Feinstein suggests CIA concealment broke law

[UpInArms]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Six months into Barack Obama's presidency, his Democratic allies are pushing for twin investigations into Bush-era torture and anti-terrorism policies.

Two senators including the head of the intelligence committee suggested Sunday that the prior administration broke the law by concealing a CIA counterterrorism program from Congress.

The assertion that Vice President Dick Cheney ordered the concealment came amid word that Attorney General Eric Holder is contemplating opening a criminal probe of possible CIA torture.

A move to appoint a criminal prosecutor is certain to stir partisan bickering that could prove a distraction to Obama's efforts to push ambitious health care and energy reform.

Obama has repeatedly expressed reluctance to probing alleged Bush-era abuses. He resisted an effort by congressional Democrats to establish a "truth commission," saying the nation should be "looking forward and not backwards."

Regarding the 8-year-old counterterrorism program, the Bush administration's failure to notify Congress "is a big problem, because the law is very clear," said Senate Intelligence Committee chairwoman Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

Congress should investigate the secrecy because "it could be illegal," Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gurHxtUPTQkD8uS6wxN8DHVIuP5wD99D2S980

[monmouth]

1. I'm getting a whiff of treason here. Anyone else?....n/t

[mopinko]

7. that part of my odor detection is burned out.

but, yeah, i sure hope that treason will be one of the charges.

[bertman]

11. If the CIA does it, it can't be treason. Didn't you know that?

[RufusTFirefly]

2. I trust Feinstein about as much as I trust Joe Isuzu. I wonder what she's up to n/t

It'll be great if she actually means it, but Dianne almost always seems to be talking out of both sides of her mouth.

[cascadiance]

6. Yes, she was one of the first to talk about attorney scandal after Carol Lam got fired...

And to her credit, her comments helped get it more visibility. On the other hand, what were her motivations for doing so? Perhaps she was afraid that California District Attorneys, especially those that might be more partisan that were appointed to replace Lam, would go after her to help Arny appoint a Rethuglican to replace her.

Even though she was really "after" Gonzo and those for firing those attorneys, she sure seemed complicit in helping Mukasey getting appointed to replace Gonzo. I smelled a deal being cut for her on that one...

I wonder what the back story might be here... Might need some extra "digging" to find out.

[bvar22]

3. Feinstein complaing about CIA secrecy ??? !!!

She is probably upset because she couldn't milk a few $MILLION from a program she didn't know about.

She has never been shy about War Profiteering.

[The Second Stone]

4. Shocked, shocked I tell you

that Diane Feinstein would criticize a Bush era intelligence program that was illegally concealed from Congress. I can hardly wait until she is up for reelection, as I will vote for anybody before voting for her again. I look forward to the day she is out of office and we have any other Democrat in her seat. What a grandstanding waste of effort.

[Wizard777]

5. A lie of omission is none the less a lie.

Aaaaah, if only it were a crime to lie to Congress about something other than sex and steroids. They would be in some real trouble. If only Congress was made up of lawmakers and statesmen instead gossipy chin wagging lip flapping busybodies.

[Syntheto]

8. This is great news! Now...

...if we can establish a precedent to investigate previous administrations, no future administration will be able to get by with stonewalling and WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS WHILE IN OFFICE by whoever is running the show after them. Good! Imagine if Eisenhower had been able to take Truman to task for the Bomb! How different the world would be! If Nixon had been able to nail McNamara and LBJ for Vietnam! Or, Bobby Kennedy for his involvement in the Bay of Pigs fiasco! If Reagan could've gone after Carter for his inadequate and humiliating response to the takeover of the American Embassy in Tehran by 'students', and the subsequent year-long hostage situation, not to mention the Delta Force disaster! That will make future (and present) wannabe power mongers think twice, by Elvis! Bring it freaking on!!!

[Robb]

14. Interesting read.

You're not fooling anyone, you know. ;)

[bluesmail]

9. Di Fi is a plant for her hubby's Corporation Bechtel

Back when I was naive, I actually trusted her. But that was long ago. I wonder how she's going to make her next move.

[truthisfreedom]

10. Amazing. It's AP, and in the FIRST sentence are the words "torture" and "Democratic."

Halle-fuckin'-lujah. If this was last year, they would have read "enhanced interrogation" and "democrat".

[PSzymeczek]

12. Gee, ya THINK?

:eyes:

[premiumblend]

13. do more than suggest Di.

[lib2DaBone]

15. She's pissed, she and her husband missed out on a war profiteering opportunity..

[Big_Mike]

16. They developed a program and didn't notify Congress.

Of course it's illegal!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

17. She should know.

[lunatica]

18. Anything to take attention away from her husband's war profiteering

She's so good at that pseudo liberal shtick. No sooner does she come under scrutiny or get unwanted attention for her obviously self serving politics than she puts on the old liberal act. Once you see the real Feinstein she's really obvious and predictble. "Look! Look over there! I, Diane F am outraged I tell you!"