Do-Over: Reyes Appears Unqualified To be Intel Chair

By Big Tent Democrat, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 12:25:08 PM EST
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Silvestre Reyes clearly can not do the job of House Intel Chair:

Reyes stumbled when I asked him a simple question about al Qaeda at the end of a 40-minute interview in his office last week. Members of the Intelligence Committee, mind you, are paid $165,200 a year to know more than basic facts about our foes in the Middle East.
We warmed up with a long discussion about intelligence issues and Iraq. And then we veered into terrorism’s major players. To me, it’s like asking about Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland: Who’s on what side?

The dialogue went like this:

Al Qaeda is what, I asked, Sunni or Shia?

“Al Qaeda, they have both,” Reyes said. “You’re talking about predominately?”

“Sure,” I said, not knowing what else to say.
“Predominantly — probably Shiite,” he ventured.

This is a man who does not even know this but pretends to know enough to call on the US to send in tens of thousands of more troops. What a mistake Pelosi made naming Reyes. Disclosure -- I urged the naming of Jane Harman as Intel Chair. h/t - Ezra.

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Do-Over: Reyes Appears Unqualified To be Intel Chair | 26 comments (26 topical)

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I'm sick of this (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by Kitt on Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 01:47:20 PM EST

Who here knows much more than Reyes, AND can keep what they know straight? Oh, and without looking it up on Wikipedia or The Google before answering.

You know, I'm a frickin' genius. I know a lot of stuff. I can figure a lot of stuff. I do not know everything and wouldn't even make the claim. If in 6 months Reyes STILL doesn't who's who or what's what - then TALK about it.

surprised (5.00 / 2) (#8)
by squeaky on Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 02:21:11 PM EST

Yes there are a lot of complicated things to know about in the world. Many, mamy religions and sects. The confilcts between them are too numerous and complex for most outsiders to begin to get a grasp on. But al-qaida? OBL and Saudi-Arabia? Didn't they allegedly attack us and aren't we at war with them?

Hasn't there been endless talk of al-qaida in Iraq?
Enless banter as to whether or not Iraq is in a civil war?

I dunno Kitt, maybe most americans have no idea that al-qaida is Sunni, but a 4 term congressman who has been on the house intelligence committee, veteran affairs committee, the Ranking Member of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee and as a member of the Subcommittee on Readiness and vice-chair of the Democratic Task Force on Homeland Security, you would think that he would know that al-qaida, our dsupposed biggest enemy, is Sunni.


: Maybe most americans (5.00 / 2) (#11)
by Kitt on Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 04:01:33 PM EST

I dunno Kitt, maybe most americans have no idea that al-qaida is Sunni, but a 4 term congressman who has been on the house intelligence committee, veteran affairs committee, the Ranking Member of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee and as a member of the Subcommittee on Readiness and vice-chair of the Democratic Task Force on Homeland Security, you would think that he would know that al-qaida, our dsupposed biggest enemy, is Sunni.
Yeah, you would think. I mean, I pay attention to what's going on and would consider myself fairly well informed. There are times when I'm working and depending upon the load, don't get into the news or read the blogs I check 'daily' because I'm busy. Others I know who have children in school AND work pay even less attention.
I'm not necessarily defending his apparent ignorance. I'm saying give him a chance.

I stumbled across a test Mr. Reyes could take (5.00 / 1) (#25)
by Kitt on Mon Dec 11, 2006 at 07:33:22 AM EST

As could others going into Congress - period. It's a variation on the citizenship test.


Really BT, (5.00 / 2) (#10)
by Che's Lounge on Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 03:01:38 PM EST

if Reyes was that familiar with those intracasies he'd be one of us. Welcome to the world of the moderate democrats.

i have to agree with BTD on this (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by cpinva on Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 04:04:01 PM EST

for reyes to not even know a very, very, very basic fact is beyond inexcusable. we're not talking about a job at mcd's, where they'll teach you how to flip burgers, this is one of the single most important jobs in congress. you should walk in with a vast body of knowledge already, hit the ground running.

if pelosi has any smarts, she realizes she's made a huge mistake, and corrects it, before any real damage is done, to the country or the party. reyes tenders his resignation, saying that, after much reflection, he's concluded he can best serve the country in another capacity, and thanking sen. pelosi for the opportunity.

I imagine... (5.00 / 1) (#13)
by Edger on Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 04:19:00 PM EST

...Reyes is taking home piles of homework for the next few days, and has his staff working overtime producing briefing papers already, if he hasn't already offerd Pelosi his resignation. He burned his fingers badly on this. He's not going to let it happen again, I think.


Homework? (5.00 / 2) (#18)
by qwerty on Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 08:42:52 PM EST

Seriously, let's not act like this is new information about a new organization. Every member of congree who hadn't heard of AQ prior, had better have gotten the basic facts down by the end of business 9/12/2001. It's nuts that he doesn't know this.

Anyone who ever voted on the war in Iraq should know this. Anyone whose job it is to protect us from AQ should know this. Anyone whose job it is to repair our relationships in the Middle East should know this.


Seriously? (none / 0) (#19)
by Edger on Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 09:02:14 PM EST

Let's not pretend that you know what you are talking about and make transparent troll attacks until you've at least read the other comments in the same thread by the person you attack.

It will go a long way to helping you pretend to some small bit of integrity. Helpful quality to have in the long run. Short run too, btw.


I think you misunderstand me. (5.00 / 1) (#20)
by qwerty on Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 09:15:20 PM EST

I just don't think his (Reyes) lack of information is defensible. I'm attacking Reyes-- anyone who defends Reyes' clueless ness either has reaallllly low expectations of their representation or doesn't understand both the simplicity and the importance of the basic facts.

Not sure why you're troll-rating me-- I don't think my view is very radical.


You're right. I was wrong. (5.00 / 2) (#21)
by Edger on Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 09:30:29 PM EST

I was mistaken, and I apologize. I also read your post too quickly without absorbing, and replied too quickly without thinking. I apologize for those also.

Some days I'm as dumb as I look, qwerty. Please call me on it if you see me do it elsewhere too, will you? :-/


You can count on me. (5.00 / 2) (#23)
by qwerty on Mon Dec 11, 2006 at 12:38:44 AM EST

: Oh jeeze. (5.00 / 2) (#24)
by Edger on Mon Dec 11, 2006 at 06:39:52 AM EST

Now what have I done to myself? :-)

Boswell, not Harmon! (5.00 / 1) (#16)
by Gisleson on Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 08:10:39 PM EST

If Reyes needs to go, then let's go with Len Boswell, a decorated veteran who does know something about intelligence. Harmon is absolutely unacceptable. Anyone who kept the administration's lawbreaking a secret isn't fit to head the Intelligence committee.

Like you never got a job with alot... (3.00 / 1) (#1)
by Bill Arnett on Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 12:48:30 PM EST

...of stuff you had to learn? The man isn't even on the job yet, the rethugs are notorious for secrecy, and, as in any job, there is a learning curve to get fully up to speed.

I know he's not the guy YOU liked, but you're doing the republican "blame the democrats before they even assume power" thing.

I'm not necessarily saying you are wrong, but that doesn't automatically make you right.

Are you calling it defeat before the man even has a chance to get up to speed on a new job?

Secrecy? (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 12:58:47 PM EST

You think Al Qaida being fervently anti-Shia is a secret?


BTW (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 12:59:52 PM EST

HE ha sbeen on the Intel Committee for some time.

This is inexcusable. There is no w ay you can justify this. None. He clearly is not up to the job.


You are certainly entitled to your... (4.00 / 1) (#4)
by Bill Arnett on Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 01:06:51 PM EST

...opinion, but do you hold it against someone like me for wanting to give the guy a chance?


: I doubt that he or anyone (5.00 / 1) (#9)
by Edger on Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 02:35:18 PM EST

holds it against you, Bill. Everybody was hoping that Democrats would have a lot more on the ball than rethugs, and believing that they should and would.
It seems to me that Reyes should have a least boned up on his knowledge of sectarian differences and their connections before the interview.
It seems though that he must have done the interview without asking for a list of questions in advance. I don't know if someone in his position would normally do that, but if so, I'd applaud him for not asking.
It probably would have been smarter for him to just answer with something like "I should know that and I'm embarrassed right now that I can't answer. It looks like I have my work cut out for me"
No?

Learning Curve? (5.00 / 2) (#5)
by squeaky on Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 01:10:41 PM EST

I agree that it reasonable to give new appointees some slack, but Bill, this is one of the most basic facts of the war in Iraq and the war on terror.

Reyes lapse is totally inexcusable, and hopelessly embarrassing for any member of Congress, and that goes double for any member of the (non)intelligence committee.


NO (none / 0) (#7)
by Edger on Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 01:58:31 PM EST

This is one of the most basic functions of anyone surrounded by total information awareness and who, as Intelligence Committee Chair, you would think would have at least a minor clue about what is going on in the world.

Does Reyes even know that Iraq was invaded?

Wasn't there someone here who asked here, yesterday I think:

Where do these people live? under a rock? At least he voted against the war.

Ah...well... that would explain it, maybe? He voted against it. Probably figured that was the end of the matter. Then never noticed it again.

Cut the guy some slack. He probably does live under a rock, or he's been smoking some. He's clueless. Urrrrppp. Excuse me. :-)


: Q (none / 0) (#22)
by squeaky on Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 11:16:54 PM EST

What a PR disaster for the poor guy.
Poor Congressman Reyes. The mid-east is just not his specialty. The frequent switching back and forth between shi's and sunnis as allies must make very hard to keep track of who the good guys are.
According to official sources the Saudi Sunnis are our best friends. It is confusing because that's where OBL came from? Ih right, he is Wahhabi sunni so that expalins it....Oops the saudis are wahhabi and their unruly minority are shi'a.
But the Iraq Sunni are bad, right. They are all ex-baath, insurgents, sadaam supporters and al-qaida. Not to mention all the other bad sunnis that could> be terrorists.
Then there are the foreign terrorists from Iran and Syria, which are predominantly shi'and bad but somehow they are always linked with al-qaida. They support the bad shi'a leader al-sadr. A sworn enemy. Ironic that he is Iraq's best hope for peace. His slogan is:
America out of Iraq now!
So why does Reyes want to send 20,000 troops to Iraq? What is our mission?

rational people don't. (3.00 / 2) (#17)
by jimakaPPJ on Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 08:18:08 PM EST

Bill - You don't hire doctors who haven't gone through med school..

Or at least rational people don't.


fortunately jim, (none / 0) (#26)
by cpinva on Mon Dec 11, 2006 at 12:49:40 PM EST

pelosi has time to correct her mistake, before any actual damage is done. unfortunately, the same cannot be said of either the current administration or republican congress, they both have lots of blood on their hands.

that i don't find amusing in the least. it's nice to see you've kept your sense of humor, while people die around you.

: Blood on hands???? (none / 0) (#27)
by jimakaPPJ on Mon Dec 11, 2006 at 05:50:33 PM EST

As do the Demos who slept for eight years as the poison spread.
But so what? Super leader of super party is supposed to not make such super mistakes causing super embarrassment for such as cpinva and other fans.
BTW - When you loose your sense of humor, you have lost everything.