House Speaker-designee Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has tapped Rep. Sylvestre Reyes (D- Tex.) to chair the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. In a statement, Pelosi cited his “impeccable national security credentials” and his long-time service on intelligence and armed services committees and his military service as measures of his bona fides. Pelosi bypassed the intel committee’s ranking Democrat, fellow Californian Jane Harman.
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.
