The incoming Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee has a few problems understanding what’s going on in the world:
The incoming Democratic chairman of the House intelligence committee could not describe Hezbollah and incorrectly described al-Qaeda’s Islamic roots in a recent interview.
Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-Tex.), whom incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) named earlier this month to chair the panel, formally known as the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, was asked by a reporter from Congressional Quarterly whether al-Qaeda was Sunni or Shiite. “Predominantly — probably Shiite,” Reyes replied.
From Osama bin Laden down, al-Qaeda’s leadership is comprehensively Sunni and subscribes to a form of Sunni Islam known for not tolerating theological deviation.
In fact, U.S. officials blame al-Qaeda’s late leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, for the surge in sectarian violence between Sunnis and Shiites.
Asked to describe the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, according to a story published online Friday, Reyes responded “Hezbollah. Uh, Hezbollah” and then said, “Why do you ask me these questions at 5 o’clock?”
The Texas congressman later added: “Speaking only for myself, it’s hard to keep things in perspective and in the categories.”
Not exactly something that inspires confidence.
