Cheney discussed media inquiries into Plame leak
WASHINGTON — Vice President Dick Cheney talked with top White House officials about how to respond to reporters' inquiries into who leaked the identity of a CIA operative, according to a court filing.
Journal Inquirer - Jul 08 10:35 PM

Seymour Hersh - the very name is repulsive to most conservatives. He was the man who exposed the My Lai massacre by US troops in Vietnam, and since then has gained a bit of an evil reputation in the conservative community. Bush 43 adviser Richard Perle called Hersh "the closest thing American journalism has to a terrorist."

The reporter's most recent big story, as yet unproven, concerns his claim in March of an "executive assassination ring" which reported directly to then-Vice President Dick Cheney. Hersh has said, “Under President Bush’s authority, they’ve been going into countries, not talking to the ambassador or to the CIA station chief, and finding people on a list and executing them and leaving,” There was also a report that Hersh told an Arab television crew that the same unit was responsible for Benazir Bhutto's assassination. There is no hard evidence of this, but considering America's determination to preserve the dictators who work with us, one must admit the possibility exists, but until actual proof is presented, the allegation is only a possibility and nothing more.

Since the initial hullabaloo over Hersh's claim of the assassination ring, we've heard almost nothing—or have we? Just this week, CIA Director, Leon Panetta, briefed the House Intelligence Committee that on the previous day he had just shut a secret CIA program that had been in operation since 2001. None of the House Intelligence Committee members had EVER been briefed on this program. One of the members of the committee, Rep. Anna Eshoo, (D-CA), said she could not discuss what was a “highly classified program.” She did, however, note that when Panetta told House Intelligence Committee members what had been kept secret, “the whole committee was stunned, even Republicans.” A Republican committee member said it was something they hadn’t heard before.

It's really interesting that Director Panetta said the secret program had been in operation since 2001, because on January 3, 2001 Rep. Bob Barr (R-GA) introduced House Resolution 19: Terrorist Elimination Act of 2001. Included in this resolution was a clause that ended the prohibition on assassinations of terrorists or those who support terrorists. It's easy to see how that last phrase could even include heads of state in the view of certain governmental hardliners of the past eight years. Fortunately, the bill never made it out of committee, but with the suspect coincidental timing of Hersh's claim, Director Panetta's briefing this week, and Bob Barr's bill in 2001, one must wonder if the Bush administration decided to continue with the intent of that particular clause in the bill. The content of Bush 43's signing statements, which were effectively government by executive decree as with any monarch, have not all been made public.

Is this Bush-era secret CIA program that "stunned the Republicans" Cheney's alleged executive assassination ring? I truly hope not, because its existence would seriously harm our national image for decades to come. But isn't it naive to think that a nation wouldn't consider assassination as a tool to advance its interests? Assassination has been used as long as there have been human organizations down to the tribal level, so doesn't it make sense that nations would continue to do so now? After all, assassination is a lot cheaper than a war, isn't it?

NYT: Cheney linked to hiding CIA project

Former vice president told agency to hide it from Congress, 2 sources say

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.

thinkprogress

A congressionally-mandated report by Inspectors General of five separate intelligence agencies confirms that the Bush administration carried out “unprecedented,” massive surveillance activities beyond the warrantless wirteapping program that had previously been revealed. The Bush administration authorized the program without fully notifying Congress:

Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., told The Associated Press she was shocked to learn of the existence of other classified programs beyond the warrantless wiretapping.

Former Bush Attorney General Alberto Gonzales made a terse reference to other classified programs in an August 2007 letter to Congress. But Harman said that when she had asked Gonzales two years earlier if the government was conducting any other undisclosed intelligence activities, he denied it.

“He looked me in the eye and said ‘no,’” she said Friday.

As ThinkProgress previously reported, former Deputy Attorney General James Comey’s testimony before Congress implied that “other programs exist for domestic spying” outside of the NSA program. Gonzales even stated in 2007 that “other intelligence activities” existed. The new report found Gonzales’ statements to be “incomplete and confusing” and “inaccurate,” though not intentionally misleading.

Attorney General John Ashcroft had originally given authorization for the program based on a “misimpression” of what activities the NSA was actually conducting. The lack of full disclosure led to the showdown in Ashcroft’s hospital room in 2004, which almost caused a mass resignation at DoJ.

According to the report, top Cheney aide David Addington could personally decide who in the administration was “read into” the classified program. The inspectors general interviewed more than 200 people inside and outside the government. But because the inspectors general “lacked the authority to compel testimony,” five former Bush administration officials — Ashcroft, John Yoo, George Tenet, Andrew Card, and Addington — refused to be questioned.

Most of the intelligence leads generated under what was known as the “President’s Surveillance Program,” which began shortly after 9/11, did not have any connection to terrorism, the report said. Moreover, the information produced was of “limited” value to intelligence officials.

White the IGs’ report does not yield any details about the secret programs, Radar reported in 2008 that a program called “Main Core” was engaged in massive data collection of Americans:

According to a senior government official… ”There exists a database of Americans, who, often for the slightest and most trivial reason, are considered unfriendly, and who, in a time of panic, might be incarcerated. The database can identify and locate perceived ‘enemies of the state’ almost instantaneously.” … One knowledgeable source claims that 8 million Americans are now listed in Main Core as potentially suspect. In the event of a national emergency, these people could be subject to everything from heightened surveillance and tracking to direct questioning and possibly even detention.

Glenn Greenwald notes that there likely “will be no consequences” for any of this “rampant and blantant” lawlessness because the Obama administration “opposes all Congressional investigations into Bush-era crimes and, worse, is engaged in extraordinary efforts to block courts from adjudicating the legality of Bush’s surveillance activities by claiming that even long-obsolete and clearly criminal programs are ’state secrets.’”

UpdateJack Balkin writes, "In sum: the Bush Administration used an illegal program that wasn't effective, and when the public found out, it repeatedly used this ineffective program to scare Congress into passing laws that legitimated many of its illegal practices and gave the intelligence agencies greater leeway with less oversight."

UpdateSpencer Ackerman questions: "Does the legal architecture of the original [surveillance program] still remain in place? I suppose if it does, one vehicle for calling attention to it — and perhaps doing something about it — is the debate over reauthorizing sections of the Patriot Act that will take place later this year."

UpdateIn an interview with the AP, former CIA Director Michael Hayden claimed that top members of Congress were kept well-informed all along the way. "One of the points I had in every one of the briefings was to make sure they understood the scope of our activity 'They've got to know this is bigger than a bread box,' I said," said Hayden.
pacificviews.org

TPMMuckraker asks Was Bush Kept In The Dark On DOJ Concerns About Surveillance?

One passage on the IGs report on surveillance suggests something that perhaps shouldn't come as a surprise -- that President Bush was kept in the dark by members of the White House staff about about serious objections to the surveillance program raised by others in the administration.

Washington Post:Democrats Eye Secret Program

House plans probe of CIA effort that Bush-era officials kept from Congress for almost eight years.

Paul Kane and Joby Warrick

Washington Post: Holder Weighs Inquiry Into Alleged Torture

Attorney general may appoint a prosecutor to investigate CIA treatment of terrorism suspects, despite resistance from administration.

Carrie Johnson

Cheney linked to secrecy of CIA program

By Greg Miller

At the direction of the then-vice president, Congress was not notified of a highly classified counter-terrorism program for eight years, sources say.

Cheney told CIA not to discuss program

Former Vice President Dick Cheney directed the CIA eight years ago not to inform Congress about a nascent counterterrorism program that CIA Director Leon Panetta terminated in June, officials with direct knowledge of the matter said Saturday.
AP via Yahoo! News - 1 hour, 8 minutes ago
Cheney kept CIA program from Congress, source says
The CIA withheld information about a secret counterterrorism program from Congress during the Bush administration on direct orders from then-Vice President Dick Cheney, current CIA director Leon Panetta told members of Congress, a knowledgeable source confirmed to CNN.
CNN - Jul 11 11:14 PM
Cheney ordered CIA to conceal program: report

US former vice president Dick Cheney ordered the CIA to withhold information about a secret counterterrorism program from Congress for eight years, The New York Times reported on its website Saturday.
AFP via Yahoo! News - Jul 11 4:36 PM
AP sources: Cheney told CIA not to discuss progam

Government sources say Vice President Dick Cheney directed the CIA not to inform Congress about a nascent counterterrorism program eight years ago that CIA Director Leon Panetta terminated in June.
AP via Yahoo! News - Jul 11 4:58 PM
Cheney told CIA to withhold information: report
The CIA withheld information about a secret counter-terrorism program from Congress for eight years on orders from former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, the New York Times said on Saturday.
Reuters via Yahoo! News - Jul 11 3:44 PM
Cheney's secret CIA program surfaces
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 Panetta, has told the Senate and House intelligence committees, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said Saturday.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch - 46 minutes ago
CIA plans kept secret by Cheney
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.
Denver Post - 2 hours, 55 minutes ago
Cheney linked to secrecy of CIA program
At the direction of the then-vice president, Congress was not notified of a highly classified counter-terrorism program for eight years, sources say. The CIA kept a highly classified counter-terrorism program secret from Congress for eight years at the direction of then-Vice President Dick Cheney, according to sources familiar with an account that agency Director Leon E. Panetta provided ...
Chicago Tribune - Jul 11 6:51 PM
Cheney to CIA: Zip It
Government officials say former VP Cheney told the CIA to keep Congress in dark over counter-terror program • Hayden: Secret CIA Program Had Congress' Support
Fox News - Jul 11 4:54 PM
Official: Cheney, Tenet hid CIA program
Top Bush administration officials, including former CIA Director George J. Tenet and former Vice President Dick Cheney, opted not to brief Congress on a secret program belatedly disclosed to Congress last month by CIA Director Leon E. Panetta, according to an intelligence official with direct knowledge of the program. The official, who asked not to be named because of the classified nature of ...
The Washington Times - 48 minutes ago

Report: Cheney told CIA stay mum
WASHINGTON, July 11 (UPI) -- The CIA kept Congress in the dark for eight years about a secret counter-terrorism program on orders from former Vice President Dick Cheney, sources said.
UPI - Jul 11 4:12 PM
Officials Say Cheney Directed CIA to Be Silent on Counter-Terror Plan
Government officials with direct knowledge of Panetta's June 24 briefing to congressional intelligence committees confirmed that Cheney had told the CIA not to discuss the program with Congress yet.
Fox News - Jul 11 4:51 PM
Report: Cheney ordered CIA to hide info from Congress
he 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 Panetta, has told the Senate and House intelligence committees, two people with knowledge of the matter said Saturday.
Seattle Times - 2 hours, 58 minutes ago
Cheney linked to secret CIA program
CIA Director Leon Panetta reportedly has told Congress that his predecessor kept a counterterrorism program secret from Congress for eight years on orders of then-Vice President Dick Cheney.
Market Watch - Jul 11 3:22 PM
Cheney told CIA not to discuss counterterrorism program
Former Vice President Dick Cheney directed the CIA eight years ago not to inform Congress about a new counterterrorism program that CIA Director Leon Panetta terminated in June, officials with direct knowledge of the matter said Saturday.
Japan Today - 2 hours, 1 minute ago
Sources: Cheney told CIA not to discuss intelligence program
Former Vice President Dick Cheney directed the CIA eight years ago not to inform Congress about a nascent counterterrorism program, officials said today.
Detroit Free Press - Jul 11 5:11 PM
Cheney 'ordered CIA to hide information'
Dick Cheney reportedly ordered the CIA to withhold information about a secret counter-terrorism program from Congress when he was US vice-president.
Sky News Australia - Jul 11 10:07 PM
Cheney kept Congress in the dark
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 yesterday.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jul 11 9:21 PM
Sources: Cheney ordered CIA program kept secret
The CIA kept a highly classified counter-terrorism program secret from Congress for eight years at the direction of former Vice President Dick Cheney, according to sources familiar with an account that agency Director Leon Panetta provided recently...
The News Journal - 2 hours, 11 minutes ago
Reports: Cheney told CIA not to inform Congress
Former Vice President Dick Cheney ordered the CIA not to inform Congress about a secret counterterrorism program for eight years, according to...
The Hill - Jul 11 8:50 PM

AP sources: Cheney told CIA not to discuss program
Former Vice President Dick Cheney directed the CIA eight years ago not to inform Congress about a nascent counterterrorism...
Deseret News - Jul 11 6:12 PM
Cheney linked to concealment of CIA project
WASHINGTON, July 12 — The Central Intelligence Agency withheld information about a secret counterterrorism programme from Congress for eight years on direct orders from former US 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 yesterday. The report that Cheney was behind ...
The Malaysian Insider - Jul 11 11:03 PM
Cheney Told CIA To Hide Program From Congress
FILE -- In this June 1, 2009 file photo, former Vice President Dick Cheney speaks at the National Press Club in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
The Huffington Post - Jul 11 9:41 PM
Cheney told CIA to withhold information - report
Citing two unidentified sources, the newspaper said Central Intelligence Agency Director Leon Panetta disclosed Cheney's involvement in closed briefings to congressional intelligence committees late last month.
The Star - Jul 11 8:04 PM
Cheney 'ordered CIA to hide program'
DICK Cheney ordered the CIA to withhold information about a secret counter-terrorism program from Congress, it has been reported.
Herald Sun - Jul 11 5:22 PM
Cheney Linked To Concealment Of CIA Project
Former Vice President Dick Cheney ordered the Central Intelligence Agency to withhold information about a secret counterterrorism program from Congress for eight years, the New York Times reported Saturday. Agency director Leon Panetta, who ended the program when he learned of its existence on June 23, briefed Senate and House intelligence committees about it in separate closed sessions the next ...
CBS 13 Sacramento - Jul 11 8:34 PM
Cheney 'ordered CIA to hide program'
THE CIA withheld information about a secret counter-terrorism program from Congress for eight years on orders from former US Vice President Dick Cheney, the New York Times said today.
The Courier Mail - Jul 11 3:47 PM
Cheney 'ordered CIA to hide program'
FORMER US Vice-President Dick Cheney ordered the CIA not to tell US Congress about a secret counter-terrorism program.
Daily Telegraph - Jul 11 3:47 PM
Cheney told CIA to withhold information - report
Source: Reuters * Panetta disclosed Cheney's involvement to Congress * Program begin after Sept. 11 attacks - officials WASHINGTON, July 11 Reuters - The CIA withheld information about a secret counter- ...
AlertNet - Jul 11 4:00 PM
AP sources: Cheney told CIA not to discuss progam
Associated Press - July 11, 2009 7:23 PM ET WASHINGTON (AP) - Government sources say Vice President Dick Cheney directed the CIA not to inform Congress about a nascent counterterrorism program...
KTNV Las Vegas - Jul 11 4:41 PM

AP sources: Cheney told CIA not to discuss counterterrorism program soon after it was started
President Dick Cheney directed the CIA eight years ago not to inform Congress about a new counterterrorism program that CIA Director Leon Panetta terminated in June, officials with direct knowledge of the matter said Saturday.
Times & Transcript - Jul 11 6:01 PM
Cheney Is Linked to Concealment of CIA Project
by Scott Shane WASHINGTON - 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. read more
CommonDreams.org - Jul 11 4:18 PM
Dick Cheney Now Linked To C.I.A. Concealment, Is Officially The Shadiest Dick Ever [Some Evil Shit]
Wow. The New York Times has two sources reporting: C.I.A. director Leon E. Panetta's been testifying to Congress that Dick Cheney ordered the C.I.A. to withhold information regarding a secret...
Gawker - Jul 11 3:03 PM
Cheney Is Linked to Concealment of C.I.A. Project
The C.I.A. was said to have withheld information about a secret counterterrorism program from Congress for eight years on orders from the former vice president.
New York Times - Jul 11 5:10 PM
Obama Extends Cheney's Secret Service Protection
Indications are that the threats against Cheney haven't lessened since his term expired.
US News & World Report - Jul 10 12:18 PM
Cheney Linked to Concealing CIA Project
New York Times: Former Vice President Ordered CIA to Withhold Information on Counterterrorism Project from Congress
CBS News - Jul 11 3:00 PM
Cheney is linked to concealment of CIA project
Sources: Former VP told agency to hide program from Congress
San Jose Mercury News - Jul 11 9:57 PM
Obama Extends Cheney's Secret Service Protection
There appears no end in sight for when Dick Cheney, a rare former vice president with Secret Service protection, will lose his security detail. Whispers has learned that the political battler's Secret Service protection has been extended, though there were no details on the length.
The Huffington Post - Jul 10 1:26 PM
Cheney linked to shutout
Former vice president ordered CIA to exclude Congress from operation
Albany Times Union - Jul 11 10:30 PM
Cheney told CIA to withhold information, New York Times says
The New York Times says the CIA withheld information about a counter-terrorism programme from Congress
TVNZ - Jul 11 8:52 PM

Schakowsky: NYT report backs Pelosi
A top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee says that the charge leveled on Saturday that then Vice President Dick Cheney ordered the concealment of an eight-year covert spy program from Congress offered validation for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
Politico via Yahoo! News - Jul 11 7:09 PM
Cheney had an "Executive Assassination Ring?" The Plot Thickens
Right now, it's just a conspiracy theory. I hope that's all it will ever be.
Blogcritics.org - Jul 11 7:08 PM

CIA program kept from Hill
Sources say Cheney directed that counterterrorism effort be kept secret from Congress The CIA kept a highly classified counterterrorism program secret from Congress for eight years at the direction of then-Vice President Dick Cheney, according to sources familiar with an account that agency director Leon Panetta provided recently to House and Senate committees.
Baltimore Sun

CIA 'kept counter-terrorism programme secret for eight years'
The CIA withheld information about a secret counter-terrorism programme for eight years on the orders of former Vice President Dick Cheney, according to a report in The New York Times.
Times Online - Jul 11 8:22 PM