What She Knew

Not really understanding the 'huge' controversy behind Pelosi being briefed by the CIA about waterboarding. So many people saying different things, each with self-serving motives.. hard to tell exactly who is credible. I read articles like this and I feel like I'm back in high school, except this drama is about torture and not who's dating which boy.

Suppose Pelosi is indeed lying and she was told back in 2002 that we (yes, America) were using these techniques on detainees. What the hell was she suppost to do about it? Gingrich says she "...didn't do her job, or she did do her job...". I'd like to know what Mr. Gingrich thinks the correct course of action would be. The report said itself these were closed briefings. Are they implying she should have leaked classified information? Or that she could have immediately stopped the CIA's program when she was on the House Intelligence Committee? It seems like they are walking a thin line with this... if they claim she should have spoken up against torture (sorry, these techniques), then they've admitted that behavior was WRONG and should be investigated.

It still surprises me that some people are unsure whether torture should actually be protested, but I digress.

As usual, I can't help but think we're missing the point of all this. We're more concerned about her honesty than her moral integrity. If Republican's main beef is that Pelosi "lie[d] to the country on national security matters", then where is the outrage over mounting evidence of Bush administration's deceit?

I can see how torture apologists might be looking for ways to ensnare top Democrats under the assumption that they (Democrats currently in power) won't investigate torture if they could end up indicting themselves. I actually agree with Cheney here. Release more relevant information... let us all read and decide for ourselves if torture 'worked' or if she was 'briefed'.
Then let us discuss the implications of broadly legalizing those sorts of interrogations.

Even IF it is revealed Pelosi's complacency towards torture makes her somehow culpable, then I fail to see how an investigation would be a bad thing. In true bipartisan fashion, everyone involved, from the top down, should have to answer to a truth commission. I don't give a damn which 'side' of the defendant's on-- Democrats shouldn't try to mindlessly shield other Democrats who engaged in questionable behavior. What's the use of keeping people in power when there's evidence of moral misjudgment that's affected hundreds of lives around the world? What are we teaching and encouraging by doing that?

At LEAST there should be an independent investigation. If prosecutions follow from the evidence uncovered, then let the law do it's work. We can do better than these leaders who's basic defense is 'they lied to me'.
There HAS to be people (across the political spectrum) willing to stand up and say "I made a mistake" or even "I believe that inhumane treatment of prisoners diminishes us to brutal animals." We. are. better. than. this. dammit.