CIA leaks that it wants DoJ probe of leaks

posted at 10:55 am on September 4, 2009 by Ed Morrissey

Eli Lake and Sara Carter report in a Washington Times exclusive that the CIA has asked the Department of Justice to open an investigation into the leak of a classified but never implemented program to assassinate al-Qaeda leaders.  Leon Panetta got bushwhacked by the revelation earlier this summer as his fellow Democrats tried to use it to rescue Nancy Pelosi from her rhetorical limb after she publicly accused the CIA of lying to Congress about its activities.  Now he wants to know who spilled the beans:

Besieged by leaks of several closely held secrets, the CIA has asked the Justice Department to examine what it regards as the criminal disclosure of a secret program to kill foreign terrorist leaders abroad, The Washington Times has learned.

Two U.S. intelligence officials, who spoke on the condition that they not be named because of the sensitivity of the case, said the leak investigation involved a program that CIA Director Leon E. Panetta told Congress about in June and that surfaced in news reports just a month later.

The vice chairman of the the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence declined to discuss any possible leak investigations but told the Times on Thursday that a growing number of disclosures of highly secret programs, tactics and other information had caused “irreparable damage” to the U.S. intelligence community.

“They foil our attempts to carry out classified missions,” Sen. Christopher S. Bond said in an interview. “They tell our intelligence community: We don’t have your back; we’re stabbing you in the back. Our allies ask us, ‘How can we trust you to deal in classified matters in private, when the details are leaked to the press?’”

For a moment, let’s savor the irony here.  We learn about the CIA’s demand for investigation into leaks … from a leak.  Where’s a plumber, or a Plumber, when you need one?

The DoJ should start plugging the holes at Langley and elsewhere in the government.  The constant stream of leaking not only erodes our security but embarrasses the US abroad.  Other spook agencies can keep secrets, but the CIA seems almost congenitally incapable of doing so.  It doesn’t help when one political party decides to declare war on the agency for their own petty ends, either, but the leaks are worse, especially because they appear coordinated with those petty partisan ends.

Which leads to this question: what does Panetta expect the DoJ to report?  This is, after all, a Democratic administration, one already inclined to politicize investigations and prosecutions, as we’ve seen with AG Eric Holder’s decisions on the New Black Panther Party in Philadelphia and the CIA interrogators in the Bush era.  If the leak of the never-activated assassination program came from Pelosi allies, does Panetta really expect Holder to expose that?  Or is Panetta playing for a little CYA in the halls of Langley?  That would certainly explain the leak about a demand to plug leaks.

Blowback

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Just another example of an appalling dearth of leadership coming out of the White House.

Managing the country ain’t as easy as managing the Gangstah Disciples, is it Barry?

JohnGalt23 on September 4, 2009 at 10:59 AM

Leaks that harm the CIA invariably come from Leftists inside the Agency. So don’t expect an investigation in the first place or a result if anyone does a full-fledged investigation.

Liam on September 4, 2009 at 11:01 AM

Sinking ship leaks.

the_nile on September 4, 2009 at 11:01 AM

The DoJ should start plugging the holes at Langley and elsewhere in the government.

What? The CIA (no offense to the true spooks) is a frat house. From “the Chinese will never cross the Yalu” to “hit this aspirin factory” their record is dismal. Tear it down and turn it over to the DIA. I trust the West Pointers and Annapolis grads a hell of a lot more than the boys and girls from Harvard and GWU.

Limerick on September 4, 2009 at 11:02 AM

The Obama administration, including Panetta, makes the “Keystone Cops” look like the epitome of organization and unity.

rplat on September 4, 2009 at 11:02 AM

Dear CIA,

Sorry, no can do. Busy investigating you. Barry’s poll numbers are tanking and I’ve been given my marching orders (not By Barry of course, wink, wink).

Hugs,

Eric

fogw on September 4, 2009 at 11:03 AM

Holder is gonna investigate this. Yeah , ok. Because we know what a bang up job he does when things come up against his parties wrong doing.

MDWNJ on September 4, 2009 at 11:04 AM

Pelosi is the leak. She needs to go. She is harming our country.

ThackerAgency on September 4, 2009 at 11:04 AM

Leaks? What leaks? The lefty nutballs inside the CIA only leak if it will damage a Republican. There should have been some massive leaks right after Nancy accused them of lying but I don’t remember any. CIA is hopelessly compromised by lefty hacks from within and without. Hey spooks – how’s that hope and change working for ya?

johnnybgood on September 4, 2009 at 11:05 AM

This is, after all, a Democratic administration, one already inclined to politicize investigations and prosecutions, as we’ve seen with AG Eric Holder’s decisions on the New Black Panther Party in Philadelphia and the CIA interrogators in the Bush era.

Don’t forget Richardson.

CBP on September 4, 2009 at 11:06 AM

All leaks are not equal.

conservative pilgrim on September 4, 2009 at 11:06 AM

“They foil our attempts to carry out classified missions,” Sen. Christopher S. Bond said in an interview. “They tell our intelligence community: We don’t have your back; we’re stabbing you in the back. Our allies ask us, ‘How can we trust you to deal in classified matters in private, when the details are leaked to the press?’”

Weren’t we just told how awesomely awesome we’re doing in the intelligence area and how the give and take with other countries intelligence is at a higher level than under Bush by Jim Jones?

Responding to criticism from former Vice President Cheney that President Obama is making the nation more vulnerable to terrorism, the president’s National Security Adviser, Gen. Jim Jones (Ret.), told ABC News in an exclusive interview that actually the reverse is true: President Obama’s greater success with international relations has meant more terrorists put out of commission.

“This type of radical fundamentalism or terrorism is a threat not only to the United States but to the global community,” Jones said. “The world is coming together on this matter now that President Obama has taken the leadership on it and is approaching it in a slightly different way – actually a radically different way – to discuss things with other rulers to enhance the working relationships with law enforcement agencies – both national and international.”

Jones said that “we are seeing results that indicate more captures, more deaths of radical leaders and a kind of a global coming-together by the fact that this is a threat to not only the United States but to the world at-large and the world is moving toward doing something about it.”

The former Marine General didn’t provide any specific numbers to back up his claim, but he said “there is an increasing trend and I think we seen that in different parts of the world over the last few months for sure.” He added that he was not “making a tally sheet saying we are killing more people, capturing more people than they did — that is not the issue.”

But the numbers are going up, he said. “The numbers of high value targets that we are successfully reaching out to or identifying through good intelligence” from both the CIA and intelligence agencies from US allies has made the difference, he said. “We have better human intelligence; we know where the terrorists are moving. Because of the dialogue and the tone of the dialogue between us and our friends and allies…the trend line against terrorism is positive, and that’s what we want. If we have a positive trend line we have a safer country.”

Monica on September 4, 2009 at 11:06 AM

fogw on September 4, 2009 at 11:03 AM

Dear Eric,

Sure would hate to have a terrorist attack slip through the cracks in 2010 here at the CIA cause you will not let us do our job with confidence.

XOXOX

Leon

WashJeff on September 4, 2009 at 11:07 AM

Personal experience…look to Capitol Hill.

Between junior staffers trying to trade info for increased status or senior staffers and members of Congress trying to engrandize themselves…this is where most of the leaks take place. On Capitol Hill and down the street at the White House inside information is gold. It is bought and traded as a rare commodity. The more bigoted the program the more the worth of that “gold.”

But, Holder’s DoJ actually investigating? Not Capitol Hill…nor the White House. Out of bounds these days.

coldwarrior on September 4, 2009 at 11:08 AM

Semi-OT: Since his narratives include the inner chambers of the CIA, anyone else looking forward to Vince Flynn’s next novel??? On sale Oct 13. His fiction parallels reality quite well.

Ed, do you have a pre-release copy for an upcoming review? Flynn is a native Minnesotan.

conservative pilgrim on September 4, 2009 at 11:09 AM

At least the CIA is concerned about leaks when there is a Democrat in office.

MarkTheGreat on September 4, 2009 at 11:10 AM

coldwarrior on September 4, 2009 at 11:08 AM

Does the trading happen without the boss’s knowledge and consent?

conservative pilgrim on September 4, 2009 at 11:11 AM

Where’s a plumber, or a Plumber, when you need one?

Joe, you have a call on line one.

MarkTheGreat on September 4, 2009 at 11:11 AM

Monica on September 4, 2009 at 11:06 AM

So that’s why monthly US military deaths are on the rise in Afghanistan!

I knew Bush never had it right in the first place. We needed Obama and the Dems to make us and our troops over there safer. /sarc

Liam on September 4, 2009 at 11:13 AM

Whatever Panetta’s motives in this are, the simple fact is that the CIA is toast so long as Obama is in the White House. We no longer have a national intelligence agency, and everyone should just accept that. Obama ain’t gonna fight, look for, or bring to justice the bad guys at home or abroad. If that is what Panetta imagined the CIA would be doing, he should just resign now. The CIA does not exist, and it won’t exist again until January 2013. And Holder’s Justice Department has one charge: prosecute Bush administration officials — do nothing else — so Barry can win re-election in 2012. These agencies simply do not exist in their former roles anymore. They are simply part of the Obama re-election apparatus.

Rational Thought on September 4, 2009 at 11:14 AM

Do they not realize the contempt the citizens have for this kind of crap? This administration has done nothing but embarrass the whole of the US. Garbage in, garbage out.

elclynn on September 4, 2009 at 11:15 AM

Nancy Pelosi? The leaker?

albill on September 4, 2009 at 11:16 AM

Nancy Pelosi? The leaker?

albill on September 4, 2009 at 11:16 AM

At her age it is common.

Limerick on September 4, 2009 at 11:17 AM

This same crap occurred under the Bush 43 and his justice department did buttkiss about it. Expect nothing and you wont be disappointed.

david kumbera on September 4, 2009 at 11:20 AM

Holder to Investigate? Are you kidding me. Why not put Van Jones in charge. The report will look the same. The Republicans did it Bush and Channey. End of report.

Sanmon on September 4, 2009 at 11:20 AM

Nancy Pelosi? The leaker?

albill on September 4, 2009 at 11:16 AM

At her age it is common.

Limerick on September 4, 2009 at 11:17 AM

It Depends..

the_nile on September 4, 2009 at 11:24 AM

conservative pilgrim on September 4, 2009 at 11:11 AM

For the most part, yes. Unless it is a particular juicy bit of info, from my observations over the years. A staffer or two, hooking up with a journalist trying to earn or enhance his/her bones. Perfect match.

Early 1990′s, the WSJ published nearly verbatim a classified intel report (minus the classification and caveat info) within 24 hours following a closed Hill conference about a program in which I was involved. The article was replayed in the Euro press. All this within 48 hours of the conference. The source walked away. Last admonishment he had to offer was that the US had no concept of secrecy.

Isolated case? Hardly. Getting to become more widespread.

Take Pakistan, for an example. There has always been a serious threat to the well-being of any Pak official who was seen by his own people as being too close to the Americans…from his own fellow officers to the Pak public at large. Over the past several months almost every agreement or joint-op or any other matter dealing with Pakistan has made it to the front pages, above the fold, in all the major newspapers within days of any event.

Similarly, Egypt. Likewise a few Euro nations who have offered their unique access to target entities. Here in the US, people might get fired, might even have to serve jail time or community service (Sandy Berger comes to mind) but overseas…can be a death sentence if found out.

But the bottom line is that one does not rise in the ranks on Capitol Hill nor at the White House by merely plodding along doing one’s job. Passing along juicy tidbits of sexy programs to a high-profile journalist or an up and coming journalist is a sure way to have others in the loop look to you like you were some sort of insider or policy genius.

The journalists do not hang out over on Dolly Madison Highway out in Northern Virginia. They hang out in the many bars and restaurants around Capitol Hill. This is where their bread and butter reside.

coldwarrior on September 4, 2009 at 11:25 AM

Limerick on September 4, 2009 at 11:17 AM

LOL Shes the leaking leaker.

becki51758 on September 4, 2009 at 11:25 AM

Nancy Pelosi? The leaker?

albill on September 4, 2009 at 11:16 AM

Depends.

coldwarrior on September 4, 2009 at 11:26 AM

You only counter a leak by leaking the suspected names of the leakers.

Then let them work to explain how they did or did not do it.

The NY Times is the bedpan catching many of the leaks that hurt our country’s security, aided the jihadist enemy, and endangered our nation and our military personnel.

Don’t forget to include them in the condemnation as a willing conduit for the undermining of America.

profitsbeard on September 4, 2009 at 11:27 AM

coldwarrior on September 4, 2009 at 11:25 AM

Goodness, is there hope for this country?

conservative pilgrim on September 4, 2009 at 11:31 AM

coldwarrior on September 4, 2009 at 11:25 AM

btw-what is your take on the Plame leak?

conservative pilgrim on September 4, 2009 at 11:32 AM

Panetta takes a leak and that’s news?

Daggett on September 4, 2009 at 11:33 AM

Leaks? What leaks? The lefty nutballs inside the CIA only leak if it will damage a Republican.

And isn’t it just delicious to see these same CIA lefties getting tarred and feathered by other lefties?

Don’t need an iron supplement with all this irony flying about…

karl9000 on September 4, 2009 at 11:34 AM

Its the nut behind the wheel.

Speakup on September 4, 2009 at 11:36 AM

There are to many “activists” posing as intelligence people in the CIA to stop the leaking.

The guy who leaked the NSA wiretapping program admitted that he did not know the details of the program or if it was legal,he just didn’t like Bush.

The Plame/Wilson circus was another great example of putting politics before security.

I don’t see the lid getting any tighter by the Obama administration going to war with the CIA. The only way the CIA can defend itself and counter the smear jobs that will be coming from Holder is to leak information that refutes the charges made against them.

Obama has smashed a major hornets nest in trying to appease his far left base with this witch hunt.

He seems oblivious to the fact that there is a war going on
that requires our intelligence agents to focus on threats to our country and our Soldiers abroad,not constantly looking over their shoulders waiting for the axe to fall on them.

Baxter Greene on September 4, 2009 at 11:38 AM

And isn’t it just delicious to see these same CIA lefties getting tarred and feathered by other lefties?

karl9000 on September 4, 2009 at 11:34 AM

Hence the term coined by Lenin: “useful idiots”

Liam on September 4, 2009 at 11:38 AM

Gee, no one seemed to mind when CIA leaks serially impeded the Bush Administration’s operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Now it’s a big problem?

NoDonkey on September 4, 2009 at 11:40 AM

Leon’s going to be hangin’ with the Blue Dogs before all this is over. Chances are the request is CYA/build some internal support in the agency on Panetta’s part, but for those on the far left who think Valerie Plaime and Phillip Agee were the only two decent CIA agents ever, they’re going to see this as some sort of act of treachery on Leon’s part, even if the whole thing is just some sort of kabuki theater by Panetta to try and make his staff think he loves them.

jon1979 on September 4, 2009 at 11:41 AM

If I were at CIA and in position to do so, I’d be leaking every grain of dirt the Agency surely has on Obama, Pelosi, and every other Dem in Washington. After, of course, I leaked the filth on leaders of SEIU and all other top Dem supporters.

Liam on September 4, 2009 at 11:43 AM

But the bottom line is that one does not rise in the ranks on Capitol Hill nor at the White House by merely plodding along doing one’s job. Passing along juicy tidbits of sexy programs to a high-profile journalist or an up and coming journalist is a sure way to have others in the loop look to you like you were some sort of insider or policy genius.

coldwarrior on September 4, 2009 at 11:25 AM

In your opinion, how can this politicizing of intelligence be stopped within the CIA.

Massive house cleaning?

Strong Prosecutions?

Forced to watch the “View” permanent loop 24/7?

Anything?

Baxter Greene on September 4, 2009 at 11:43 AM

Wasn’t it leaked that Leon Panetta was going to resign…?

Seven Percent Solution on September 4, 2009 at 11:45 AM

I think the CIA needs to learn the art of deception and disinformation. If a leaker could be publically ridiculed and embarrassed over disinformation the leaking might slow down.

fourdeucer on September 4, 2009 at 11:46 AM

OH…and get ready for the intelligence community and our military to have to answer for this:

NATO Airstrike in Afghanistan Kills Up to 90, Including Civilians

Friday , September 04, 2009
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,546464,00.html

KABUL — 
A NATO jet blasted two fuel tankers hijacked by the Taliban in northern Afghanistan, setting off a huge fireball Friday that killed up to 90 people, including dozens of civilians, Afghan officials said.

There will be screams of “war crimes” and the President is a “war criminal” and cries from the anti-war crowd about bombing villages and killing civilians from the sky without giving them due process.

Oh..wait…..my fault.
There’s a democrat in the White House now.

Now the anti-war crowd calls this “smart power”.

How progressive!!!!!!

Baxter Greene on September 4, 2009 at 11:52 AM

Can Democrats outlaw kharma?

drjohn on September 4, 2009 at 11:55 AM

Baxter Greene on September 4, 2009 at 11:43 AM

Reintroduction of the bigot list for all programs is a good start. Because of all the inter-agency “centers” this bigot process has fallen apart over the years. We have CIA, DIA, FBI, ATF, DHS and others sitting in the same rooms, desks next to desks, and a lot of cross talking and file sharing going on. Also have too many analysts sitting next to ops officers across the board. Ops folks deal with the eye-to-eye contacts and OPSEC. It is personal. The analysts and members of the various inter-agency centers focus on the information, regardless of sensitive sourcing. Different mindset.

But the real threat is downtown, not out in McLean.

Try to find out how many members of the various oversight committees are involved and how many staffers they have, and shared staffers or interchangeable staffers who work for them…thus each closed-door session ends up with hundreds of “others” privy to the information discussed, many of whom have no clearance at all. A lot of youngsters working the Hill for the first time, as well. Becoming more than just another young staffer is how one gets recognition among peers and members of Congress. If you want to be a staffer or policy wonk on a super special committee for a super special Senator, you can’t do it by being a drone over on the Ag Committee. Go to where the really big money is being played, not the nickel slots. And to get there you need a sponsor who thinks you have all the right connections, and a network well-wired to get him/her a jump on fellow Congress critters before the NYT or WSJ or CNN or MSNBC gets the info. Thus, looking the other way as items are being traded and collected is a good way to let your new underling know, without saying so, that such behavior will eventually be rewarded.

Capitol Hill games.

coldwarrior on September 4, 2009 at 11:56 AM

Ya know, who needs enemies when our government rips apart our own country like this.

..I swear to protect the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic.

shick on September 4, 2009 at 11:57 AM

Thank God we didn’t waterboard any of them.

drjohn on September 4, 2009 at 11:58 AM

Senator Leahy, call for you on line 2.

gbear on September 4, 2009 at 11:58 AM

Baxter Greene on September 4, 2009 at 11:52 AM
The anti-war crowd will have a field day over that. We don’t have any way of knowing how many of the civilians are sympathetic to the Taliban.

fourdeucer on September 4, 2009 at 11:59 AM

Perhaps they could just ask the NY Times. They seem to have a pretty good line on CIA leaks.

John Deaux on September 4, 2009 at 11:59 AM

He seems oblivious to the fact that there is a war going on
that requires our intelligence agents to focus on threats to our country and our Soldiers abroad, not constantly looking over their shoulders waiting for the axe to fall on them.

Baxter Greene on September 4, 2009 at 11:38 AM

He simply does not care.

conservative pilgrim on September 4, 2009 at 12:01 PM

This is Panetta’s lame attempt to polish his bona fides within the CIA. Turn out the lights, Leon – the party’s over. Holder won’t lift a finger on this.

Bob in VA on September 4, 2009 at 12:01 PM

coldwarrior on September 4, 2009 at 11:56 AM

Thanks. That was insightful and interesting. And depressing.

conservative pilgrim on September 4, 2009 at 12:01 PM

Hypocrisy duly noted. But what choice does the CIA have? They can request an investigation, but I think we all know the request would be ignored. About all they can do is leak that they requested an investigation.

Of course this demonstrates, as many others also observed, that Pelosi was very foolish to take on the CIA. They know how to play the Washington game as well as anybody — probably much better than they know how to do their jobs.

tom on September 4, 2009 at 12:08 PM

He simply does not care.

conservative pilgrim on September 4, 2009 at 12:01 PM

As unbelievable as it might seem…I think you are right.
This administration is flat out stupid scary.

Baxter Greene on September 4, 2009 at 12:15 PM

Other spook agencies can keep secrets, but the CIA seems almost congenitally incapable of doing so.

It seems that the different political parties in the country of other spook agencies remain consistent in the defense of their country.

Here we have many Dems who proudly defame and disgrace America which many Repubs defend the US in word and action.
This was clearly evident in the BHO apology tour.

jack herman on September 4, 2009 at 12:19 PM

Capitol Hill games.

coldwarrior on September 4, 2009 at 11:56 AM

Thank you for that analysis.

It seems that the people with the power do not want this to change since the same sword that could end up in their back,also scratches it when they need it.

What a dangerous circle jerk.

Baxter Greene on September 4, 2009 at 12:20 PM

The DoJ should start plugging the holes at Langley and elsewhere in the government.

Should have started that about 8 years ago.

Topsecretk9 on September 4, 2009 at 12:25 PM

Baxter Greene on September 4, 2009 at 11:52 AM
The anti-war crowd will have a field day over that. We don’t have any way of knowing how many of the civilians are sympathetic to the Taliban.

fourdeucer on September 4, 2009 at 11:59 AM

The anti-war crowd will have a field day if it can be blamed on the military.

If it hurts Obama in any way, they will stay as quiet as they have been on his continuation of :

The war in Iraq

Rendition

Indefinite detention

enhanced interrogation

state secrets

secret prisions

bombing villages and killing civilians

Remember,
LBJ went into Vietnam and escalated war there with no liberals taking to the streets.

Nixon was in office only 3 months before Time magazine declared Vietnam “his” war and the anit-war protest started in the streets within 6 months.

Democratic President:
Anti-war crowd…………..War is the Answer.

Republican President:
Anti-war crowd…………..War is “not” the Answer.

How Progressive!!!!!!!!

Baxter Greene on September 4, 2009 at 12:29 PM

Can Democrats outlaw kharma?

Only if powered by fossil fuels. Electric Karma will be encouraged, nay, subsidized.

Instant Karma, however, will get you.

Let it all shine on…

karl9000 on September 4, 2009 at 12:30 PM

“Whistleblower Warns That If Congress Isn’t Briefed on Anti-Terrorism Plans Earlier, Such Plans Can’t Be Leaked to Press in Time to Stop Them” http://optoons.blogspot.com/2009/07/whistleblower-warns-that-if-congress.html

Mervis Winter on September 4, 2009 at 12:54 PM

Might as well appoint those Senators on the ethics committee that’s looking into Rangels tax problems. *sigh*

capejasmine on September 4, 2009 at 1:33 PM

Forced to watch the “View” permanent loop 24/7?

Baxter Greene on September 4, 2009 at 11:43 AM

Otherwise known as Audio/Visual Waterboarding

VelvetElvis on September 4, 2009 at 1:38 PM

Yeah, they should persecute oops, sorry, prosecute those cia flunkies to the full extent of the law. Everyone knows that only Senators and Congressmen are allowed to leak classified information. Isn’t that right, “leaky” Lehey?

TimothyJ on September 4, 2009 at 1:55 PM

WashJeff on September 4, 2009 at 11:07 AM

Not to be overly conspiratorial here, but are you sure that AG Holder would give a flying fig about such a warning? Pannetta may not want to see Americans dying, but I’m not sure Holder and his brood wouldn’t look at such an event as another crisis creating another opportunity–this time to declare martial law, halt the elections of 2010, etc. Is that idea really so beyond the pale with these guys?

johnny alpha on September 4, 2009 at 2:10 PM

actually, I take that back. The elections in 2010 will happen–every coach knows his team should have a scrimmage before a real game. Holder’s DOJ needs to make sure that the safeguards they’ve put in place to facilitate vote fraud aren’t seen as “too” unseemly before his boss comes up for referendum in 2012. Would hate to see Iran-like protests in the streets–think of what that would do to Michelle’s children!

johnny alpha on September 4, 2009 at 2:42 PM

Wanta know how this happens and where the vast majority of the leaks come from? It ain’t CIA, probably.

Imagine this scenario:

The program was in place since 9-11. No one leaked it until Panetta misjudges the true nature of the program, runs to Capitol Hill to squeal, because he thinks, momentarily, that he is supposed to because it was a serious covert program. So the leaks didn’t come from CIA or the Bush administration, now did they?

Too late, he finds out it was just a plan with no assets, and that some guys sitting around the water cooler said, “what if we asked Blackwater to run the hits for us? They’ve got contacts in the Muslim world and can hire guys who could blend in and conduct the assassinations.” Next guy says, “Nah, too risky. And we don’t actually want assassins who don’t work directly for CIA doing this.” Conversation over, but the thoughts get recorded in the program records on “what we considered and discarded”. The plan gets shelved, but remains open so as new ideas get fleshed out, they get reviewed there.

7.5 years later, as the new administration is getting their briefings on all the programs under their supervision, Panetta finally gets one on this program. It is low on the list, since it isn’t operational, but it still has funding at the think tank level. Panetta gets this brief late in his tenure (more important stuff gets briefed first, you know). This is when he panics and blabs to Nancy and her thugs.

Now Congress hears about this program from the big guy (Panetta), and figures they can use it to make political hay and cover Nancy’s lying ass. (“See they lie to us all the time, and it is Cheney’s fault, too.”) Her staff leaks it, or some other Dhimmicrat staffer leaks it to make themselves look important, and there you go.

Political enemies hounded again, the CIA gets a black eye because it is their program, even though they are doing the right thing….their job… and they never did anything wrong, AND it has the added benefit of being minimally true in most respects. The papers get copy. The Dhimmicrats get to cover their asses on National Security and look like they are actually supervising something, get to express their outrage in public, get their picture in the paper as stewards of responsible government, and garner donations from Soros to bash Bushies. Our allies in the intelligence services roll their eyes and say, “why can’t you chaps keep your traps shut in public? Bollocks everything up one more time and we’ll stop giving you our good intel”.

Our enemies see we are pussies, and Republicants look stupid and clueless and refuse to open their mouths to defend an “unpopular” ex President’s administration. Winners all around at Bush and Cheney’s expense. And every one of these political participants proves they are Cowards willing to sacrifice the LIVES of the people of the United States to make a political point, make the CIA look bad, and see their names in the papers.

I piss on every Congresscritter out there for either leaking this story, failing to stop it from leaking, and/or refusing to do what is best for their country instead of their party. Screw them all. Turn the bastards out and elect each districts’ village idiots instead, and we’d still have a better run country than we have now. How fortunate that we didn’t elect that moron out of Alaska as our Vice President. Imagine the amateurish and incompetent behavior we’d be seeing in our government today!!??!?!/sarc

Subsunk

Subsunk on September 4, 2009 at 3:16 PM

Forced to watch the “View” permanent loop 24/7?

Baxter Greene on September 4, 2009 at 11:43 AM

Otherwise known as Audio/Visual Waterboarding

VelvetElvis on September 4, 2009 at 1:38 PM


Heh!!!

Baxter Greene on September 4, 2009 at 4:28 PM

The CIA has asked the Department of Justice to open an investigation into the leak of a classified but never implemented program to assassinate al-Qaeda leaders.

What didn’t they do this during the Bush administration?

Regardless, I’m glad they’re doing this, but the CIA needs to clean their own house.

Cr4sh Dummy on September 4, 2009 at 5:31 PM

I think this is hilarious. The CIA (intelligence agency) can not figure out who is leaking and has to ask the DOJ headed by a racebaiter.

Wade on September 4, 2009 at 5:59 PM

It is about time.

JeffinSac on September 4, 2009 at 7:47 PM

Monty Python is turning these episodes into a movie!

Cybergeezer on September 5, 2009 at 9:58 AM