When the Democrats took over the House, Alcee Hastings was poised to become chairman of the Intelligence committee when Nancy Pelosi passed over the ranking member Jane Harman due to insufficient political loyalty (i.e. working with the Republicans). As an impeached judge, whom even Pelosi voted to remove from office, his ascencion would have been a disaster so Pelosi tapped Silvestre Reyes. Turns out, he is not qualified for the job he is going to have, which is extraordinarily important.

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.

Stein's column about Reyes' answers was published on CQ's Web site Friday evening.

In an interview with CNN, Stein said he was "amazed" by Reyes' lack of what he considers basic information about two of the major terrorists organizations.

With Democrats in charge, it looks like we have a choice of either corruption or ignorance.

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