Holy Shiite! New House Intel Chair Reyes flunks entry level quiz
Reporter’s Questions Put Intelligence Chair on the Spot
A reporter recently directed the questions about Islam to Texas Democratic Rep. Silvestre Reyes. Reyes failed, which would perhaps not be a big deal if Reyes were an ordinary congressman.
But he’s not. Come January, Reyes will chair the House Intelligence Committee, which oversees all U.S. intelligence activity, a good portion of which is directed toward the war on terror.
Reyes could not tell Congressional Quarterly’s national security editor Jeff Stein whether al Qaeda was made up of Sunnis or Shiites. From Stein’s scathing column on the exchange:
“Al Qaeda, they have both,” Reyes said. “You’re talking about predominately?”
“Sure,” I said, not knowing what else to say.
“Predominantly â?? probably Shiite,” he ventured.”â?? Congressional Quarterly
There really is no excuse for this. Every member of Congress should know the basic facts about the people who want to destroy our way of life. Are we at a point where that is too much to ask?
As an astute observer of the scene told me earlier tonight, I’m paraphrasing,
What’s even more appalling is that he was allowed before a microphone with so little basic knowledge of the situation. Didn’t they prepare him at all? Either way, you have to know the rudimentary aspects of this global struggle to hold that position, don’t you?
Silvestre Reyes is no Alcee Hastings. But he’s still not worthy of the title of Chairmen of the House Intelligence Committee. Pelosi should give Jane Harmon her job back. She should follow one of the recommendations of the 9-11 Commission she loves to cite, which was to keep members on the intelligence committee for long periods of time to accumulate institutional knowledge. I know she is still on the committee, but she was in line to chair it and Pelosi alone said no. The only people that don’t respect Harmon are the far left wing of the Democrat Party. For this, we almost get an impeached federal judge and we do get someone with no idea of what we are up against.
I feel safer already.
Politics, War On Terror | Kevin | 
December 12, 2006 10:17 pm
“Al Qaeda”, the concocted terror group introduced for psychological warfare purposes against the American citizenry, is made up of CIA-financed and trained mujaheddin. Western intelligence factions = “Al Qaeda”.
Reyes may or may not know this.
This could only be good news to the terrorists, after all, if the ones who are heading the fight against them are unaware of who they are, then the’ve got serious problems
John, very insightful comment. Thanks for your salience once again. Gregg
[...] It is really troublesome that so few in Washington speak so directly and candidly about Islamic fundamentalism. They are at war with us, and we still don’t get it. Instead of guys like Lieberman in leadership positions we get guys like Democratic Rep. Silvestre Reyes running the Intelligence Committee. Here’s a guy who doesn’t know Shiite from Shineola when it comes to our enemies. [...]
[...] And let’s not forget Nancy’s choice for head of the Intelligence Committee, Alcee Hastings, a corrupt federal judge who was impeached and removed from the bench before he became a congressmen. In case you were wondering, Pelosi voted in favor of his impeachment and removal. Maybe she believes in redemption? When Hastings wouldn’t fly, even within her own party, she turned to Rep. Silvestre Reyes, a guy who doesn’t know anything about the enemies we face. He doesn’t know Shiite from Shineola. [...]
[...] Democrats have no answers on Iraq and no interest in victory, only partisan games. Here is their leader on the Intelligence Committee, Silvestre “I Don’t Know Shiite” Reyes, [...]
[...] Take the new chair of the House Intelligence Committee (please) Silvestre “I Don’t Know Shiite” Reyes. “Chairman” Reyes was recently asked some basic Al Qaeda 101 questions by a reporter for Congressional Quarterly and he flunked badly, A reporter recently directed the questions about Islam to Texas Democratic Rep. Silvestre Reyes. Reyes failed, which would perhaps not be a big deal if Reyes were an ordinary congressman. [...]
[...] The guy is clueless, has no idea what is happening in Iraq. Kind of like the new chairmen of the Intelligence Committee, ironically enough. Remember good old Rep. Sylvestre Reyes, the guy that didn’t know whether Al Qaeda was a Sunni or Shiite group? [...]
[...] Reminds me of Rep. Sylvestre Reyes, the buffoon who doesn’t know Shiite from Shinola but knows enough to be named by Nancy Pelosi as chair of the House Intelligence Committee. Here are his positions on the surge plan, In December, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes stated, “We have to consider the need for additional troops to be in Iraq, to take out the militias and stabilize Iraq … I would say 20,000 to 30,000-for the specific purpose of making sure those militias are dismantled, working in concert with the Iraqi military.” Newsweek, December 5, 2006 [...]