So Sheldon Whitehouse, on Maddow show, characterizes the recently discovered program

[Duer 157099]

the one Panetta shut down and informed Congress about, Whitehouse said that compared to the whole torture debate, this "other" program is not that earth shaking (paraphrased, of course - the video is over in the video forum)

I'm not sure what to think about that. Is Whitehouse getting too soft on us, is he getting cynical, or what? He was a firebrand when GWB was in office. Maybe he was just tired during the interview.

So on the one hand we have Panetta and other members of Congress calling a major foul on this undisclosed program, and Whitehouse sort of is yawning about it.

:shrug:

[madfloridian]

1. He was subdued and cautious during the interview.

I doubt they will investigate.

[AzDar]

3. Indeed. He also slipped and called Cheney "President Cheney".

He seemed unusually nervous...

[Duer 157099]

5. Yeah, I caught that too. I was surprised Maddow didn't bring it up

Usually she would, but she let it pass.

Maybe we're just all used to the notion that Cheney was indeed President.

[librechik]

2. supposedly the program was never activated--however people actually were tortured

I suppose that's a major difference, but only a guess

[Duer 157099]

4. Yes, but then why the hyperbolic outrage from Congress and Panetta?

That's what I mean, there's a disconnect somewhere.

[global1]

6. I Noticed As Well That Whitehouse Seemed Very Uneasy Or Nervous......

talking about this. He was very carefully choosing his words.

Something is really strange about this whole revelation. I don't trust the news reports in the paper - especially the Wall Street Journal - which I heard had a story on this.

I see that Whitehouse sits on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence - perhaps he's knows more and really can't talk about it.
It just seemed like he was struggling with his words - which isn't like him.

[scheming daemons]

14. Whitehouse, as a member of Intelligence Committee, canNOT reveal top secret info to public

He would be violating the terms of his security clearance.

[scheming daemons]

8. Because Cheney VIOLATED THE LAW by blocking congress from being briefed on it

It doesn't really matter what it was.... the LAW REQUIRES that the CIA inform its oversight committee of programs it is instituting.

[scheming daemons]

7. It's not the program itself that is the issue... it is that Cheney BROKE THE LAW

by blocking congress from being briefed on it.

[Duer 157099]

12. I get that. And I understand that this is the primary issue, at heart

But the nature of the program is also important, especially because Cheney wanted to keep Congress out of it.

I mean, he practically BRAGS about most of the crimial stuff he engages in, so it's very scary to think of what he would actually want to HIDE.

[scheming daemons]

13. The nature of it was to assassinate al Qaida in FRIENDLY countries.... that's the rub

Countries like Germany and France.... without the host country's permission.

[Duer 157099]

15. I'm not buying that. Look at this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6061981&mesg_id=6061981

[grasswire]

9. if Whitehouse is intimidated, I'm really worried

I thought he was taking a dive in the interview. He said there may be no charge that can be brought against Cheney et al, and he said there may be no criminality.

Is this chess? Or is something big intimidating him?

[Duer 157099]

10. Yeah, you saw it too. I just got a weird vibe from him about this

Way too nonchalant or something. Just didn't feel right.

[MarjorieG]

11. He seemed careful, and may not know entire story. Doesn't want to pre-judge. He was brilliant

Sotomayor today and sham of judicial activist label, considering Robert's court reversals.