Cheney told CIA to withhold information: report (Reuters)

Smoke screen for falling OhBummer's poll numbers. We were safe for the 8 years after 9/11 due to programs like this. I don't worry about programs like this since I have nothing to hide re: terrorist plans. Who knows about your neighbors, though. I'd rather have my family kept safe, than have an OhBummer cap and trade, socialist health care, scare tactics re: "have to pass this bill quickly or the world will end" like Stimu"less" 1, unemployment in double digits, North Korea lobbing missiles on a daily basis, tax cheats throughout the staff, etc.

So...two unidentified sources leaked secret classified congressional briefing material about a program that "...never became operational..." to the NYT. This whole thing smacks of any number of fishy political maneuvers.

First, there's the witch hunt, then there is the Speaker coverup, and finally the criminality of leaking.

I demand the Justice Department investigate the leaks and bring those responsible to justice. It is their responsiblity to protect national security secrets.

Cheney is the enemy of the State, better yet, the World. I hope he will be held accountable one day, find guilty and punished as criminal of war. Just like the top Nazis and Japanese during the 2nd world war and Saddam. You get the picture

Why does anyone believe what the New York Times publishes? They shoulod change their name to the Obama Times! We have not been attacked since 9/11...end of story!!

I wonder just how many contingency plans or even just plain plans the CIA has or has had on the drawing boards at any one given that never even go operational. If we as a people are going to hold each other responsible for having ideas that someone else doesn't like, we are going to find ourselves in situations were we become immobilized. That is a very dangerous thing.

You think Cheney is the reason we have not been attacked since 9/11????? What are you smoking??

I would HOPE they would withhold suck secret operations from congress... just look at how quickly this "secret" briefing remained secret.These congressional staffers and their bosses have repeatedly shown that they cannot be trusted with classified matters. These people endanger the lives of all who work in the intelligence area by their political grandstanding and criminal leaks.

Smoke screen is correct. Consider the source people. This rag is going bankrupt. We will be hearing about this until they open the records and show just how much pelosi knew. Let's attack cheney and get the heat off of me boy's. We should be so proud of our governmenrt!!!!

Thank God for George Bush and Dick Cheney under whose courageous leadership we remained safe from further planned attacks from our enemies. This current administration is placing us in grave danger; it get's worse by the day. Obama, Pelosi, and God-help-us.... Biden who has never had a thought that didn't pass his lips.

Nothing will be done. Water over the dam. Just make him move back to Wyoming and stop all lobbying efforts. He can move to Cheyenne and catch flies and tear their wings off for kicks.

THANK YOU PRESIDENT BUSH AND VP CHEANY FOR DOING WHAT YOU DID TO KEEP AMERICA SAFE.

I fear for our country now that the LIBERALS are in control.

'President Roosevelt's enthusiasm for intelligence extended to prewar domestic wiretapping of "diplomats, journalists, labor leaders and political activists" in the face of newly enacted statutory bans on wiretapping that had been upheld by the Supreme Court.'

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2
006/05/013799.php

"IN A BOLD AND CONTROVERSIAL DECISION, the president authorized a program for the surveillance of communications within the United States, seeking to prevent acts of domestic sabotage and espionage. In so doing, he ignored a statute that possibly forbade such activity, even though high-profile federal judges had affirmed the statute’s validity. The president sought statutory amendments allowing this surveillance but, when no such legislation was forthcoming, he continued the program nonetheless. And when Congress demanded that he disclose details of the surveillance program, the attorney general said, in no uncertain terms, that it would get nothing of the sort.

In short, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt charted a bold course in defending the nation’s security in 1940, when he did all of these things."

http://sistertoldjah.com/archives/2006
/05/09/fdr-and-domestic-surveillance/

The fact that this information was leaked is precisely the reason for NOT telling congress. This has been going on for years. Information that is useful to the enemies of our country is being leaked for political purposes. Its time the politicians thought of our country more than gaining a headline in the Pravda of the United States.

"Despite FDR's readiness to use his inherent authority, he and [attorney general and future Supreme Court justice Robert] Jackson pushed Congress to give the administration statutory authority. As Jackson recounted in his memoir, the administration sought authorization for surveillance for not only "espionage [and] sabotage," but also "extortion and kidnapping cases." The House was willing only to authorize FBI wiretapping "in the interest of national defense." As today, any such legislation was opposed by the ACLU, as well as (in Jackson's words) "others of liberal persuasion." "

http://counterterrorismblog.org/2006/05/ameri
can_spectator_fdrs_domest.php

"FDR and Jackson also opposed those who sought to require that surveillance be approved not only by the attorney general but also by the courts, through warrant requirements. As Jackson wrote in a March 19, 1941 letter to Rep. Hatton Summers, "I do not favor the search warrant procedure.... Such procedure means loss of precious time, probably publicity, and filing of charges against persons as a basis for wire tapping before investigation is complete which might easily result in great injury to such persons."

In the end, FDR and the Congress weren't able to agree on a legislative compromise. Nonetheless, President Roosevelt continued to authorize national-security surveillance. All of this predated America's entry into the Second World War."

http://counterterrorismblog.org/2006/05/a
merican_spectator_fdrs_domest.php

"This Article explains why the legal case for the recently disclosed National Security Agency surveillance program turns out to be stronger than what the Administration has advanced. In defending its action, the Administration overlooked the details surrounding one of the most important periods of presidentially imposed surveillance in wartime—President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s wiretapping and his secret end-run around both the wiretapping prohibition enacted by Congress and decisions of the United States Supreme Court."

http://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/f
wps_papers/56/

"As explored through primary source material, President Roosevelt acted against the interpretations of, among others, his Attorney General and the Supreme Court regarding a law passed by Congress, deciding, in secret, that wiretapping was essentially his prerogative. That Attorney General, Robert Jackson, later remarked that it was “[t]he only case that I recall in which [FDR] declined to abide by a decision of the Supreme Court.”

http://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/f
wps_papers/56/

Cheney needs to be keel hauled.
JB
Weed

i never liked cheney..............sorry..... i have yet to form an opinion on obama......for this story...........i just hate what cheney did to this country under the guise of " i love america "......... i think cheney really sucks and this shows it........... if it's for our own good...... then be upfront about it.......you just can't trust cheney...... he was bush's downfall

BLAH, BLAH, BLAH -- there's no one posting here, including me, who can state with any provable certainty that what they're posting has any relation to actual "truth". These days, "truth" -- like beauty -- is apparently in the eyes of the beholder.

These Buzz posts are far more entertaining that "American Idol" (America's top TV show???? -- God help America!). I'm only here to irritate you with a point of view from someone who doesn't give a crap about politics and its partisan participants -- or your "thumbs up, thumbs down" mentality. The Romans in the Coliseum were well versed in that, and we know what happened to that civilization!

So have at it! I'll watch from the bleachers and cheer for no one -- including --

Yours Truly,
Richard Cynicus

Attention fellow Americans! If you're trying to find the Constitution, it's wrapped around the toilet paper roll in Dick Cheney's bathroom. The Bill of Rights is wrapped around Bush's.
I'm so sick of the idiot dittoheads in here crying for impeachment of the current president, and claiming Bush and Cheney made us safer. The Combined Intelligence Agency Report stated that Bush made us LESS SAFE. Besides, safe from whom, and at what cost. The neocon robber barons made a mockery of our government and our constitution. They made an unprecedented power grab, destroyed our economy, wasted our soldiers and our treasure fighting the wrong enemy... Cheney and Bush should be tried for war crimes. The Limbaugh-suckers in here should be deported.

Richard! Don't be so CYNICUS! Its our freedom of speech, and as long as it lasts, I will continue to exercise it! I'll keep using those opposible thumbs too; they're REALLY handy when my shoes come untied!
You are right about the issue though! I ALWAYS love the posts from people who absolutely KNOW that Cheney did this or did that; but there were never indictments, never charges, unlike so many others who have so easily betrayed secret information. This article? Pretty blatant rescue attempt of Pelosi! There's nothing at stake: the NYTimes has lost all credibility. I'm a political junkie, but I do think these crooks, from both sides of the aisle, ought to be term limited, prosecuted, and put in the village stockade for overripe vegetable pitching practice. I have NO respect for men or women who betray the interests of a country I find to be a true blessing for me and mine, all for piddling lobbyists contributions and graft.

Considering the sources it is no wonder that this story hit the news now. The Speaker claims that the CIA lies to congress all the time. The CIA Director made some vague claim the other day about Congress not being fully briefed. The New York Time has a history of making up news stories. And everyone involved hate Cheney. This smells like some dead fish left out in the sun.

"Thank God for George Bush and Dick Cheney under whose courageous leadership we remained safe from further planned attacks from our enemies".

Do you believe that Bush and Cheney caused no further attacks on the US?

Then thank God for George Bush and Dick Cheney not letting Bin Laden hold any of your sons and daughters as potential slaves in his harem.

You can only blame Obama for not securing our borders from the inevitably massive hoards of Bin Laden followers that will make overtures to your closest children.

Since Bush became president, we have had no further attacks from the Japanese.

Thank God for Bush and Cheney.

The ACORNUTS cybergoons have joined the party. They will introduce themselves to you shortly.

Because of Cheney's careful control over national security, we haven't allowed the sale or importation of undocumented black slaves from Africa.

once again new york times( a disgrace to America) wanting to keep pace with there usual garbage. times is always trying to mislead Americans- best thing could happen is that they go out of business.
would not spend a minute to get there newsaper- would not waste my time if it was free.

We have always had secret operations when in conflicts! What is the big deal here. Give me the rational connection regarding our national security, all you Cheney haters;
You claim Bush and Cheney made us no safer, or even less safe
Do a search of "foiled terrorist attacks" MANY are documented!
You wish to have ALL secrets revealed to Congress
Congress is notorious (along with the NY TImes) for trotting out secrets for our enemies to peruse for their strategic interests and indoctrination use.
Do YOU hate Cheney SO MUCH that you want all revealed, SO MUCH that you're comfortable taking the chance that such actions almost certainly weaken our intel and invite more attacks? Its SO easy to have a 'pure soul' when you're just an observer.