Rumsfeld 'has secret spy force'

[ckramer]

January 24, 2005

DONALD RUMSFELD, the US Defence Secretary, has created his own secret global spy force that has been opera-ting in Iraq and Afghanistan for more than two years without the knowledge of the US Congress, according to classified documents published yesterday.

The previously undisclosed unit, named the Strategic Support Branch, was reportedly set up by Mr Rumsfeld after the September 11 terror attacks to bypass the CIA’s traditional role of intelligence gathering and give him wide, secret and unilateral authority over his own spy operations abroad.

The spying operation, made up of Pentagon special forces units working alongside military interrogators and linguists, is charged with conducting secret missions in friendly and unfriendly countries where conventional war is a distant prospect. It is a role usually undertaken by the CIA’s Directorate of Operations.

Mr Rumsfeld’s disdain for the CIA’s intelligence gathering capabilities, and what he views as its risk-averse approach, is well known, but the existence of his own worldwide spy network, detailed by The Washington Post, reinforces suspicions that he is trying to circumvent the massive post-September 11 intelligence overhall signed into law by President Bush in December.

times

[gulfcoastliberal]

1. No wonder the enthusiasm at A-G

It was Rumsfailed all along. He should be impeached immediately. Too bad the dems won't do jack shit. Just another act in this grand tragedy.

[ckramer]

2. Did you guys read this:

"...for more than two years without the knowledge of the US Congress..."

[Moderator]

3. duplicate topic

discuss here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1175199