Dems to launch formal investigation into Cheney's role in keeping Congress in the dark

[babylonsister]

Democrats May Investigate Secret Program
CIA Director Leon Panetta alerted lawmakers about the secret program at closed-door briefings for the House and Senate intelligence committees.

By Paul Kane and Joby Warrick
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, July 12, 2009


House Democrats said yesterday that they expect to launch a formal investigation into a secret CIA program that was not disclosed to Congress for almost eight years, a probe that could entangle senior Bush administration officials who oversaw intelligence issues.

Democrats on the House intelligence committee said the inquiry would examine both the nature of the still-secret program and the decisions to keep congressional oversight committees in the dark about its existence.

"This wasn't an oversight. There was an order given to not inform Congress," said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), chairman of the panel's oversight and investigations subcommittee.

Lawmakers learned of the program from CIA Director Leon Panetta at closed-door briefings June 24 for the House and Senate intelligence committees. The day before, CIA officials informed Panetta of the program and told him Congress had not been briefed. He then canceled it.

The New York Times, on its Web site, reported yesterday that Panetta has told the committees that Vice President Richard B. Cheney gave the order to keep the information from Congress. The newspaper cited unnamed sources.

In an interview last night with The Washington Post, an intelligence official said it was "generally known" from the beginning that Cheney had requested that the program be kept from Congress. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said it was unclear whether the agency was obligated to brief Congress.

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/11/AR2009071103011.html?hpid=topnews

[elleng]

1. Dear 'sister, your headline misleads (MAYBE!)

Depends on what one reads, where!

Glad tchaikovsky's running things! Remember 1812!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkS9THHjp38&feature=related

[babylonsister]

6. How so? This says the inquiry would examine

...read it. Who kept the congressional oversight committees in the dark? From what I've read, that happened on orders from Cheney.

House Democrats said yesterday that they expect to launch a formal investigation into a secret CIA program that was not disclosed to Congress for almost eight years, a probe that could entangle senior Bush administration officials who oversaw intelligence issues.

Democrats on the House intelligence committee said the inquiry would examine both the nature of the still-secret program and the decisions to keep congressional oversight committees in the dark about its existence.

[elleng]

8. Yes! They're so confusing!

Its the Post!

Democrats May Investigate Secret Program
CIA Director Leon Panetta alerted lawmakers about the secret program at closed-door briefings for the House and Senate intelligence committees.

[mod mom]

9. Dems "MAY".... Let's hope they have the balls/integrity to investigate this.

[babylonsister]

10. The first para. says Dems 'expect to launch'.

That seems like more than a 'may' to me, so I went with my gut, plus I don't have much faith in the WaPo. They're so wishy washy, especially when it comes to the Dems.

[mod mom]

11. I thought they were going to fight for their victory in '04. I certainly hope they do,

but more likely expect a strongly worded condemnation. In other words, not holding my breath. I hope your right sis!

[babylonsister]

12. I hear your skepticism, and don't blame you one bit.

I just don't understand why Congress wouldn't be absolutely outraged by Cheney's orders. Maybe that would/will inspire them.

[mopinko]

14. jan schakowski is the chair, she has balls.

or, huevos, if you like to at least nod in the direction that women can be brave.

[tj2001]

2. It's always the coverup that gets them

[NJmaverick]

3. Nothing would please me more than

Dick Cheney behind bars

[Jackpine Radical]

4. I foresee certain difficulties with the prospect

of investigating an outfit that specializes in stealing, controlling and manipulating information, clandestine assassinations, and illegal false-flag political operations, when said outfit doesn't want to be investigated.

[Voice for Peace]

13. haha good point nt

[pokercat999]

5. My prediction....Cheney will simply bitch slap the

dems back into submission. The dirty SOB is a war criminal, this is trivial in comparison to what he has done in public.

[rocktivity]

7. Has "King Rope-A-Dope" struck again?

I mean, now that Congress has "no choice" but to start investigating Cheney and Co...Drain that swamp Nancy--revenge is a dish best served cold, indeed!

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Jackpine Radical]

15. May you be right on this one.

Ya know, on one level I would like to see all the wingnuts choke on all the illegal activities from the Bush years that come to light, but on the other hand I know that they're capable of rationalizing anything.

"We had to destroy the Constitution in order to preserve Liberty!"

"If we hadn't bent the law a little, the Terraists would have killed us all in our sleep."

"We had to steal the elections because the Democrats would have destroyed us with their Communist policies if they had won."

"Wellstone was an Enemy of the People. We HAD to kill him!"