Vice President CheneyFrom The New York Times:
The Central Intelligence Agency withheld information about a secret counterterrorism program from Congress for eight years on direct orders from former Vice President Dick Cheney, the agency’s director, Leon E. Panetta, has told the Senate and House intelligence committees, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said Saturday.
The report that Mr. Cheney was behind the decision to conceal the still-unidentified program from Congress deepened the mystery surrounding it, suggesting that the Bush administration had put a high priority on the program and its secrecy.
Mr. Panetta, who ended the program when he first learned of its existence from subordinates on June 23, briefed the two intelligence committees about it in separate closed sessions the next day.
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My Comment: Was this program secret? .... former CIA Director Hayden says no, and that Congress was fully informed.
One story ..... two different sides to it. Who to believe depends on what side of the political divide you feel most comfortable with, but the ultimate outcome will be to further put the CIA in a situation where most if not all of its counter terrorism programs will either be curtailed and/or scrapped for legal/political reasons.
Hat Tip: Prairie Pundit
