Leon Panetta kills spy program kept secret from Congress

The Politico ^

[Sub-Driver]

Panetta kills secret spy program By: Alex Isenstadt July 10, 2009 11:56 AM EST

The ongoing tussle between Congress and the CIA deepened Friday as a congresswoman said that CIA Director Leon Panetta had killed an eight-year-long covert spy program that had operated without the knowledge of Congress.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) told The Associated Press Friday that the program in question was "very, very serious," adding that it "certainly deserved a serious debate at the time and through the years."

Schakowksy, who serves as chairwoman of the Intelligence Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee, also called for a full investigation into Panetta's actions.

"It is clear to me that the revelations Mr. Panetta provided create an imperative for an investigation to begin immediately by either the Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee that I chair or the full committee," Schakowsky wrote in a letter today to House Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas).

But one U.S. intelligence official, speaking to POLITICO on the condition of anonymity Friday, said that Panetta briefed lawmakers within about a day of learning about the program — as soon as he could bring members of the oversight committee together for a meeting.

This official characterized the program as "on-again, off-again over the years,"and said that it "never went fully operational."

[Sub-Driver]

messy..........

[Lurking in Kansas]

...not good...

[ClearCase_guy]

Our entire government is out of control.

[justlurking]

Wow, you mean Treadstone was for real!!!???

[BlueNgold]

Anyone else beginning to wonder if Panetta was put at CIA more to gather intelligence on previous administrations than he was to gather intelligence on our enemies?

[SunkenCiv]

Capt’ Obvious sez: Secrecy helps spy programs work better.

Demonizing Panetta’s CIA
- Intel for a Saddam dupe, an impeached federal judge, and a socialist?
FrontPageMag.com | July 10, 2009 | Ben Johnson
Posted on 07/10/2009 7:58:24 AM PDT by FrontPageMag.com
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2289678/posts

[GOPJ]

Anyone else beginning to wonder if Panetta was put at CIA more to gather intelligence on previous administrations than he was to gather intelligence on our enemies?

Easier than stuffing secret papers in boots, pockets and pants...

[Brad from Tennessee]

They had to discontinue this operation. The Democrats on the House Committee have probably leaked it to everyone. Rep. Alcee Hastings—convicted as a federal judge for taking bribes from the Florida mafia—may have sold whatever he knows to some foreign embassy. Politicians can't be trusted with state secrets. They will trade them away.

[ClearCase_guy]

I don't know anything about the internal workings of the CIA, so this might be totally impossible to pull off -- but I would think a lot of people at the CIA are now trying to make sure that very little information filters through to the boss.

And that's always a recipe for success.[/s]

[colorado tanker]

The source here is not Panetta or CIA, but a Pelosi House ally. I'm reserving judgment until I see something from a credible source.

[Cheetahcat]

Why would anyone in their right mind tell Congress about a secret Spy Operation?? So Pelosi could post details and Names in the Washington Post the next Day?

[tobyhill]

***This official characterized the program as “on-again, off-again over the years,”and said that it “never went fully operational.”***

This is just more of the Rats trying to cover Pelosi’s ass. If it never went fully operational then it never went even operational so no notification was needed.

[FlingWingFlyer]

If I remember correctly, the Carter Administration was the last administration hell bent on destroying the CIA. It’s probably just a coincidence.

[japaneseghost]

More like Medusa.

[Western Phil]

This official characterized the program as "on-again, off-again over the years,"and said that it "never went fully operational.

Sounds like they killed something that didn't really exist.

[Sub-Driver]

According to the Wall Street Journal it was after 9/11 that the agency had considered, then abandoned, a major covert antiterror program. This is what they are talking about.....

It never existed - it was canned. So why tell them about something that didn’t exist?

[AlphaOneAlpha]

“I’m reserving judgment until I see something from a credible source.”

There are no longer any credible or honest sources in D.C.
Not in the Administration, Cabinet Members, Congress, MSM...none.

[Diggity]

Now we know why he was named CIA Chief. It was to find out dirt on the CIA to blame on Bush.

Why else would you put perhaps the a partisan political hit man around in that position?

[Cheetahcat]

“According to the Wall Street Journal it was after 9/11 that the agency had considered, then abandoned, a major covert antiterror program. This is what they are talking about.....

It never existed - it was canned. So why tell them about something that didn’t exist?”

I guess close enough is OK for the Rats! The CIA has always bothered these Fairies.

[elpadre]

Congress is unable to maintain confidence. To share info with them is the same as sharing with the enemy.

I doubt many members of Congress could pass a FBI background investigation.