If they knew why didn't they do anything? Muc less Approve it.

Below is what the article you linked says about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: "Mrs. Pelosi has said she was briefed on waterboarding techniques only once, when she was ranking member of the House committee, and said that in that briefing CIA officials said they thought the tactic was legal and that the agency was considering using it." "They come in to us and represent certain things. We can't talk to other people about it. We don't know whether it is true or false. We just know that it is a fact that that is what they have told us in these closed hearings and people hear different things in the same room, depending on their own experience," Mrs. Pelosi told reporters Wednesday. (End of excerpt) I saw Speaker Pelosi on TV a short while ago and she said she wanted to make it clear that she was never told the torture techniques were being used, just that it was legal to do so and she never gave her approval. I'm not going to try to quote her exactly because I don't recall her exact quote and I can't find it anywhere yet. However, from what I gather these legislators weren't given the opportunity to approve or disapprove of what they were briefed about and they weren't to tell anyone else what they'd learned because it was classified information. If we're to take Pelosi at her word - and I know few people here are willing to do that - there is no evidence that she "approved" of torture at all. Personally,Personally, I think anyone directly responsible for the torture techniques used should definitely be held accountable, regardless of which party they happen to belong to. However, I think it was the Administration who made all the decisions in this regard and those in the highest positions should be held the most responsible. Annie

"Why is Pelosi only picking and choosing the people she wants held accountable?" Not that Speaker Pelosie has full control of this matter but one must remember who her base constituency is. There are those on the right that are adamant that nothing wrong was done and they're wrong. There are those on the left that will settle for nothing less then an inquisition trial into all things actual or perceived that were done wrong by the last administration and they're wrong. Nothing less then Former President Busch and his cabal in leg irons will suffice. In my opinion if this is what they want they had better think about the laws of unintended consequences and who else will be sucked up into hysteria of screaming moralists. Has anyone noticed the deafening silence of Majority leader Harry Reed? It has been reported that he does not support anything more then the house investigation that is going on now. President Obama said that he wants to look forward, has ordered stopped any further operations and the closure of GITMO. I do not believe our already fractured country could stand Washington stagnation while investigations and trials are commenced with.

They didn't disapprove until it was politically expedient for them. In other words, there is nothing to any of the charges but childish political games. If these people aren't included in any charges on the matter, there is nothing legal or ethical about the case at all. It's called a lynching, and used to be something the democrats claimed to abhor.

I think they need to get her part of this straight before they have her making ddecisions on anyone. There should not be any of this, it is only who she thinks , it should fair and square and after they have dealt with her accountability. So looks like another gigantic blunder.

It's really simple. Pelosi is a liar and a hyppocrite. She's a greedy wench who cares only about her political career. If she'd opposed these measures and another 9-11 happened, her career would end. On the other hand, this tactic has not only kept her in office, but become something she can now use to oust her enemies. It's the beauty of congress. You get all the power with none of the responsibility. The CEOs and their golden parachutes have nothing on congress.

Hi lilwonders...I think that this sets a bad precedent when the current administration seeks to charge the previous administration for policy disagreements. Who is willing to take responsibility for any actions when in another four or eight years you can be tried and imprisoned for those actions? If I knew that I don't think I'd want to take responsibility.