Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, who incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped to head the Intelligence Committee when the Democrats take over in January, failed a quiz of basic questions about al Qaeda and Hezbollah, two of the key terrorist organizations the intelligence community has focused on since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
When asked by CQ National Security Editor Jeff Stein whether al Qaeda is one or the other of the two major branches of Islam -- Sunni or Shiite -- Reyes answered "they are probably both," then ventured "Predominantly -- probably Shiite."
That is wrong. Al Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden as a Sunni organization and views Shiites as heretics.
Reyes could also not answer questions put by Stein about Hezbollah, a Shiite group on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations that is based in Southern Lebanon.
Stein's column about Reyes' answers was published on CQ's Web site Friday evening.
In an interview with CNN, Stein said he was "amazed" by Reyes' lack of what he considers basic information about two of the major terrorists organizations.
"If you're the baseball commissioner and you don't know the difference between the Yankees and the Red Sox, you don't know baseball," Stein said. "You're not going to have the respect of the people you work with."
While Stein said Reyes is "not a stupid guy," his lack of knowledge said it could hamper Reyes' ability to provide effective oversight of the intelligence community, Stein believes.
"If you don't have the basics, how do you effectively question the administration?" he asked. "You don't know who is on first."
Stein said Reyes is not the only member of the House Intelligence Committee that he has interviewed that lacked what he considered basic knowledge about terrorist organizations.
"It kind of disgusts you, because these guys are supposed to be tending your knitting," Stein said. "Most people are rightfully appalled."
Pelosi picked Reyes over fellow Californian Rep. Jane Harman, who had been the Intelligence Committee's ranking member, and Rep. Alcee Hastings of Florida, who had been impeached as a federal judge after being accused of taking a bribe.
Calls from CNN to Reyes' office asking for reaction to Stein's column have not been returned.
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Man, this would be like someone asking Greg Brooks who sang the first verse of WWTLF and him responding with "Freddie".
oh wai
oh wai
HOLY SHIITE!
As if things would have been any better if Republicans retained the house. They're all a bunch of fuckin' morons.
...different party, same lack of brain cells.
As if things would have been any better if Republicans retained the house. They're all a bunch of fuckin' morons.
...different party, same lack of brain cells.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Mr.Jingles wrote: [/QUOTENAME]
...different party, same lack of brain cells.
[/QUOTE]
And there you have it.
...different party, same lack of brain cells.
[/QUOTE]
And there you have it.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Haystacks Calhounski wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Reyes answered "they are probably both," then ventured "Predominantly -- probably Shiite."[/QUOTE]
Ugh, morons...
Ugh, morons...
its like watching paris hilton solve a math problem....
oh snap!
oh snap!
If honesty and intelligence were suddenly introduced into American politics, the whole system would collapse.
This doesn't surprise me at all, as sad as it is. Just goes to show that Americans don't give a crap about their politicians as long as they aren't personally affected by anything.
This doesn't surprise me at all, as sad as it is. Just goes to show that Americans don't give a crap about their politicians as long as they aren't personally affected by anything.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]CMU HistoryGirl wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Just goes to show that Americans don't give a crap about their politicians as long as they aren't personally affected by anything. [/QUOTE]
That is exactly my view on politics. Sorry for ruining the United States government. :(
That is exactly my view on politics. Sorry for ruining the United States government. :(
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]<b><font color=666600>Music Man wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]CMU HistoryGirl wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Just goes to show that Americans don't give a crap about their politicians as long as they aren't personally affected by anything. [/QUOTE]
That is exactly my view on politics. Sorry for ruining the United States government. :([/QUOTE]
Haha. Yeah, I know what you mean. Just as long as everyone has their job and money coming in and nothing is personally threatening them, then it's ok to vote for whoever without actually looking at the politician, because the "ads" tell you everything you need to know.
It's disgusting
That is exactly my view on politics. Sorry for ruining the United States government. :([/QUOTE]
Haha. Yeah, I know what you mean. Just as long as everyone has their job and money coming in and nothing is personally threatening them, then it's ok to vote for whoever without actually looking at the politician, because the "ads" tell you everything you need to know.
It's disgusting
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Sparrow wrote: [/QUOTENAME]its like watching paris hilton solve a math problem....
oh snap![/QUOTE]
Well, this might surprise you, but I think Paris is "secretly" quite intelligent. I think it might take more brains than the average person has to figure out how to be that famous and well-paid for just being "Paris".
oh snap![/QUOTE]
Well, this might surprise you, but I think Paris is "secretly" quite intelligent. I think it might take more brains than the average person has to figure out how to be that famous and well-paid for just being "Paris".
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Donna13 wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Sparrow wrote: [/QUOTENAME]its like watching paris hilton solve a math problem....
oh snap![/QUOTE]
Well, this might surprise you, but I think Paris is "secretly" quite intelligent. I think it might take more brains than the average person has to figure out how to be that famous and well-paid for just being "Paris". [/QUOTE]
It doesn't take a lot of brains to achieve what Paris has achieved, first you have to suck a whole lot of celebrity cock.
oh snap![/QUOTE]
Well, this might surprise you, but I think Paris is "secretly" quite intelligent. I think it might take more brains than the average person has to figure out how to be that famous and well-paid for just being "Paris". [/QUOTE]
It doesn't take a lot of brains to achieve what Paris has achieved, first you have to suck a whole lot of celebrity cock.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]CMU HistoryGirl wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]<b><font color=666600>Music Man wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]CMU HistoryGirl wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Just goes to show that Americans don't give a crap about their politicians as long as they aren't personally affected by anything. [/QUOTE]
That is exactly my view on politics. Sorry for ruining the United States government. :([/QUOTE]
Haha. Yeah, I know what you mean. Just as long as everyone has their job and money coming in and nothing is personally threatening them, then it's ok to vote for whoever without actually looking at the politician, because the "ads" tell you everything you need to know.
It's disgusting[/QUOTE]
I actually don't vote for politicians, because I know that I will never be able to make a fully informed decision. I know my decision will be more informed than, say, 90% of everyone else, but their votes are just as useless. I'm not saying that only the people who are hardcore into political issues should vote - I'm saying that politics is a very closed game where it's quite difficult to get all the unbiased information you need.
I will vote for referendums and such that I am aware of, however, because it is much easier to inform oneself on such issues.
But, take the 2004 Presidential election, for example. We had Bush or Kerry. The most persuasive argument to vote for Kerry was "He's not Bush," which was absolutely ridiculous. Politicians just cannot make themselves look good anymore. The best you can get is, "not as bad as the other guy(s)." So my (pitiful) solution is just to not vote. Sorry, but that's all I can do. I'm not going to put in the time and effort to become an arrogant political expert. I mean, we only have one life to live, yeah? And it's hard enough just being arrogant. ;-)
That is exactly my view on politics. Sorry for ruining the United States government. :([/QUOTE]
Haha. Yeah, I know what you mean. Just as long as everyone has their job and money coming in and nothing is personally threatening them, then it's ok to vote for whoever without actually looking at the politician, because the "ads" tell you everything you need to know.
It's disgusting[/QUOTE]
I actually don't vote for politicians, because I know that I will never be able to make a fully informed decision. I know my decision will be more informed than, say, 90% of everyone else, but their votes are just as useless. I'm not saying that only the people who are hardcore into political issues should vote - I'm saying that politics is a very closed game where it's quite difficult to get all the unbiased information you need.
I will vote for referendums and such that I am aware of, however, because it is much easier to inform oneself on such issues.
But, take the 2004 Presidential election, for example. We had Bush or Kerry. The most persuasive argument to vote for Kerry was "He's not Bush," which was absolutely ridiculous. Politicians just cannot make themselves look good anymore. The best you can get is, "not as bad as the other guy(s)." So my (pitiful) solution is just to not vote. Sorry, but that's all I can do. I'm not going to put in the time and effort to become an arrogant political expert. I mean, we only have one life to live, yeah? And it's hard enough just being arrogant. ;-)
**bows to MusicMan**
You are very observant!
You are very observant!
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Donna13 wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Sparrow wrote: [/QUOTENAME]its like watching paris hilton solve a math problem....
oh snap![/QUOTE]
Well, this might surprise you, but I think Paris is "secretly" quite intelligent. I think it might take more brains than the average person has to figure out how to be that famous and well-paid for just being "Paris". [/QUOTE]
Yeah, she is the only one i have ever known to visit a tire air pump to get a refill for her head.
oh snap![/QUOTE]
Well, this might surprise you, but I think Paris is "secretly" quite intelligent. I think it might take more brains than the average person has to figure out how to be that famous and well-paid for just being "Paris". [/QUOTE]
Yeah, she is the only one i have ever known to visit a tire air pump to get a refill for her head.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Crezchi wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Donna13 wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Sparrow wrote: [/QUOTENAME]its like watching paris hilton solve a math problem....
oh snap![/QUOTE]
Well, this might surprise you, but I think Paris is "secretly" quite intelligent. I think it might take more brains than the average person has to figure out how to be that famous and well-paid for just being "Paris". [/QUOTE]
Yeah, she is the only one i have ever known to visit a tire air pump to get a refill for her head. [/QUOTE]
Well, that's one I haven't heard yet. Ha. But I am assuming that Paris probably knows more about business than most. Her public behavior and expressions such as, "That's hot," seem to be conceived to project a dumb (and carefree) persona. If we fall for her "act" (which is making her famous), it makes us seem even more dumb I think. That's like believing that Britney forgot to put on underwear because she is so dumb. Think again.
oh snap![/QUOTE]
Well, this might surprise you, but I think Paris is "secretly" quite intelligent. I think it might take more brains than the average person has to figure out how to be that famous and well-paid for just being "Paris". [/QUOTE]
Yeah, she is the only one i have ever known to visit a tire air pump to get a refill for her head. [/QUOTE]
Well, that's one I haven't heard yet. Ha. But I am assuming that Paris probably knows more about business than most. Her public behavior and expressions such as, "That's hot," seem to be conceived to project a dumb (and carefree) persona. If we fall for her "act" (which is making her famous), it makes us seem even more dumb I think. That's like believing that Britney forgot to put on underwear because she is so dumb. Think again.