After nearly appointing Alcee Hastings to the position, one would think Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi would find a qualified appointee this time. 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.
Nancy Pelosi has never been known for her intellect. Now it looks like she will be in good company with her new House intelligence chief.
We could be in for a long two years with a Democratic controlled House of Representatives.
The CNN story of the Rep. Reyes botched intel quiz here.
More about former intel candidate Alcee Hastings here and here.
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