Bush's Intelligence Czar admits he uttered untruths to the US Senate

[swag]

Think Progress:

Earlier this week, in testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell claimed the new expansive FISA legislation passed by Congress prior to the August recess — the so-called Protect America Act — had helped to thwart a an alleged terror plot in Germany.

A government official later told the New York Times that McConnell was wrong, and that the intelligence had been collected under the old FISA law which required warrants. A chorus of House Democrats immediately raised concerns about McConnell’s claims.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) demanded McConnell back up his sworn statement. Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) said the Protect America Act “played no role in uncovering the recent German terrorist plot.” House Intelligence Committee chairman Silvestre Reyes urge McConnell “to issue a public statement immediately” correcting his remarks.

In a statement released today, McConnell unapologetically acknowledged he lied to the Senate:

During the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing on September 10, 2007, I discussed the critical importance to our national security of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), and the recent amendments to FISA made by the Protect America Act. The Protect America Act was urgently needed by our intelligence professionals to close critical gaps in our capabilities and permit them to more readily follow terrorist threats, such as the plot uncovered in Germany. However, information contributing to the recent arrests was not collected under authorities provided by the Protect America Act.

[Richard Steele]

1. K&R

[Fredda Weinberg]

2. Isikoff has the story here

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20749773/site/newsweek/

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. Right. A mistake.

:eyes:

[swag]

5. Not "a mendacity"

as Jimmy Swaggart would put it.

[swag]

4. That's cool. I used to talk to Hosenball on the phone in DC in the 80s

when he wrote for Fairchild.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

6. Whoops!

I guess the old law WAS working just fine after all. Well, too bad for all of those Republicans whom will now be at the mercy of the wiretapping authority of President (Democrat). Of course, I'm sure that the GOP will simply demand an immediate repeal of the law as soon as a Democrat becomes President.

[spag68]

9. Also, no more signing statements.

[lurky]

7. Unfortunately, the meme has been loosed upon the world.

And will now be repeated as gospel by all the true believers. :(

[havocmom]

8. Hand me my thumbscrews and a bucket of water

We will get to the truth we want ....

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. hmm don't we call that PERJURY?

just asking

[Disturbed]

11. No longer called Perjury. When Rethugs lie to Congress it is

merely mis-stating. That's alright these days since the Pres., the VP, Sec. of State, Sec. of Defense, the AG mis-state all the time.

[librechik]

12. McConnell is an epaulet-wearing loony! Remember how he insisted

that the 4th amendment had no mention of probable cause--even after a reporter quoted him the text? He didn'yt aplogoze then either, just acted like the reporter was a moron!

we are screwn

[librechik]

17. I take this back ! --I'm mixing up my Mikes and McConnells

This one is the insufferable pencil-necked geek, not the epaulet wearing loony, Mike Hayden.

apologies!

[EFerrari]

13. Sometimes I think it would be easier to track the instances

of these bastards telling the truth.

[Disturbed]

14. Sad but oh so true.

There might be some rare occurrence.

Here is one: 'It would be easier to run the country if there was a dictator & I was the one.' Something along that line from Busholini.

[swag]

15. Marcy Wheeler suspects Joe Lieberman of tipping McConnell off that

the jig was up on his lies:

http://thenexthurrah.typepad.com/the_next_hurrah/2007/09/mcconnell-and-l.html

[Parche]

16. Swager

I cant wait until next year, when we get more Dem Senators elected and
slam the door on smokin Joe Lieberwhiner.............:hi: