Specter defends Pelosi in feud with CIA

By Michael J.W. Stickings

I've been awfully critical of Arlen Specter since his recent aisle-jump to the Dems (see here, here, and here), but full credit to the former (and still, in a way, quasi-) Republican for coming out in defence of Nancy Pelosi in her ongoing war of words with the CIA.

Pelosi hasn't handled this whole "what did she know about torture and when did she know it" media frenzy all that well -- her various explanations have lacked clarity -- but it is quite possible, and perhaps even probable, that the CIA is lying about what was said at those early briefings of Congressional leaders. Bob Graham, who attended those briefings as the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, has backed up Pelosi's claim, and now Specter has added his support to her claim:

The CIA has a very bad record when it comes to -- I was about to say 'candid'; that's too mild -- to honesty.

Director [Leon] Panetta says the agency does not make it a habit to misinform Congress. I believe that is true. It is not the policy of the Central Intelligence Agency to misinform Congress. But that doesn't mean that they're all giving out the information.

That's putting it mildly, no doubt. Still, well done for speaking up, Senator. This is a big point in your favour. And I mean that sincerely.