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

[spec4F]

Ya know, I see no reason at all for all of this Constitution raping. Did anyone read the 9-11 commision report??? We had all the info we needed before we had the "patriot" act or warrantless wire tapping. The FBI and the CIA both knew there were hijackers in training.and of all the "chatter" leading up to 9-11. Hell bush was told and said to the guy "O.K. your ass is covered".And they were given that vague PDB with the title "Bin-Laden determined to strike in the U.S." Now everyone on the right likes to blame WJC, but like he said at least he tried. He got accused of wagging the dog but he did go after the right target. No we don't need to subvert our rights, we just need some competency in high places....

[kevenseven]

The Aug 6 memo was 450 words, and bush could not be bothered to read it.

More than enough warning to get a competent president off his ass and to work, but not enough for the shrub.

Wait for it. A troll will be along in a minute to protest that the memo did not include flight numbers and dates of the attack.

The excuse is that there was not a direct action specified, so there was no reason for worthless to do anything.

Five weeks before 9/11. The man should be tried and convicted for gross dereliction of duty.

[spec4F]

Negligent homicide on 9-11= 3000+ counts.
Wrongful death in Iraq=3800 counts and growing.
PUT HIM UNDER THE JAIL...

[ownsthepodium]

A "some say" article from the mainstream media. Yes, that media. The media the hufftards constantly go on about being in the pocket of right wingers and not a word to be trusted.
Suddenly they're the beacons of truth.

[MI6troll]

More believable than your shitty blog porta. Still hiding from "muzzies"?

[kellygrrrl]

Owns The Poopy Pants is back.
out of solitary and back in the general population.

[Birdman]

When the media is quoting someone directly it is hard to say it is not factual. Unlike when the media will fabricate what was said or take out of context what was said or the ole Fox news trick of showing the clip then saying something like, what was said had a different meaning and then they proceed to twist and spin the message into meaning something else. Then people such as yourself consider it to be the gospel. Personally I do not believe all media I figure most of th emedai has an agenda. What I do is read several sources cross check facts as much as I can and then develope what I believe to be the truth. Unfortunatly some people consider the gospel according to Fox news and believe nothing else, why else do we have a moron for president? He reflects the intellect and values in this country which is pretty sad.

[kevenseven]

Yes, let's get someone to deny this.

Like when nobody from the Bush bots came out and denied that Bush was a coke junkie when a friend of his came out and recounted a conversation between the two where Bush admitted to his coke abuse.

Fallon speaks the truth.

[JessWonderin]

"Pod" - as usual you bark bullshit and expose yourself to be the resident troll . . . not that it matters but take the time to read just how "liberal" the media REALLY is: http://mediamatters.org/reports/oped/report but I don't expect you'll let facts or research get in the way of your talking points copy . . . but that's only what "some say" . . .

[andyboy]

The reporters are liberal because they have to look at and talk to the scumbag Republican Mafia.

Familiarity breeds contempt.

The owners of the organs are the conservatives. Or the "Bosses".

So the Boss tells the underling liberal to try to retrain himself from puking all over himself when he hears the horsecrap the Republican ruling class come out with.

So the content of the media is conservative. The media itself, meaning the members, is liberal on the whole. Because they are intelligent and educated.

This is what's known as a canard. The Right relies on this one. Even though they know it's just a lie like everything else they foist on America.

[WOLFWARRIOR]

Spy Chief McConnell Admits He Misled Congress

WE all know there going to lie about something,

What I want to know is spy chief - what happened to spy czar?

Everybody else in Bush admin is a czar of something ...

[allpoliticiansaretraitors]

What a surprise! And you wonder why I picked this screen name? Sheesh!

[abbiehoffmansghost]

Yes, like the rest of the ass-monkeys in Washington, especially the pedophile party of the republics, he, in the vernacular, is a lying cocksucker. Is that too blunt?

[kellygrrrl]

"is that too blunt?"

NOT AT ALL.

[ResidentChimp]

How does someone you don't believe mislead you?
The Dems are either incredibly stupid or totally incompetent. They always discount everything the Bush Administration tells them.

[HumeSkeptic]

What the heck are you talking about? The guy lied, was caught lying, and he is changing his testimony. What the hell does that have to do with Democrats.

[ResidentChimp]

You're lying. And since you always lie, I always discount whatever you have to say.

[ultracrepidarian]

Fool me once. Shame on you.
Fool me twice. Shame on me.
Fool me again and again. ?

[TerryFL]

.

Mr. McConnell, you lied under oath to the Senate. You're just the type of man to head up the Dept. of Justice. Godspeed.

.

[HumeSkeptic]

Director of National Intelligence lied. Petraeus lied when he said that he "doesn't know" whether this Iraq fraud is making us safer. Gonzo lied repeatedly. And that's all within a month or so.

This whole damn administration is just full of liars, from top to bottom.

[kevenseven]

Well, two, three months, but your point is taken.

[JaneC]

I guess Keith's pinning him as one of the "worst persons in the world" and showing him for the asshole he is made him think again. WTG Keith!

[HumeSkeptic]

This administration is addicted to lying. From top to bottom. They are all liars.

Nothing these sumbitches say is true. Nothing.

Worse, they make shit up as they go because there is no accountability.

[forpeace]

*

When the "Spy Chief" "Misled Congress"!!!

Is there anyone, only ONE desent person in this Administration?!

Is George Bush really Barbara's son?

*

[allpoliticiansaretraitors]

You mean the woman on our Quarter, that Barbara? Holy cow, if only Babs would have made a different 'choice' none of us would be having to tolerate her baby.

[anastasiabeaverhousen]

"MISLED"? You mean LIED!!!!!!!!

There are two Americas. The one where rich white guys who are connected with the bush crime family can give "misleading" testimony and then there's the America where all of us would be in JAIL FOR PERJURY for doing the same thing.

I want my country back AFTER we imprison these bastards.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Ya don't say.

Mike Mc-CON-man.

Add another pr*ck to the impeachment pile.

It's like these guys need to be under oath before you ask them whether the sun comes up in the east.

[jackjett]

I bet he was holding that bit of information out until he writes a book and begins to promote it.

Recent history shows that we don't find out the truth until these neocons come out with a book and then they leak out enough bits to sell the product.

This is a further slap in the face to us paying the salary of these numbnuts, to then have to pay for the truth.

Jack Jett

[Defyant]

Go to the back of the line McConnell, there are bigger liars then you that you that need to be dealt with.

Bush, Cheney, Rove, Powell,Rice,Rumsfeld, Gonzales, and that's the short list.

[dreamgypsy]

and adding to the short list, Wolfy, Ashcroft, Andy Card, Dan Bartlett, all press secretarys since 2000 not to mention former Senator Frist and that Senator that was in charge of Oversight regarding intel, Tenet, Negroponte, Chalibi, Hadley, Hadden and the list just grows and grows! What makes all of those Americans any different than US with regards to the LAW! if you or I lied to our employer and the consequences were as outrageous and we were responsible for such death and destruction WE would be in jail!
Its way past the time for Congress rethuglicans and democrats to hold each and every single one of these treasonist liars accountable and responsible I hear there are a suite of cells in Leavenworth for criminals such as these!
peace