To Tell the Truth

" That reportedly told a white told a house Intel committee. He closed door testimony that the CIA has misled congress for the past. Eight years but classified operations and if this sounds somewhat familiar there's a good reason House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused the agency of not coming cook clean. About the use of waterboarding of terrorist suspects back in 2000 until so. Who's telling the truth and who's not in Washington is Michael shorter former CIA senior official author of marching towards Tel. America and Islam after Iraq mice that thanks for being with us. You know I watched job polo season not her news conference they're gonna tell yet. It felt to me like she's a little nervous you know -- this thing does blow up and become very very big. We may learn more than she wants us to know what to figure that."

" Oh I think so I think there's two separate issues here clearly -- mrs. Claus he lied to the American people about not being -- that's one. Whatever mr. Panetta told them in in conference of course. Was supposed to be secret and so they've broken their old -- the security by bringing this out in the public. It clearly is something mr. Panetta can settle once and for all indicated mr. Panetta says he didn't say that. That I suppose that we we see the Democrats playing politics with American national security. "

" Michael talk about the timing of this letter that the sudden Democrats that wrote this exact your letter right here. Recommending fit into this CIA directed that he apologize. Or at least clear up the record. What's going on tomorrow why would this letter BI know circulated today for example. What we're trying to protect mrs. Pelosi did and that as I understand that the Republicans put into the intelligence bill a record."

" An amendment four. The section that would require the release of that I've been briefing documents about waterboarding. There were given to mrs. Pelosi during the list eight years. And apparently the Democrats have blocked debt from being done so clearly there's something they don't want the American people to know."

" Now if I'm not mistaken this. This and at that meeting that there they're referencing Leon the director Leon Panetta did this voluntarily he came to the hill when he testified behind closed doors and say -- this is what. This is what we do in this is how we do it. Voluntarily get this this letter implies like -- some sort of bug misleading going on that he doesn't want to tell the public."

" Well it's it's it's all part of the kind of amateurish as we have with this that government and in terms of protecting Americans. Mr. Obama and his crew are very good at getting off of horses and not having any other to get on to. They -- traditions they stopped interrogations. They're gonna close Guantanamo. They haven't told us yet what they're gonna replace those things -- in order to protect the United States. It's an interesting situation they're really running away from national defense."

" Now how does this play out OK let's just say this thing does get a lot bigger represented. Hey you know what he wanted to be bigger won't make you bigger will -- into -- into further death -- the way what really goes on if that's what you want Nancy Pelosi maybe she doesn't want it. Let's let's talk about how this plays out what's the next step."

" Well I think we'll see tomorrow or when they talk about the defense bill it's it's. Clearly the American people have a right to know mister mister Panetta I think he's the key figure here. He can both tell the American people. What was briefed to mrs. colosio over the last year and he also can can clarify whatever he told to them in closed session. And as long as the Democrats broke the security of their closed session I don't see why mr. Panetta can't come out and set the record straight I think that's where it should go."

" Now I -- let let's talk about their for a second you have. I guess there's about twenty -- the house and the Senate in these Intelligence Committees. Assuming. These people were all briefed on everything going on at the CIA. Between aides between staffers how many eyeballs will be on some of these these very very important. And things going on around the world maybe we don't want our people out there not would would have -- watching."

" Well I think that's right you you always have a little bit classification although it's it's fading in and not in the security world these days but. But I think the point I would make is that there's no congressmen. Or senator who cannot get a briefing if he wants one. That the agency I always thought brief too many congressmen who worked on the committees but ultimately the congress controls the budget -- so they're very forward leading. About briefing people. More often than not when a senator or congressman says they didn't know about something it was either because they didn't want to know. Or. Because they sent a staffer to be briefed. And then they could they were one removed from actually the briefing. So there's a great deal of lying there goes on to the American people by the congress about what they Knoll and when they knew it."

" I hang on there might just permitted now wanna go now to congressman Mike Rogers of Michigan a member of the House Intelligence Committee he joins us from capitol thanks for joining us Mike. They've had there represented it is so talk to us a little bit about this oh DF think. You think Leon Panetta lied in that closed door meeting."

" While I don't have any reason to believe that he lied but I also didn't walk out of that meeting thinking that he said it that he and his CIA had misled congress side. If there's a lot. Misconstrue thing going on right now I think -- a lot of political theater and less than based on the facts of the issue. That we're not even quite clear yet if there was any requirement. Under what they've done. To notify congress which is a big difference than they have misled which is a crime by the way or lied to a committee to mislead which is another crime by the way those are very. Very very serious charges and we've taken very seriously. And I don't think they ought to play a morale like that that's exactly who got the speaker in trouble. And you know the chairman just two nights ago slipped a letter under the door. Of the Republicans. After everyone had gone homestand I determined that they've misled us and lied to us and we can't get any confirmation of corroboration none of it. And it's certainly wasn't based on it -- the committee hearing that I was in with Leon Panetta. I think it makes tractor pedal without the deputy inspector Clouseau to figure out that this is more political."

" of this -- appeals talk about -- the the politics behind it does it you know is it time because tomorrow we're gonna start. Delving into that that that reauthorization of the 2010 authorization bill. Is it now that it pushing for more information -- wanna know more what's going on."

" Well hi hey here's that and this is what's so frustrating guy like him a former FBI agent I take my duties and oversight on the themselves believers fiercely. This whole notion when they when they've they've set out to attack the CIA by the way who was supposed to stop the rest of the world from attacking us. And making that their political position moving forward on an authorization -- very frustrating we have. Al-Qaeda to worry about trying to get a dirty bomb North Korea's you know and another nuclear test. More missile test Iran is -- getting ready yet to step up their program we think a lot of really serious issues. And that the speaker just started up and say oil is -- to cover her or her position on interrogation techniques it's it's. Sophomore gold most when you think about the seriousness and the weight. Of what we asked these men and women who do risk their lives to get information that if they're caught with a good -- to get it thus we make good decisions. That's the kinds of things we ought to be focused --"

" The -- by -- when it it Ellen talk about that letter again I had this letter and it strikes me that animal wind. You know it looks fairly it's a short letter it's not the official -- the it looks like they put together and frankly after listening to. Nancy Pelosi today in a press conference. It didn't sound like she was you know where this letter was gonna -- lot do you think she knew this was on its way."

" Well I find it odd that they would do it on and on official letterhead that way they don't have to notify everybody that they sent the letter and again it just it just raises some questions that I have about what what is your motive to do this what are you trying to accomplish by attacking the CIA. In this kind of way when we have so many serious issues up. Again I think that that whole thing it was all about trying to protect the speaker who got up and -- congress misled me. Misled congress numerous times they do it all the time which is a very serious allegation you could you bet you've told the middle of the CIA Peter violating the law. In your. You're committing criminal acts pretty serious."

" I thank you representative Mike Rogers commission house intelligence committee thanks a lot. Quiet let's bring back Michael Sawyer for reaction OK Mike you you heard it and wait it sounds a little bit like politics that mean I think -- John Boehner today said his blatantly political is that what this is or is this about becoming more transparent from. From the CIA."

" I think it's blatantly political and I think they're they're like Clinton's organization their children in very powerful powerful positions. But the congressman said the most important thing is what what the Democrats are doing is making sure that the men and women who work for the CIA. I'm not going to risk their careers their financial futures their family life. It because it because they'll be persecuted for doing what. The president and the congress approved right now we've been where where that the agency is it -- advising private companies who work. In the intelligence field. To have their employees take out personal liability insurance. Because of what the congress may do overtime. So. It's it it does nothing but hurt America if somebody lied to the congress they deserve to be punished that should be investigated and taken to the limit. But if there's nothing to this I think you have to look at mrs. Pelosi and her gang as kind of very negative. People about defending America and about making sure the intelligence service operates appropriately. I'm Michael real quickly when we hear from Leon Panetta. I hope mr. Panetta speaks up one way or another he can squash this right away. It he really needs to have some courage and step up here because. You can't just keep abusing the intelligence service and expect them to risk their lives as the congressman said. To protect us now -- Michael thank you very much our hearings."