For once, a prominent Democrat may not get to "have it both ways." Or will she?
But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi apparently thought she could. With the recent release of Bush Administration memos on the "enhanced interrogation" of terror suspects, Ms. Pelosi sought to stake out a position consistent with her party and its leader, Barack Obama. Practiced at judging the political winds, Speaker Pelosi wasn't about to contradict Mr. Obama's ban on the enhanced techniques, which he has classified as torture.
Unfortunately for Ms. Pelosi, she had once done just that, and--ironically enough--a mainstream media outlet had the proof. In December 2007, the Washington Post detailed briefings provided by the CIA for senior members of Congress; the sessions detailed interrogation techniques approved for use on suspected Al Qaida members. Among the attendees was the ranking Democrat on the House Select Committee on Intelligence, Nancy Pelosi. |