Spy Chief McConnell Admits He Misled Congress

MSNBC :

In a new embarrassment for the Bush administration top spymaster, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell is withdrawing an assertion he made to Congress this week that a recently passed electronic-surveillance law helped U.S. authorities foil a major terror plot in Germany.

The temporary measure, signed into law by President Bush on Aug. 5, gave the U.S. intelligence community broad new powers to eavesdrop on telephone and e-mail communications overseas without seeking warrants from the surveillance court. The law expires in six months and is expected to be the subject of intense debate in the months ahead. On Monday, McConnell--questioned by Sen. Joe Lieberman--claimed the law, intended to remedy what the White House said was an intelligence gap, had helped to "facilitate" the arrest of three suspects believed to be planning massive car bombings against American targets in Germany. Other U.S. intelligence-community officials questioned the accuracy of McConnell's testimony and urged his office to correct it. Four intelligence-community officials, who asked for anonymity discussing sensitive material, said the new law, dubbed the "Protect America Act," played little if any role in the unraveling of the German plot. The U.S. military initially provided information that helped the Germans uncover the plot. But that exchange of information took place months before the new "Protect America" law was passed.

Read the whole story: MSNBC

Comments

[MA]

And of course we must have retroactive immunity for those telecoms who spied on us illegally to keep us safe in the past...

[eugenegerard]

ISN'T LIEING TO CONGRESS A CRIME? I guess not. Gerge still hasn't been impeached.

[Facethereality]

When McConnell lies it is an error and if we lie it is a crime. When are we going to throw all these Bush's cronies out of the administration. Thirty percent Republicans still believe what Bush and his people say to us is gospel. Bush gets his instructions from Jesus Christ. Therefore it must be true what he says.

[TovSquirrel]

get a rope

[IMPRISONBUSH]

AND
STILL
NO ONE
GOS
TO
JAIL ?

AND YOUR SONS, DAUGHTERS, HUSBANDS, WIFES AND LOVED ONES STILL FALL IN IRAQ .?

WERE IS THE 69 PERCENT WHO WANT:

BUSH
CHENEY
AND OTHERS IMPEACHED ?.

THE STREETS OF DC ARE EMPTY.

BUT THE CARGO PLANS THAT BRING OUR FALLEN HOME IN FLAGED TRAPED CASKETS IN THE DARK OF NIGHT ARE FULL .

[Cunningham]

Show up in DC on September 15th (this Saturday). There will be plenty of citizens showing their outrage and demanding impeachment of Bush & Cheney.

[Birdman]

I think what would be Newsworthy these days would revelations of any Bush adminstration official not lying.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

Bush officials caught lying again.

Well, this time, at least they didn't disclose another CIA agent's identity.

[speakingtruth2power]

It will be decades before we have a chance to find out the truth about all this.
The main point of concern is that all this spying potential in the hands of treasonous neocons begs for abuse. Many things can be used for political gain and if you think the Bush crime family is above blackmail, you don't know your crime families.

[connski]

The Executive Branch intelligence agencies report to the President, not to the American people.
Get used to it or challenge it every inch of the the way. Thanks to the whistle-blowers on McConnell's subterfuge. Repeal the Military Commissions Act. This is capitalists cooking the books to take over resources and markets globally. Next big Republican sell: Ten more years in Iraq. That's cover for knocking off Iran and creating an American belt of power on through Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. Intention: Contain China and Russia. don't act like its a surpise when you see it happen.

I know the CIA...the Angela Jolie character in "The Good Shepherd" was one of my mother's best friends.

[plages]

No wonder our kids look at US, and say: "Screw you, we don't have to tell the truth any more!"

[Gary47]

Can we have a new script writer? 80 million of us are way tired of this one.

[Flubadubya]

Howboutthat? Another fucking GOP liar. Shocking!

[hugs4u]

All repukeicans are fucking liars.

[Qbear]

Mike,

By any chance is your background in Arab Horse Judging?

[consrevil]

Hahahahahah....he lied and forgot about that pesky old timeline.....how rich.

[Maschine]

He LIED to CONGRESS, therefore HE LIED to the People of the UNITED STATES.


FIRE THE BASTARD

[hugs4u]

If he lied to Congress he committed perjury. Try and convict him and then bush can give him a pardon also.