Letters: Feinstein’s hypocrisy on spying

Re “CIA denies Senate spying claim,” March 12

Anyone who fails to appreciate the supreme irony of Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s (D-Calif.) righteous indignation over the CIA’s alleged spying on and undermining of the Senate Intelligence Committee (of which Feinstein is chair) has not been paying attention.

For years, she has been one of the intelligence community’s most steadfast champions, deflecting criticism of the surveillance state, attacking whistle-blowers and justifying nearly every abuse. Her tenure at the spy community’s ultimate oversight body, tasked with safeguarding the public interest, has seen that institution perform as something between a star chamber and a cheerleading squad.

Only when the monster she helped create might have turned against her does she seem to remember something called the Constitution. Is it any wonder that Congress is held in utter contempt by the people?

Mark McCormick

Los Angeles

In January, a Times news article described Feinstein as “a key defender of the National Security Agency’s data tracking program.” Now, just two months later, Feinstein is riled up about the national security apparatus, but only because she believes it turned a jaundiced eye on Senate staffers.

Well, Sen. Feinstein, how does it feel?

Frankly, I believe she and her supporters should be ashamed of her hypocrisy. Of course, this includes The Times, which endorsed Feinstein in 2012, stating clearly that “endorsing her for another term is an easy call.”

Paul Marsden

Garden Grove

Feinstein’s committee found documents showing that President Bush’s torture program was far more barbaric than previously revealed and far less effective than claimed. This controversy is really about the CIA hiding potential crimes from Feinstein’s committee.

CIA Director John Brennan endorsed torture and rendition under Bush. As director, he has kept the lid on the truth. He should be fired.

The Senate Intelligence Committee report needs to be declassified, and if the U.S. won’t pursue possible war criminals, the International Criminal Court should.

But under Bush, the U.S. refused to be under the court’s jurisdiction. The Obama administration has since renewed a relationship with the court, but Senate ratification is needed for the ICC to do what no one in this country has the stomach to do.

It is the president’s job to ask the Senate for ratification. Shame on us all if he does not.

Richard Green

San Clemente

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