For years defenders of the Bush administration complained bitterly about anonymous leaks from the CIA that undercut the administration’s position on the War on Terror. It’s impossible to effectively refute charges from a source who doesn’t reveal himself (or herself). And it’s impossible to silence leaks from an organization as large as the CIA. Leaks from intelligence agencies did a great deal of damage to the Bush White House. And now the shoe is on the other foot:

Thoughts on the CIA Attack on Pelosi

It’s pretty clear that the CIA is using Rep. Pete Hoekstra to kneecap Specker Pelosi. What’s not as clear is whether they have some justification for doing so. But I’m not that interested in that debate. Either way, the CIA is trying to beat back any accountability for torturing the crap out of people who were in their custody and at their mercy…

This commenter seems to think that these CIA leaks make it harder for Pelosi to drop a potential investigation into enhanced interrogation techniques. The argument goes that Pelosi is at worst guilty only of lying, while the interrogators are guilty of torture.

I suppose that’s one way of looking at it.

I would argue that while Pelosi is guilty of lying, hypocrisy, and damaging national security, the interrogators are ‘guilty’ of waterboarding terrorists. While it damages national security to attempt to criminalize the efforts of our war-fighters retroactively, I have no question who’ll fare better politically.