I feel like I was mislead and would like to apologize to the people who count on me for being gullible and not doing my job.

That is what Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) should have said when she claimed that the CIA misled her about their interrogation techniques.  The CIA and Republicans say, "T'ain't so."  Pre-freaking-dictable.  All around.  While my friend Hayley over at The Alternate Allele has a good argument that it is the responsibility of individuals to avoid getting duped, it is fair to hold the Speaker of the House of Representatives to higher standards than your Average Joe. 

Misled?  In political speak, misled is very different from accusing someone of lying.  Lying to Congress is a crime.  How does one get misled without being lied to?  By being gullible or abdicating the responsibility of asking tough questions until one gets complete answers.  At its best, the scientific method celebrates this process of questions, answers, and debates.  It helps keep the idea space clear of clutter. 

I just came back from an academic conference where every presenter is trying to present their work in the best light possible.  There is definitely potential to be misled.  That is why it is my, and every other scientist's, responsibility to ask tough questions and demand complete answers.  If I am misled by anything short of an outright lie, it is my own damn fault.

Either Pelosi, whose job actually involves national power and responsibility, is either confessing that she is naive, admitting that she failed to do her job by asking tough questions until she gets complete answers, or accusing the CIA briefers of the crime of lying to Congress.