The Central Intelligence Agency withheld information about a secret counterterrorism program from Congress for eight years on direct orders from former Vice President Dick Cheney, the agency’s director, Leon E. Panetta, has told the Senate and House intelligence committees, two people with direct knowledge of the matter have said.
The report that Mr. Cheney was behind the decision to conceal the still-unidentified program from Congress deepened the mystery surrounding it, suggesting that the Bush administration had put a high priority on the program and its secrecy.
Mr. Panetta, who ended the program when he first learned of its existence from subordinates on June 23, briefed the two intelligence committees about it in separate closed sessions the next day.
The disclosure about Mr. Cheney’s role in the unidentified C.I.A. program comes a day after an inspector general’s report underscored the central role of the former vice president’s office in restricting to a small circle of officials knowledge of the National Security Agency’s program of eavesdropping without warrants, a degree of secrecy that the report concluded had hurt the effectiveness of the counterterrorism surveillance effort…
One intelligence official, who would speak about the classified program only on condition of anonymity, said there was no resistance inside the C.I.A. to Mr. Panetta’s decision to end the program last month…
In the eight years of his vice presidency, Mr. Cheney was the Bush administration’s most vehement defender of the secrecy of government activities, particularly in the intelligence arena. He went to the Supreme Court to keep secret the advisers to his task force on energy, and won.
Well of course, he won. The majority of court members are gutless wonders who are at least 70 or 80 years in arrears of advancements in science, law and knowledge in general.
Not any more…
Impossible Bush was president.
Funny.
And in other news, Obama pledges to break the laws congress passes and he signs. ROFL!
Not really. The Bush regime sported some real nasty bastards.
Maybe this would be legal in a dictatorship, but under our constitutionally-based government, surely some members of Congress should be informed of CIA activity?
#2
Exactly. It’s like me claiming I run my house, being the man and all, really, it’s my wife that makes all the big decisions. 🙂 At least she let’s me think I’m in charge…one in a while.
So Panetta learned about it 3 weeks ago, from subordinates who wanted to inform Congress. He agreed with their opinion, and closed the program?
I think the Times should hire back some copy editors.
Ever wonder what secrets he kept locked away in those safes he had? And where did they end up?
I also find it funny how quiet he is lately.
ohh yea blame it all on Cheney with an unnamed source
this story is pure bullshit but your left wing liberal fool will eat it up
3 days from now it will all be shown to be a lie but will there be a retraction here I’ll bet not
Cheney (and many others in the GW Bush administration) broke the laws of our country (USA) and the international treaties that the USA is obligated, by USA law, to obey.
Failure to bring him to justice, through the established laws of our country, would be as much against the law as a policeman failing to arrest a criminal because of a friendship relationship.
This standard must be maintained if we are to avoid becoming a third rate outfit like so many African, Southeast Asian and Latin American countries.
Once that happens it is exteremely difficult to reverse. Just read what happens in those countries.
PM…I have $5 on the opposite prediction: this goes big. You game?
speaking of fools, see #9
It’s terrible thing when people love their political party more than their own country.
#13
You were under the delusion any of these neocons here ever loved the United States of America?
Har!
If you really hurry, you just might be able to catch up to that turnip truck you just fell off.
Where are the O’Mama apologists to explain why Obama has pledged to ignore the laws congress passes?
Patrick, if the pledge doesn’t involve war, the Bill of Rights, or international treaties, nobody cares. SSDD.
#11, Mr. Baggins,
I only hope this goes so big that the Obama Administration and Congress will be unable to resist the overwhelming pressure to have an investigation.
While criminal charges might be best, I’d even settle for public humiliation, loss of pensions, and allowing the sanitizing air of the light of day to clean up this mess.
On a second note, this only adds more fuel to the suggestion of GW being the worst President ever if his Vice-President could get away with setting up and running his own illegal programs. ALTHOUGH, this may have even disgusted even Bush and is the reason he didn’t give blanket pardons.
Okay, one guy who thinks its okay for the President to break the law. Any others?
Patrick, let me play your game on you: where did I say it was ok?
#19 I’ll refresh your memory. You said, “nobody cares.”
Look up “nobody”. Since you didn’t exclude yourself, it includes you.
#20, Cow-Patty,
So are you insinuating you’re a “nobody” then?
Who cares. It was all in the best interest of the US. It wasn’t like they were going after you and me and you were/are a terrorist.
#5 David “constitutionally-based government” that is so “Leave It To Beaver” niave, it’s sad.
Since when have we had “constitutionally-based government”
This is just one small example.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB_jp3Sm1BY
Still think that Bush was a puppet and Cheney is the sick bain behind all that and more.
If you’re going to use this analogy, you might want to explain what a dalek is and who is, “Dr. Who”. Then again there may be no one alive who doesn’t know. Tom Baker was the best Doctor. I stated that for trolling.
Cheney should be tried for treason based on the damage he caused to the US for lying about Iraq’s non-existent WMD’s and the resulting quagmire we are still stuck in in the middle east. Going above the law like he has with his no-bid contracts, illegal wiretapping, and shooting old guys in the face is just gravy.
Eideard nice picture.
The caption should read:
How Cheney looks caged in the newly designed SUPER MAX personal prison suit, complete with expendable feeding/pooping tube.
Anyone taking bets on whether or not Cheney has a “heart attack” between now and Christmas?
For all we know, Cheney supported a secret program to keep terrorists from making babies into suicide bombs. I’m not at all willing to condemn a man for keeping a top secret project from the blabermouths in congress, especially if it’s still top secret, AND I assume the new admin knows about it and has continued it.
What’s next, prosecuting Truman for keeping Roswell secret?
If it was a top secret program to tape Nancy Pelosi’s mouth shut I’m all for it.