CIA Records Unclear On Pelosi Briefing

Agency Briefed Dem On Interrogation Techniques In 2002 But No Indication That Use Of Waterboarding Was Disclosed

(CBS/AP)  CIA records show Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi was briefed in September 2002 on harsh interrogation techniques that could be used on terror suspects, but the records are unclear on whether she was informed that waterboarding - a form of torture - had already been used against a prisoner.

The release in April of once-classified details about harsh Bush-era interrogation techniques has caused a squall of recriminations among congressional and Bush administration leaders who knew about the program.

Pelosi waded into that debate when she told reporters last month that she had been briefed on the authorized techniques in 2002, before she was elected Minority Leader by House Democrats, but was not told that waterboarding had already been used on a prisoner.

At the time Pelosi was a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Waterboarding, which simulates drowning, is the most severe of the 10 techniques approved by the Bush White House.

There is no record that Pelosi objected to using the techniques.

The CIA on Wednesday sent the House and Senate intelligence committees a chart describing the 40 congressional briefings at which the interrogation program was discussed, describing who was briefed, on what date, and on what subjects. Pelosi is only mentioned in the first briefing, held on Sept. 4, 2002.

The chart, drawn from the CIA briefers' memories and meeting notes, said the meeting described the interrogation techniques that had been used on alleged terrorist Abu Zubaydah. But the CIA chart does not specifically mention the use of waterboarding at that briefing.

According to legal memos released in April, Abu Zubayda was the first of three prisoners to be waterboarded. He underwent the procedure at least 83 times in August 2002.

The first mention of waterboarding comes in the description of a February 2003 meeting attended by Pelosi's successor on the House Intelligence Committee, California Democrat Jane Harman. Harman wrote to the CIA expressing concern about the techniques, the only known objection formally raised by a member of Congress at that time.

According to the charts, the CIA specifically discussed waterboarding in 13 of the 40 congressional briefings.

Pelosi spokesman Brendan Daly said Pelosi stands by her recollection of the meeting.

"As this document shows, the speaker was briefed only once, in September 2002," said Daly. "The briefers described these techniques, said they were legal, but said that waterboarding had not yet been used."

Even the CIA suggests that its account of the meetings will not settle the debate over who knew what and when.

"In the end, you and the Committee will have to determine whether this information is an accurate summary of what actually happened," states the May 6 cover letter from CIA Director Leon Panetta to Rep. Silvestre Reyes, Democratic chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.

Rep. Pete Hoekstra, the top Republican on that committee, said Thursday that calls for truth commissions or prosecutions for those who approved or carried out harsh interrogations ignore that Congress was fully informed about the methods.

"I think that nobody wants to take any accountability for it," Hoekstra said. "Is it fair to go after people in the CIA or at the Justice Department when Congress was briefed on this program and knew it was going on? That doesn't seem very fair to me. If there is going to be any accountability, (Congress) is where it needs to start."

Pelosi was elected House Minority Leader in November 2002, and became House Speaker after the Democrats regained a majority in the chamber in 2006.

[bigsk8fan]

i don't see how any of this subterfuge exculpates george w bush and the republicans from being torturers.

[lovetheair]

I don't think its torture! Our service men and women endure worse. Heck, guys getting hazed in college go through more. Poor terrorists.

[woodjd42]

The CIA records are unclear??? Every bit of information that comes out of the government seems to be incomplete. Is there not one competent individual working for our government??? Can someone take notes at a meeting??? Is there any information that hasn't been accidentally destroyed??? The stupidity in Washington is mind-numbing.
Posted by valh1

I agree with you that our entire goverment needs to be revamped, they're all crooks. First thing that needs to be done if bush/chaney need to be arrested and tried, convicted and put in jail. Then every senator and congressman, rep and dem alike, need to be put on trial for aiding and abeting the goons bush/chaney. That includes the screwball Pelosi and all other dem that didn't have the guts to stand up against bush/chaney.

[SanityPlease]

If Dems weren't so obsessed with "feelings" and paid more attention to solutions, we might have a chance of bringing this country back from the brink. But no, the libs will drive us right off a cliff pushing their radical socialist agenda. Anyway, of course she knew. Of course she's lying. Of course the media will attempt to lay down cover fire for her.
Posted by ritewingman at 12:37 PM : May 8, 2009

Look who's talking!. Your heroes GW/Cheney & their pathetic cronies, brought us to the brink already, you dimwit, and they were not radical socialists were they??? Your good old boy network with white lies and garbage headed policies brought us to this pass.

Save your stupidity and cover-up for another day.

[nottellin1]

I used to love CBS comment boards, but lately, every time I look all I see is everyone arguing with Rowdy. Do you really want him to think he has the power to direct conversation because that is sure how it looks to me.

[gravyboat45]

Waterboarding is not bad, it is like getting water up you nose.
Posted by dwilson59

Maybe you should take Sean Hannity's place, since he's whimping out of his promise to be waterboarded for charity?

Kieth Ohlberman will pay one thousand dollars a minute to charities for the troops.

Come on, what do ya say...

[Rubeem]

If you look in the dictionary for meaning of 'phony'........ a synonym would be pelosi.

[Rubeem]

PELOSI BACK-PEDALS ! ! ! ! Gotta love her selective memory ! - - and now she is looking at all those little "loop-holes" like 'were' , 'are' or 'is' - - The emphasis seems to be on "were used," even though she conceded in a statement released Friday that she was told they would be used.
Pelosi noted that the media had reported this week that CIA Director Leon Panetta wrote in a cover letter accompanying the briefings memo that "the descriptions provided by the CIA may not be accurate."

Pelosi is fighting back against accusations that she and other Democrats are being motivated by politics in their attempt to establish an independent commission to investigate officials and lawyers involved with the Bush-era interrogation programs.

She is a piece of work.......

[dwilson59]

Waterboarding is not bad, it is like getting water up you nose.

[valh1]

The CIA records are unclear??? Every bit of information that comes out of the government seems to be incomplete. Is there not one competent individual working for our government??? Can someone take notes at a meeting??? Is there any information that hasn't been accidentally destroyed??? The stupidity in Washington is mind-numbing.