reported by The Hill, Specter pointed to the agency's past record of divulging "misleading" information, citing examples around mining in Nicaragua and the Iran-Contra affair.
Specter also called for the release of the CIA's official transcripts on what was told to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi about the Bush administration's enhanced interrogation techniques, and when.
"Speaker Pelosi wants the notes disclosed. I think they ought to be, in the interest of transparency," Specter said. "The Speaker's entitled to have as much light shed on this as possible, and so [is] the public. The public is entitled to know what went on there."
But Sen. John McCain is having none of it. During an appearance on Fox & Friends this morning, the Arizona senator offered a sharp rebuttal of Specter's stance:
"The fact is the CIA does not lie to Congress and somebody that alleges that they do, the burden of proof is on them," McCain said. "I don't know what Sen. Specter is talking about and I'd be really interested in what specific instances that they didn't tell him the truth, and if he thinks that they didn't tell him the truth, why didn't he complain about it at that time."
With his customary stinging sarcasm, McCain offered this reason why Specter is choosing now to bad -mouth the agency: "I'm sure it's coincidental that he has had these epiphanies since changing parties."
Undeterred by his former GOP colleague, Specter sent letters today to CIA Director Leon Panetta and several others, according to CNN, "panning the agency's record on congressional briefing accounts."
"From my experience on the Senate Intelligence Committee, which I chaired in the 104th Congress, I found there were frequent disputes as to whether the CIA did the requisite briefings; and, if they did, whether the briefing was adequate....Such controversies could be resolved by having the briefings transcribed," Specter wrote.
Specter may be at the far end of the committee table for now, but he's still got clout - a fact which he is working hard to make sure his new Dem friends notice.
Comments
By all means disclose the notes from the meeting with Pelosi from September 2002. I also think the memos about what terrorist acts were prevented from the waterboarding also should be released. When it comes to honesty, though, Specter hardly is in a position to question anyone.
Posted by: John D | May 21, 2009 4:56 PM
Do everyone in the U.S.A. a hugh favor, retire!.
Posted by: Paul | May 21, 2009 4:58 PM
Channel Surfing:
[click]
"Our guest this morning on Face the Nation is former vice president Dick Cheney..."
[click]
"Our guest this morning on This Week is Liz Cheney..."
[click]
"Coming up next on CNN: Dick and Liz Cheney..."
[click]
"Welcome back to the Weather Channel. Here's Lynne Cheney to defend her husband's ordering of torture to establish a bogus Iraq-al Qaeda link, along with our weekend outlook..."
[click]
"That's right, Liz! While you're on Fox News claiming that your dad kept Americans safe---even though 9/11 happened on his watch---your roast is cooking to perfection in my amazing Ronco Showtime Rotisserie. And your family will love this: it comes with an extra rack absolutely FREE!"
[click]
"Welcome back to Judge Dick. The plaintiff, Gladys Higginbotham, claims that her mechanic, Buzz Taylor, overcharged her for a spring tune-up on her Honda Civic. But Judge Dick says there's 'no doubt' Buzz knows about secret meetings between Mohammed Atta and Saddam Hussein. Let's see if Buzz has cracked under ten days of sleep deprivation and forced nudity in a freezing cell..."
[click]
"See, kids, my dad says Cookie Monster only feels like he's drowning, but he's not. So it's not water torture...it's more like rinsing your face and sinuses and throat and lungs so they're really, really clean! Yaay! Let's give Big Bird a turn...!"
[click]
"Welcome to the Cheney Channel! All Cheney All the Time! This hour, Dick Cheney shows you how to shift the blame for anything onto Nancy Pelosi! First up: newly-unearthed CIA documents reveal how the Speaker personally sank the Titanic before she was born!"
[click]
Anyone wanna buy a slightly kicked-in TV?
Posted by: Clutch Cargo | May 21, 2009 5:05 PM
Go for it Republicans!
Let's have a full on torture/war crimes investigation...
You don't have anything on Pelosi and second, if you did find something, who cares. As much as you hate it, this is not a partisan issue (like the Bill Clinton/Monica saga was).
This is another case of the Republicans hitting themselves on the head with their own giant sized stick.
I can only imagine how many Republicans would get caught up in an all out torture investigation. Don't forget, after 2000, these Republicans are the "elections have consequences" guys that we're talking about here. The Feds in DC would have to build whole new prison just to hold all of the newly convicted BushCo Republican locksteppers.
Posted by: BigCheese | May 21, 2009 5:40 PM
Luv it, luv it.
It is so transparent. Wonder how he likes the manipulation by the democrats. You want to sit at the table...you've gotta go out and praise us.
Glad Specter has to parade himself in front of audiences to parrot the democrat line.
How sad!
And how disruptive to the CIA. Is Obama trying to dismantle the CIA?
Posted by: Pete | May 21, 2009 5:45 PM
"The fact is the CIA does not lie to Congress and somebody that alleges that they do, the burden of proof is on them," McCain said.
Senator McCain is wrong. the CIA has a long and sordid history of lying to Congress.
As just a few examples CIA head Richard Helms pled guilty in 1977 to purjuring himself in testimony to Congress. CIA covert operations chief Claire George was convicted of perjury before Congress in 1992 in relation to Iran Contra. More recently, a CIA Inspector General's investigation late last year concluded that the Agency deliberately misled Congress on the details of an incident involving the downing of a small plane carrying missionaries in Peru.
Senator McCain is either unaware of the facts, or is lying. I'm not sure which option is more disturbing.
Posted by: Mel | May 21, 2009 6:26 PM
As long as the "Truth Commission" looks at the redition that took place in the 90's when we outsourced the holding and interogation of detainees to Egypt.
Posted by: Terry | May 21, 2009 9:06 PM
Is John McCrazy crazy? The CIA lies to everybody.
Let's see the notes,so we know who the liars are.
Let's see; hummmmmm?, Pill and Spec want the notes disclosed. McCrazy and the Cheney mob don't. Who could be the ones with something to hide?
hummmmmmmmmm.........??
I think it's time for a special prosecutor. Cheney needs something else to think about besides destroying the nation for the benefit of his friends in the oligarchy.
Posted by: C.Morris | May 21, 2009 9:32 PM
JD,
Yes those memos, if they exist, will have the relevence of the memos that showed the yellow cake uranium in Iraqi hands, the clear connection between Saddam and 9/11, and those memos about the existance of WMDs. Good luck with that track you're on.
Posted by: kg123 | May 22, 2009 8:32 AM
"The CIA has a very bad record when it comes to -- ..."
~ Arlen Spector, ex-RINO, new democrat
-------------------------------------
Good to see Arlen Spector adjusting to his new life as a real democrat.
Posted by: Django - N Exile In/Around the 30th Parallel | May 22, 2009 10:29 AM
Hey Clutch Cargo,
I hear that there is a 24-7 Obama Mustapha Mond Lovefest on msnbc. CNN is down with Mustapha and friends, at least 80% of the time. Can you not use your remote and "click" on over to one of those? There is always the Swamp. No "Truth and Fairness" doctrine just yet, but you still have many options, Clutch.
Posted by: Django - N Exile In/Around the 30th Parallel | May 22, 2009 11:34 AM
"The fact is the CIA does not lie to Congress and somebody that alleges that they do, the burden of proof is on them,,,: '
John McCain has it half right (which is an improvement for him).
Yes, the CIA does lie, but also yes, the burden of proof is on the accuser. Pelosi is not helping anyone with how she has handled this. Let's finish it and move forward.
Posted by: mrbarolo | May 22, 2009 12:04 PM
"Mustapha?"
I just looked it up to see if there was some hidden derisiveness in the name... Nope!!
In Arabic, Mustafa means "the chosen one."
I like it!
What better nickname for the one the majority of Americans chose to lead us last November!
You gotta hand it to the Republicans...Even when they try to insult us, they make us look good!!
Mustafa!! Mustafa!!
Posted by: David | May 22, 2009 12:16 PM
Looks like Specter has been reduced to partisan boot-licking to try to regain some of his lost favor. Take his commentary for what it's worth -- which isn't much.
Posted by: The guy who hides behind false names (so sayeth Don) | May 22, 2009 1:43 PM
John McCain tells us the CIA doesn't lie. John McCain lies. It must be all the medication he's on that's making him toxic and delusional. The CIA lies and misleads all the time. To everyone. Grandpa McCain and John Bonehead are really clueless if they really believe the CIA doesn't lie.
Posted by: Doug R. | May 22, 2009 2:04 PM
David,
Xcellent piece of work. Gotta get real with you good buddy, I did not know that either, and I am all about knowledge. How about this though ~ try "Mustapha Mond + Brave New World." See what pops up there. Go Mustapha! Mustapha Go! Go with the wind! Windpower. Your kool-aid fans will always be with ye, yea,
even until the end. Mustapha Mond indeed.
Posted by: Django - N Exile In/Around the 30th Parallel | May 22, 2009 2:31 PM
Got it, Django; you're saying it's okay for Republicans to criticize the CIA (as many have) but not for Democrats to do so. Sure thing.
Posted by: Flo | May 22, 2009 2:38 PM
Funny- when McCain says waterboarding is torture- the left genuflects to his every word...
When he says that the CIA doesn't lie- he is back to being the crazy guy again...
I need a neck brace after reading some of these posts...
Posted by: heartburn | May 22, 2009 3:16 PM
Posted by: David | May 22, 2009 12:16 PM
David-
Its a Brave New World reference - look it up.
Django- that is classic- I love it.. Thanks
Posted by: heartburn | May 22, 2009 3:20 PM
heartburn, that whiplash you may be feeling is probably from how fast you turned on McCain when he said that waterboarding was torture.
*******************************
Might be philosopical- but there is no argument that there is not a moral equivalance between McCain and Khalid Sheik Mohammed...( hoping we can take this as a given)...
There is no legal equivalence as McCain was protected with Geneva convention rights where KSM was not..
And there could be no comparison of what McCain went through (torture) to what is now being called torture (waterboarding)...
So yes - McCain is watering doen the definition of torture if he is using his personal perspective as a gauge of what torture is..
-
Posted by: heartburn | May 5, 2009 12:23 PM
Posted by: Mel | May 22, 2009 5:02 PM