Inside Story of Leon Panetta's Tirade Over CIA Probe

foxnews.com The O'Reilly Factor ^ | Thursday, August 27, 2009 | foxnews.com The O'Reilly Factor

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

BILL O'REILLY, HOST: In the "Impact" segment tonight: controversy still raging over Attorney General Eric Holder's decision to appoint a special prosecutor to look into alleged CIA abuses in the interrogations of about a dozen terror suspects. ABC News is reporting that CIA chief Leon Panetta confronted some high-level White House people and even used obscenities in the heated discussion. Joining us now from ABC News headquarters in New York, the chief investigative reporter for that outfit, Brian Ross.

So we're hearing it was Rahm Emanuel that Leon Panetta went toe to toe with. Is that what you're hearing?

BRIAN ROSS, ABC NEWS: I heard the same thing, Bill. They won't confirm that. But people at the CIA said that it's not unusual to have a profanity-laced screaming match at the White House...

O'REILLY: Is that right?

ROSS: ...with certain key officials, and…

O'REILLY: Wouldn't you like to see that? You know, not unusual to have obscenities? Well, with Rahm Emanuel it's not unusual because he just curses all day long, but Leon Panetta is a very nice, quiet, civilized guy. I've done three lectures for Leon out in his Monterey, California, think tank. You couldn't get a more mild-mannered guy than Leon Panetta.

ROSS: Although they say he does use salty language, but he's a real gentleman, and a real...

O'REILLY: Yes.

ROSS: ...he's very adept at the Washington game of power, and he has run into frustrations in his job up against people in the White House.

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

Yeah it is frightening when a Clintonesta looks far right of the leftist loons in there now.

[MarkT]

I just sent the following to Leon Panetta:

Director Panetta,
I have always thought of you as just a party hack, harking back to your days as a CA Representative up through yours days in the White House. Post WH, you seemed a little more mellow but, to be sure, that was a low bar to hurdle. Your appointment as Director of CIA was appalling to me but not surprising given the low quality of the Kenyan Poseur’s over-all appointments, especially the non-vetted, non-Senate-approved political whores, called Czars and Czarinas, with whom he has surrounded himself. I, like everyone else, heard of your so-called outrage at the proposed investigation by AG Holder, nee Marc Rich’s WH advocate. I will consider it only more Democrat theatre until you resign publicly and denounce the public gelding of the CIA, a once respected agency on the front lines of the US defence. Now, our [phu]king spies need lawyers and not brains and balls. What the hell, you can be the Democrats’ Elliott Richardson.

[Safetgiver]

‘m no Leon Panetta fan but he’s one of the only voices of sanity in this administration. So he went toe to toe with scum Rham. I’m not surprised..... UMMM,... I wonder. Is this a ploy to say, “Well our Moderate side TRIED?”

[Lancey Howard]

But people at the CIA said that it's not unusual to have a profanity-laced screaming match at the White House...

Great. Sounds like a classy place.
I miss George W. Bush.

[depressed in 06]

My money is on Beria.

I am still waiting on someone to tell what went on in the TARP meeting with Bush, McCain and DumBO before the election.

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

Thanks, I was not aware of that.

Think this will make the MSM news? It deserves its own thread,someone post it.

CIA morale hits new low due to Obama Administration threats

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

I think phucking is how the CIA people spell it and say it.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

They’ve cloned Joseph Stalin and he is waiting in the wings.

[squarebarb]

‘replace Panetta?’

Ward Churchill?

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

Panetta Mailing to CIA Employees and Media Demonstrates Need for Broad Investigation, Not Enough Just to Go After Low-Level Interrogators

August 25th, 2009 4:59 AM

from Kevin Zeese

Washington, DC: Today, Kevin Zeese, an attorney who filed complaints seeking the disbarment of 15 Bush-Cheney torture lawyers, pointed to Leon Panetta’s statement on the Inspector General’s CIA report as indication that a broad torture investigation is needed.

“Panetta claimed that ‘The Agency sought and received multiple written assurances that its methods were lawful’ in a letter to CIA employees that was shared with the media. This attempt to protect CIA interrogators involved with torture with a false legal shield of the Department of Justice indicates that Attorney General Holder must appoint an independent special prosecutor to investigate the torture program, not just individual cases,” said Kevin Zeese, executive director of VotersForPeace.US.

“The DOJ is implicated in the torture program because of the memoranda produced by the agency and cannot credibly investigate itself. If the memoranda are not shown to be parts of an illegal effort to facilitate torture than those investigated will have a defense against the war crime of torture. Further, the real culprits, the policy makers who created the policy and directed agents to use torture techniques need to be held accountable. If Attorney General Holder wants to cleanse the reputation of the Department of Justice and the U.S. government he needs to follow the law. The Convention Against Torture requires him to investigate all involved in the program. Such an investigation is not discretionary.” said Zeese.

Zeese sent a letter to the attorney general on August 10th 2009, on behalf of 150 organizations seeking an independent special prosecutor which concluded:

“You can restore our moral high ground and the Department of Justice’s reputation as an agency that follows the law by appointing a special prosecutor, independent of the Department of Justice, with the very clear mandate – investigate the facts and apply the rule of law wherever it leads – as required by the Convention Against Torture.”

For more information visit www.DisbarTortureLawyers.com a project spearheaded by Velvet Revolution and www.VotersForPeace.US.

See, “Groups Call on Attorney General Holder to Appoint Independent Special Prosecutor to Investigate Torture,” http://votersforpeace.us/press/index.php?itemid=2457.

http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/Voices.php/2009/08/25/panetta-mailing-to-cia-employees-and-med

[JohnEBoy]

I think the perfect replacemet for Panetta for Head of CIA from this administration ............. Janet Reno!

[Buckhead]

That right there was funny.

[Talisker]

I think phucking is how the CIA people spell it and say it.

You're not cleared to know how they spell it.

Tell me more about what you think they say.

(please face the flowerpot when you're talking)

[Ben Mugged]

I don't understand your response. Are you implying that Kevin Zeese was correct in his interpretation of Leon's letter? A leap in logic that I cannot support.

[savedbygrace]

My favorite line from that interview was when Ross said, “I don’t know if I could withstand the pressure from the most powerful news organization in the country.”

LOL out loud.

[nufsed]

BOR has Stossel and this guy on from ABC. I think Ross was a good reporter when young, IIRC, and got better assignements despite not being a Ken doll. May have worked with OR at some point.

[SunkenCiv]

Well, with Rahm Emanuel it's not unusual because he just curses all day long, but Leon Panetta is a very nice, quiet, civilized guy. I've done three lectures for Leon out in his Monterey, California, think tank. You couldn't get a more mild-mannered guy than Leon Panetta.

[John Titor]

Any updated news on who the WH has in mind to replace Panetta?

[El Gato]

Any updated news on who the WH has in mind to replace Panetta?

They'll wait a "decent interval", but meanwhile appoint an intelligence czar, who will have the real power. After that? Maybe Bill Ayers, or at least another of his protegees.

[Toespi]

According to FOX, it sounds like they are replacing the entire CIA.