On the Democratic Party v. the CIA front, a couple of new developments are worth noting. Democratic consultant Bob Shrum appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” to insist that the CIA “lied us into a war [Iraq]” and continued his rant, asking, “Do they lie? Yeah, they sure do.”
This is, I think, exactly the wrong approach for Democrats to take. Mr. Shrum seems incapable of distinguishing between a mistake — even a massive mistake (which is what the CIA made in the run-up to the Iraq war) — from a lie. There is no evidence that the CIA intentionally provided false information to force a war with Iraq. In fact, many CIA analysts opposed the war. And whatever mistakes the CIA made, were mistakes echoed by almost every other intelligence agency in the world, including those of nations that opposed the Iraq war.
From a political perspective, however, opponents should take advantage of Shrum’s calumny. As Joe Scarborough clearly understands, it simply reminds people of some of the worst traits of today’s Left — from its almost reflexive disdain for the CIA to its angry and bitter tone. It doesn’t help Shrum’s case that the current CIA director, Leon Panetta — formerly a Democratic Member of the House from California’s delegation, as well as Bill Clinton’s chief of staff — wrote a memo not only directly contradicting what Shrum says, but also — by the force and logic of Panetta argument — accusing Speaker Pelosi of herself lying.
Members of Congress should consider a series of parliamentary procedures to keep this issue alive — perhaps pushing for a Sense of Congress Resolution stating their belief that the CIA’s briefings to Members of Congress on Enhanced Interrogation Techniques were honest and truthful. There should be speeches — in Washington and outside of Washington — defending the CIA against Pelosi’s charge and explaining why what she said was both reckless and, per Director Panetta’s statement, untrue.
Nancy Pelosi’s press conference last week will, I think, rank among the genuine political blunders of recent times. It will become a leading example of what not to do, and what not to say, and how not to conduct a press conference.
Pelosi is badly weakened. And if she remains Speaker, her irresponsible actions might hurt the Democratic Party. For discrediting her party and for violating the trust of American citizens with her dishonest attack on America’s intelligence agency, Ms. Pelosi should pay a high price.
