NYT: Bush Has Widened Authority of C.I.A. to Kill Terrorists - December 15, 2002

[ShamelessHussy]

By JAMES RISEN and DAVID JOHNSTON
Published: Sunday, December 15, 2002

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 ? The Bush administration has prepared a list of terrorist leaders the Central Intelligence Agency is authorized to kill, if capture is impractical and civilian casualties can be minimized, senior military and intelligence officials said.

The previously undisclosed C.I.A. list includes key Qaeda leaders like Osama bin Laden and his chief deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, as well as other principal figures from Al Qaeda and affiliated terrorist groups, the officials said. The names of about two dozen terrorist leaders have recently been on the lethal-force list, officials said. "It's the worst of the worst," an official said.

President Bush has provided written legal authority to the C.I.A. to hunt down and kill the terrorists without seeking further approval each time the agency is about to stage an operation. Some officials said the terrorist list was known as the "high-value target list." A spokesman for the White House declined to discuss the list or issues involving the use of lethal force against terrorists. A spokesman for the C.I.A. also declined to comment on the list.

source...
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/15/international/15INTE.html

This is not new & certainly wasn't 'TOP SECRET'

Are we to believe this was shocking to the new CIA head?

And if we are to believe this, and we have now put an end to it, WTF are we still doing over there if we are not planning on killing the 'enemy'?

From the cheap seats, this looks like ANOTHER scam.

What do you think?

[timeforpeace]

1. Scam by who?

[ShamelessHussy]

3. the people providing the story

CIA

[cbdo2007]

2. No, this can't be it. The killing of al Qaeda leaders was expected after 9/11

in any way shape and form.

The new scandal must be something domestic, like surveilling(sp?) American citizens for political gains or setting up the anthrax attacks to promote fear or something.

Nice try though. Thanks for researching.

[ShamelessHussy]

4. Exactly. That's my point.

And it can't be domestic surveillance either since that is well known as well.

I suspect secret assassination's of political opponents e.g. Dr. Kelly in the UK or Reporters covering the war.

Now that would be shocking, and must be kept TOP SECRET.

Gotta run, be back later tonight and I am very interested in what DU thinks about this so I will definitely check back in on this thread.

[crickets]

5. Good data point.

You're right. It is hard to believe Panetta and Congress would be so 'shocked' by the revelation of something openly reported in 2002. Not that the al Qaeda target makes death squads okay either, but it is important to remember it's been out in the open for years.

[ShamelessHussy]

6. NPR Just had Hoekstra (R) on running with this spin... war is hell, and that targeting AQ is right

The dems, per usual, are being WEAK on terror (I am characterizing here)

This narrative is such an obvious cover story and I can not believe NO ONE in the M$M is chaelenging them (CIA/reTHUGs) on the FACT that this was PUBLIC info and nothing to be shocked over.

However, they did have a dem on who said that we need to investigate so we know exactly what happened which I sincerely hope takes place but I also hope that the dems change the narrative or we are just gonna come off as being more concerned with terrorist rights then keeping America safe.

shakes-head, I just can't believe that this nonsense is being used as a cover story!

[crickets]

11. I know. The framing of dems as "weak on terror" is really annoying.

It's not about terrorists' rights, it's about the rule of law. Assassination is murder and it's illegal. It's still murder regardless of who the target is. Murder doesn't make America safe in the long run, it just compromises some of the most important ideals we're supposed to hold dear.

they did have a dem on who said that we need to investigate so we know exactly what happened which I sincerely hope takes place

Me too, but I wonder how possible it is, really, to investigate an entity like the CIA.

[ShamelessHussy]

12. Obama pointed out during the primary that he would take out Terrorist wherever they were

shoot, and it is his very public policy to this very day e.g. drones taking out terrorist in Pak.

They could shoot down that narrative very quick by simply pointing out that is already our policy and that we demand an investigation into this TOP SECRET program to find out WHY it was kept hidden from congress and to determine the full nature of the program and what if any laws were broken.

that the M$M is NOT pointing this out though is the most frustrating to me since that is supposed to be their job :argh:

[ShamelessHussy]

7. Bush Gives Green Light to CIA for Assassination of Named Terrorists - Guardian of London, Oct. 2001

Another article publicly discussing this plan in 2001...

Published on Monday, October 29, 2001 in the Guardian of London

by David Gow in New York

President Bush has given the CIA an explicit go-ahead to carry out covert missions to assassinate Osama bin Laden and his supporters around the world, effectively lifting a 25-year ban on such activities.
The US defense secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, confirmed reports of such a move yesterday by telling CNN that the US would be acting in self-defence in carrying out such missions.

The Washington Post reported yesterday that Mr Bush has decided that executive orders banning assassinations since a series of botched attempts in the 1960s and 1970s allow him to single out a named terrorist or terrorists for death by covert action.

Mr Rumsfeld said: "It is not possible to defend yourself against terrorists at every single location in the world and at every single moment.

"The only way to deal with terrorists is to take the battle to them and find them and root them out and that's self-defence. We're going after these people and their organizations and capabilities and to stop them killing Americans."

The US president, according to senior government officials quoted by the Post, signed an order last month known as an intelligence "finding", which broadens the list of potential targets beyond Bin Laden and his immediate circle of some 15 operational planners - and beyond Afghanistan.

source...
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines01/1029-04.htm

I certainly remember them being up front with this policy from the begining and for the life of me can not understand how folks are supposed to be surprised by this 'startling revelation'.

I think we are not being told the whole story and are expected to swallow this 'new' story as cover for something really bad e.g. assassinating political opponents.

I hope someone in the media alerts on this obviously bogus cover story.

I will keep posting what I find here, and please feel free to contribute, so we can forward this on to the media after we get a bunch of public sources from reputable media outlets that shows that this is not 'new' information and DEMAND a thorough investigation to get at the real truth.

[spanone]

8. D I V E R S I O N

[ShamelessHussy]

9. Agreed. Do you think they will be successful with this diversion?

Or do you think we will, FINALLY, get an investigation?

So far there have been calls for an investigation but we all have heard that before and witnessed nothing come from them.

What do you think?

[ShamelessHussy]

10. C.I.A. kills al-Qaeda suspects in Yemen - 11/5/2002 USA Today

WASHINGTON (AP) — Opening up a visible new front in the war on terror, U.S. forces launched a pinpoint missile strike in Yemen, killing a top al-Qaeda operative in his car, a U.S. official said.

The strike, believed to have been conducted by a CIA aircraft, killed Qaed Salim Sinan al-Harethi, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. U.S. counterterrorism officials say al-Harethi was al-Qaeda's chief operative in Yemen and a suspect in the October 2000 bombing of the destroyer USS Cole.

Al-Harethi's car was struck by a Hellfire air-to-ground missile. The CIA launches Hellfires from pilotless Predator aircraft. Five other people, believed low-level al-Qaeda operatives, also were killed.

At the Pentagon on Tuesday, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz appeared to confirm that the attack was a U.S. operation. In an interview with CNN, he called it "a very successful tactical operation" and said such strikes are useful not only in killing terrorists but in forcing al-Qaeda to change its tactics.

"We've just got to keep the pressure on everywhere we're able to, and we've got to deny the sanctuaries everywhere we're able to and we've got to put pressure on every government that is giving these people support to get out of that business," he said.

source...
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2002-11-04-yemen-explosion_x.htm

[opihimoimoi]

14. The Big HU HU stems from NOT KEEPING CONGRESS INFORMED through an oversight Mode.

Not being briefed is the violation....its DECEPTION....not really advised in our Democratic System....

Cheny gonna get some HEAT for this....

[ShamelessHussy]

15. so how can the whole world know this was going on and congress not know?

And how can they act all surprised, like they just learned of this activity last week?

Sorry, but that doesn't make any sense.

I Agree that hiding any activity from congress is illegal and must be investigated, but this polcy certainly wasn't hidden. Investigations must be held and we must find out what was really being hidden.

[opihimoimoi]

18. The questions asked will soon be answered via an investigation..

Once again, there seems to be mounting evidence our past 2nd Idiot went and ordered the CIA to LIE...That is a Sin....and a crime...

The whole world knew? Knew what? That the CIA lies? Thats what Pelosi was saying...she got blindsided

What was being Hidden? The Self Interest Factor....these men did not have Americas best interest at heart...Country First my ass.

They tried to hide it with Patriotic Photo Ops....how disgusting and despicable...nauseating even...

[ShamelessHussy]

19. "The whole world knew? Knew what?" - That this was an active policy of the U.S.

And even Obama said during the campaign that he would go after terrorist in other countries besides Iraq and Afghanistan, even friendly countries, like Pakistan, if he had actionable intelligence, so this U.S. policy is certainly NOT new or TOP SECRET.

Do you remember that?

And that is my point, this is not NEWS, this is a BS cover story. So, I HOPE there will be a REAL investigation to find out what they were really hiding from congress and PROSECUTE the TRAITORS.

:hi:

[opihimoimoi]

20. You seem to be missing the POINT....The CIA was ordered to DECIEVE CONGRESS

which is unlawful...

The Coverup is the NEWS....and the CRIME...

[ShamelessHussy]

21. Decieved them about an active policy to target AQ terrorists that everyone approved?

A policy that even the current administration practices.

Sorry, I am not buying that, it has to be something else they are deceiving them about, and I hope there is a full investigation to get at the real story.

[opihimoimoi]

29. Did Congress approve of this? I missed it....How can they approve of something given Half Truths?

If they did the Bond Thing....with popular approval....then why hide it from Congress?...is it unlawful?

Which leads to What else are they HIDING?

Was it the Torture thingy?

TRUTH DEMANDS a thorough investigation ... with supena powers to Congress and/or Committee

[ShamelessHussy]

31. It must be something else, that is the point, since this has been out in the open for years

Carried out by executive authority and even Obama supports it.

So, it has to be something else, more sinister, worse than torture (since that is out there, too & this is supposed to be NEW), I'd say targeted killing of folks other than AQ.

[opihimoimoi]

33. or, as it was said, killing peeps in other countries ...friendly or not,

and all without trial...meaning, unlawful assassinations....meaqning they could go after domestic political enemies too...meaning us peeps ...those who threaten their org.

The exect authority is dubious...

Obama supports it? Lying to Congress? Half truths? hardly

BTW... are you tryin to sully the Soup? President Obama is cooking some mighty fine soup for all of us....much better than the swill we got from W for 8 years....

[ShamelessHussy]

34. They already do that as I pointed out... the only way it would be news if it wasn't just AQ

You are missing the point -> we ALREADY do kill/assinate AQ, even in friendly countries, and even Obama supports that, therefore it must be something else.

Check out this MSNBC video with Rachel Maddow and watch her break it down...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x337128

Hopefully that makes it plain for you ;)

[opihimoimoi]

35. If we already doing it....covert killings and not so covert,..then as you say, we also kill domestic

terrorists?

What are they hiding????

It cannot be NOTHING....

Investigate

Chlorinate

We are sick...and we are unable to see directions to the Hospitals.....

[ShamelessHussy]

37. It could be that, too.

As you say, we NEED an investigation!

[Recursion]

13. Every single "breaking" revelation was breaking 7 years ago

The memory hole seems to work.

[ShamelessHussy]

16. There are even many books that mention this well known bush policy - see google book link inside

http://tinyurl.com/bush-cia-assassination-policy

I notice this topic keeps getting unrecs, hmmm...

[Avalux]

17. The public story is a diversion - the real story has something to do with 9/11.

Dare I say it? :shrug:

[ShamelessHussy]

32. Why would you say that?

Is there anything specific or just speculation/gut?

[hootinholler]

22. Oct 1. WaPo front page:

Here.

CIA Weighs 'Targeted Killing' Missions
Administration Believes Restraints Do Not Bar Singling Out Individual Terrorists

By Barton Gellman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, October 28, 2001; Page A01

Certainly wasn't Top Secret. I agree.

-Hoot

[ShamelessHussy]

27. thanks for the link

the more public docs we have on this the weaker their NS story is.

:toast:

[ShamelessHussy]

23. I just heard that Rachel Maddow brought this point up on her show. Anyone got a link to the video?

She is the smartest host on teeVee by far :bounce:

I hope more pick up on this and don't let the current narrative stick that only serves to make the Dems look weak and distract from the real story which I suspect is truly horrifying e.g. Targeting Political Opponents and Journalist.

If I find a link I will post it but if you/DU find one first please add it here.

[ShamelessHussy]

24. I found it! YouTube Video Link here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgLrPhnbJiw

[ShamelessHussy]

25. This is even Obama's stated policy: "Strike anybody who would do America harm" - Jan 2008

"And my job as commander-in-chief will be to make sure that we strike anybody who would do America harm when we have actionable intelligence do to that."

source...
http://mediamatters.org/research/200801080001

Obviously the cover story is BOGUS. We need a serious investigation ASAP to find out what EXACTLY the prior admin was up to.

[ShamelessHussy]

26. hey DU can I get some K&R love to keep this research/links front & center

I don't want to have to spend the rest of the week hearing how the dems are WEAK and trying to coddle and offer terrorist therapy instead of fighting them if the current narrative is allowed to go unchallenged.

Thanks all :toast:

[coalition_unwilling]

28. I called Feinstein's, Boxer's and Diane Watson's

offices yesterday to demand that an independent counsel be appointed.

After reading the horseshit being passed off as an explanation today, I called all 3 again today to demand a special prosecutor to start putting Cheney and his coterie under oath under penalty of perjury.

If no movement by the weekend, I plan to send letters to all 3. I urge all DUers to do likewise.

[ShamelessHussy]

30. That is Awesome!

I will do the same! :toast:

[mp9200]

36. Typical Bush

[ShamelessHussy]

38. We need a real investigation if we are ever to get to the truth.