Secret CIA Program Was "Intelligence-Collection Activity"

The Washington Post has more details on the secret program that CIA Director Leon Panetta revealed this week had been hidden from Congress since 2001.

Current and former administration officials familiar with the program said it was not directly related to previously disclosed high-priority programs such as detainee interrogations or the warrantless surveillance of suspected terrorists on U.S. soil. It was a intelligence-collection activity run by the CIA's Counterterrorism Center, officials said. It was not a covert action, which by law would have required a presidential finding and a report to Congress.

"This characterization of something that began in 2001 and continued uninterrupted for eight years is just wrong. Honest men would question that characterization. It was more off and on," said a former top Bush administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the classified nature of the issue.

A Bush administration official told the paper he was certain that, if the nature of the program could be revealed, it would be seen as "no big deal."

However, Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) told the Huffington Post that when she and other members of the House Intelligence Committee found out what was kept secret "the whole committee was stunned, even Republicans." And Newsweek reported that while an official said, "'You could argue that it never really took shape' ... The implication is that whatever the details of the program, it carried risks that some officials at the agency strongly felt might not be worth taking."

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Comments

[smiththomas]

The biggest reason for this publicity is trying to produce cover for Pelosi

[albanianmomforobama]

Nancy Pelosie has been and is right about CIA. But you hate her because she is a taugh cookie not like your Paris Hilton aka Sarah Palin who whines about media.

[ThinkCreeps]

Paris wouldn't have quit

[Derelict outlaw]

But smiththomas Nancy needs no cover. She didn't torture anyone did she?

She didn't order anyone tortured did she?

She didn't cover up torture or fail to notify us and her peers of torture did she?

What exactly does she require cover for sir?

[kindGSL]

She failed to investigate properly and she failed to put impeachment on the table in a timely manner.

All of this should have been exposed years ago.

[kindGSL]

I thought the biggest reason was to restore the rule of law. Do you have a problem with that?

[3dtrix]

The most powerful woman on earth needs COVER? Back to class - recess is over...

[hellboundtrain]

They are bad dark days once you discover that, which you thought to be good,

reveals itself to be the most evil incarnate which grows through lies/deception,

murder of innocents, torture, death, and that those that engage to further this behavior

were, or are, among the most highly paid and powerful in the land.

[kindGSL]

If you try to expose it, like I did, they come down on you like a ton of bricks.

I am a US citizen who is an actual torture victim of these United States policies and procedures. I did nothing wrong. I was only being a political activist and I broke no real laws.

That is a really politically inconvenient fact for an administration bent on covering it all up.

I have also been blogging about it for years. So after people get past reading all the name calling and claims of my insanity, they are still left with a record of how I was mistreated. It is just another thing they will want to cover up.

That is hard to do when it has been completely public.

[Derelict outlaw]

It's pretty sad and I'm sorry those things happened to you in my America. I'm mostly sad that's it's so easy to believe you suffered exactly the injustices and insults that you claim.

[atexasdem]

To me the greater tragedy is that a vital agency, the CIA allowed itself to be used for political purposes. We need the CIA. We need a great intelligence agency. The role of the CIA is critical in todays world.
Unfortunatly once one's credability is lost it's not easily regained. CIA is filled with heros most of who we will never hear about. When CIA leadership doesn't have the courage to resist political pressure, are willing to slant information (lie) so it justifies political positions it has lost it's purpose.
If our leaders can't trust the CIA to give them the "secret" information they need to make vital decisions, who can they trust? Unfortunatly once you lie it takes many years to regain your credability and that's the even greater tragedy.

[MikeRdg]

You are correct we do need an intelligence agency, the world is complex. Corruption is a betrayal to our nation. Our agents, and intelligence people risk a great deal, often their lives, but when misused, or when poor or not well thinking leadership happens, it endangers our nation and our people. Agents are often targets for recruitment into adversarial governments by greed, or blackmail - and it may be worse when misused by the greed of our nations leaderships, this isn't only governmental leadership, but people in business leadership positions which later move into political position.

This bares (bears, bare, is there another one, oh, oh) to be repeated:

"When CIA leadership doesn't have the courage to resist political pressure, are willing to slant information (lie) so it justifies political positions it has lost it's purpose.
If our leaders can't trust the CIA to give them the "secret" information they need to make vital decisions, who can they trust? "

[kindGSL]

So by your own argument,we need the CIA because they lie to us? Have you checked their budget?

I don't see it. I don't think we need them AT ALL. I have not yet seen a single compelling argument in favor of keeping the CIA.

I'm waiting...

[ThinkCreeps]

I trust the leaking bush aide will be prosecuted for breaching national security

[MikeRdg]

they should not be leaked, others may be harmed.

[JohnHKennedy]

WHAT IF?

The hidden programs IS

??? Cheney's "Executive Assassination Ring"? ???

WAY TOO SERIOUS
NOT TO BE INVESTIGATED
IN PUBLIC CONGRESSIONAL COMMISSION HEARINGS

This would be the Biggest Scandal in American History
and the news story of the century.

"Vice President of the United States orders Assassinations"

Keep the pressure on the Democrats to investigate and Prosecute.

SIGN THE PETITION
calling for a special prosecutor atANGRYVOTERS.ORG

http://ANGRYVOTERS.ORG

[kindGSL]

I think you are getting warmer...

Investigate and Prosecute!

[3dtrix]

If you believe that those at the pinnacle of power of the most powerful nation ever upon the face of the earth do not routinely send men to their deaths and cause the deaths of others, I don't suppose anything I could say could mean much...

[Clearing-Brush]

The wreckage left by Bush and Cheney has left this country scratching their heads on how to put things back together again (if even possible). Starting with the constitution, the economy, the military, the middle class (the bedrock of a democracy), it's reputation, it's foreign policy, etc., etc., etc.

Republicans - NEVER AGAIN!

[MikeRdg]

there are a few republican which are o.k, and have been taking heat, losing their jobs,etc. HOWEVER, I can firmly state there is NOT ONE republican in my area that is not a crook, a liar, an abuser, a thief, a woman abuser ( the republican women abuse women here), spit on our laws, spit on our justice system, an child abuser and criminal cover upper, a home braker-inner and terrorist.

[grandtrunk road]

I couldn't agree with you more about the wreckage left behind by the Bush administration. I suspect that there's much that the public doesn't even know about that the Obama Administration is now left with having to navigate through as best it can. A case in point is the detainees who can't be tried in a court of law because the evidence against them has been obtained through improper means by the Bush Administration. The result is that Obama feels he has to continue holding some detainees, even though the government has no case. Maybe they're guilty, maybe they're not. Obama doesn't want to take the chance of releasing them. However, holding some detainees indefinitely puts Obama in the position of violating the Constitution. As for the secret CIA program, if it's "no big deal." as one former Bush official claims, then why can't the nature of this program be revealed to the public? I often get the feeling that for whatever reasons, Obama is constantly covering up the mistakes and possible criminal activities of the Bush Administration.

[kindGSL]

They are going to have to be released. There is no other choice.

"if it's "no big deal." as one former Bush official claims, then why can't the nature of this program be revealed to the public?"

If it is my case, the reason they can't release it to the public is because their violating of my constitutional rights was illegal and, in fact, a big deal. I was tortured, it was a conspiracy. Have you looked at the jail time for that? I think it is still a hanging crime.

Lots of people were involved, some at the highest levels of the military and the government. They are still trying frantically to cover it up.

[MikeRdg]

he has Harry Reid to deal with, and Harry can call Bob Bennett, and Orrin Hatch as well as others and cause lots of trouble. The same group holds sway here, they have corrupted the courts, attorneys, judges, law enforcement, political leadership, and BROKE INTO MY HOME! SCARING the heck out of one of my kids.

One should see what they are doing now to us!

[MikeRdg]

Some criminal activity needs to come to light and held accountable. Americans have been terrorized, my kids and I were, for years-- and I know well who is behind some of it, and I for one what them accountable, In the movie "W" there is a scene where it looks like b
Bush was not being told everything.

Spins, twist, deception, there has been a lot going on.

[peacebro]

Quote; "(if even possible)."

With the national debt in as big a hole as we are it could take a generation or more to obtain fiscal ballance. Sadly, a slow return will be blamed on Obama instead of Bush.

It is pussible that there is no one or nothing that can solve this anywhere near 'soon'. I think Obama has had a very positive effect on our reputation. ...we are not just arrogant, swaggering fake cowboys. But, the other rebuilding you mentioned like our depleted military and especially our middle class could take a decade.

It is amazing how much distruction a few neo-cons were able to do during one presidency.

[kindGSL]

He is covering up torture and bailing money to our captors, his numbers are dropping like a stone.

[MikeRdg]

Tax Romney, his off shore investments, all of his corrupt buddies, his family -- the entire family --- they are a big part of the problems this country have faced.

[northstar11]

if cheney still has people in the CIA who report to him -----who does cheney report to.?

[MikeRdg]

mitchell and jessen and the Mormon Mafia

[Grunty1]

The Rushpublican's owner, of course.

[MikeRdg]

Owned by LDS INC.

[LiberTLover]

Rush, of course, lol!

[NotFooledByDistractions]

I would never use the terms "Honest men" and "Bush Administration" in the same sentence.

[ibsteve2u]

"Honest men would question that characterization. It was more off and on," said a former top Bush administration official.

I suppose that I should treat statements about honesty from the members of that last Administration with the same patience as I would treat questions about sex originating from a four-year old.

[Grunty1]

Patience? Not at all. But, the ignorance of the typical Rushpublican does indeed match that of a 4 year old.

[juskidding]

panetta is not part of the cabal.

he is only a pawn who is aware of what the cabal is capable of doing and willing to do

to anyone who stands up to the cabal.

[cobraxus]

Operation Northwoods anyone?

[juskidding]

what's the best way to keep people, including the "political leaders" in fear and silence?

"secrets" and dirt spies, public and private, have dug up, or planted, under them.

or the simple possibility of such activities that are proven through "examples"

such as the Spitzer scandal, the senator paul wellstone's untimely death from a mysterious airplane crash, and congresswoman cynthia mckinney's oust.

[northstar11]

""""""A Bush administration official told the paper he was certain that, if the nature of the program could be revealed, it would be seen as "no big deal.""""""

how much other classified material is"""""no big deal""""

[Grunty1]

Then they should be asking to declassify it to clear themselves, right?

It won't happen, since if even t0rture loving Rushpublicans are stunned by it, it must be TERRIBLE.

[robertsandimas]

Hate to be the pessimist here, but I think this country is beyond repair. Glad I lived through some of the "good parts."

[xansam]

agree. i live in a good part and am glad too.

[Mogamboguru]

Panetta still tries to qualify the absolute .e.v.i.l.