What Did They Know, And When Did They Know It?

The Democrats are attempting to score political points by accusing the Bush administration of destroying some CIA videotapes of 'harsh' interrogations of terrorists to cover up misdeeds. Unfortunately for them, there is an astounding amount of hypocrisy involved with that. Here's why.

In September of 2004, several members of Congress were secretly briefed on a new CIA program designed to get information out of terrorists. One of them was none other than Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. One of the techniques demonstrated was ... drum roll please ... waterboarding. Guess what the reaction of these four Congresspeople was? They asked if it would be 'tough enough' to get the information they needed.

Hm, that's really not the story they're telling now, is it?

But wait, it gets better (as it usually does with these Democrats). In the years after September of 2004, the CIA gave key legislators 30 private briefings which included waterboarding and other 'harsh' methods of interrogation. Only one objection was ever raised. Some of the more prominent Congresspeople involved in those briefings included Pelosi, Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) and Sens. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) and John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), as well as Rep. Porter J. Goss (R-Fla.) and Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan).

It was only after the waterboarding technique was leaked in the press in 2005 that it became a political issue. Check out the following quote:

"In fairness, the environment was different then because we were closer to Sept. 11 and people were still in a panic," said one U.S. official present during the early briefings. "But there was no objecting, no hand-wringing. The attitude was, 'We don't care what you do to those guys as long as you get the information you need to protect the American people.'"

My question to you is this: if everyone -- even the Democrats in Congress -- was more concerned about getting information to protect America than in coddling terrorist prisoners shortly after 9/11, what has changed that they no longer think that? Do terrorists no longer wish us harm? Are we using interrogation techniques that we weren't using back then?

No, and no.

It's pure politics. These people need to be held accountable for their astounding hypocrisy and dangerous games. Their actions indicate that they are clearly placing political gain above the obvious requirements of national security.

By the way, there were literally years of statements, warnings, and legal wranglings on whether or not these tapes should actually be destroyed. No one thought it would be a problem until it recently became a political issue. Also, waterboarding is really, really effective - it works in seconds. Literally.

There's my two cents.