Nancy Pelosi in Disgrace?

A few days ago, I posted a humorous bit on the Nancy Pelosi/CIA flap. Unfortunately, this issue is not funny. It seems every day, the story takes a new turn. It would be more accurate to say that Speaker Pelosi's story takes a new turn with each passing day. Today, she issued the following statement-after CIA head Leon Panetta rebuffed her charges and backed his agency.

“My criticism of the manner in which the Bush administration did not appropriately inform Congress is separate from my respect for those in the intelligence community who work to keep our country safe,” Pelosi said in a statement late Friday."

Backtracking, Madame Speaker?

Whatever your politics or your opinion of the CIA-or water boarding, it is hard to defend Pelosi on this one. She has publicly accused the CIA with lying to Congress. Now she is trying to put the onus back on the Bush Administration. The Speaker has changed her story almost every day as each version is refuted. Is there anybody out there who still believes her? Is there still anybody out there who takes her seriously? Is there anybody out there who still thinks she is fit to be Speaker of the House?

Or even fit to serve in Congress?

When a politician makes such serious charges against an agency like the CIA, they had better be prepared to back it up. If Pelosi speaks the truth, then the public would have to be alarmed at the CIA. This means that the truth of the matter must be brought out. If, in fact, Pelosi, after condemning water boarding and calling for a "truth commission", is found to have been briefed on the water boarding in September 2002, it makes her a hypocrite of epic proportions. If she then lied to us-in Clintonian style- about what she was told and falsely accused the CIA in an effort to cover up, she is unfit to remain in public office.

Two things need to happen here. First of all, Pelosi needs to be put under oath. Second, President Obama needs to step forward, find out the truth-which he could do quickly-and if appropriate, publicly defend his agency. Up to now, the President has been strangely silent.

Kudos to Leon Panetta.

President Obama, where art Thou?