Top Pelosi Aide Learned Of Waterboarding in 2003

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/08/AR2009050803967.html?hpid=topnews

A top aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi attended a CIA briefing in early 2003 in which it was made clear that waterboarding and other harsh techniques were being used in the interrogation of an alleged al-Qaeda operative, according to documents the CIA released to Congress on Thursday.

Pelosi has insisted that she was not directly briefed by Bush administration officials that the practice was being actively employed. But Michael Sheehy, a top Pelosi aide, was present for a classified briefing that included Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.), then the ranking minority member of the House intelligence committee, at which agency officials discussed the use of waterboarding on terrorism suspect Abu Zubaida.

A Democratic source acknowledged yesterday that it is almost certain that Pelosi would have learned about the use of waterboarding from Sheehy. Pelosi herself acknowledged in a December 2007 statement that she was aware that Harman had learned of the waterboarding and had objected in a letter to the CIA's top counsel.

"It was my understanding at that time that Congresswoman Harman filed a letter in early 2003 to the CIA to protest the use of such techniques, a protest with which I concurred," Pelosi said in the Dec. 9, 2007, statement.

Pelosi’s National Security Adviser Heads to Private Sector
http://www.rollcall.com/news/32578-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

Sheehy has worked for Pelosi for the past six years and in the House for more than 30 years. He will be replaced by Wyndee Parker, who currently serves as deputy staff director and general counsel for the House Intelligence Committee.

“Mike has been a trusted and valuable advisor to me for many years and I deeply appreciate his dedication and expertise in defense, intelligence and foreign affairs. He has helped shape the agenda this Congress has taken to develop and strengthen ties with other countries. I wish him the best of luck with his new endeavors,” Pelosi said in a statement.

Parker, who holds a bachelor’s from Duke University and a law degree from the Ohio State University College of Law, will begin her new duties in the Speaker’s office next month. Pelosi praised her experience on national security matters, including on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Republicans are desperately worried?

I'm kind of stupid in most areas, but my bullshit meter is well-calibrated.