Covert CIA program is expanding despite furor

[Judi Lynn]

Dec. 30, 2005, 2:22AM
Covert CIA program is expanding despite furor
President's commitment seen as key to the growth of clandestine tactics


By DANA PRIEST
Washington Post

WASHINGTON - The effort President Bush authorized shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, to fight al-Qaida has grown into the largest CIA covert action program since the Cold War, expanding in size and ambition despite a growing outcry over its clandestine tactics, according to former and current intelligence officials and congressional and administration sources.
(snip)

Over the past two years, as aspects of this umbrella effort have burst into public view, the revelations have prompted protests and official investigations in countries that work with the United States, as well as condemnation by international human rights activists and criticism by members of Congress.

Still, virtually all the programs continue to operate largely as they were set up, according to current and former officials. These sources say Bush's commitment to maintaining the GST program and his belief in its legality have been key to resisting any pressure to change course.

"In the past, presidents set up buffers to distance themselves from covert action," said A. John Radsan, assistant general counsel at the CIA from 2002 to 2004. "But this president, who is breaking down the boundaries between covert action and conventional war, seems to relish the dirty details of operations."
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/3555531.html
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On edit:
Here's the Washington Post link for the same article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/29/AR2005122901585.html

[psychopomp]

1. He probably has personal copies of the torture photos

documenting the end of our "redition" efforts. I doubt he can keep them (the photographic record is destroyed) but I imagine they cross his desk...by request.

[truthisfreedom]

2. this president... seems to relish the dirty details of operations...

no lie.

[saigon68]

4. (The Chimp) seems to relish the dirty details of operations

He obtains arousal by viewing photos of bloated corpses fed upon by dogs


A stray dog feeds on an Iraqi corpse. Marines are now hunting down stray animals grown fat on the flesh from corpses and which could harbor rabies Photo AFP/Cris Bouroncle.


Link: http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=2248233

One man, who said he escaped the city yesterday, reported that civilians had been killed. He said he had seen dogs picking at corpses in the street.
"I swear I saw dogs eating the body of a woman," he said.

Residents said bodies were left in the streets, untended due to the fear of snipers.

Families tried to bury their dead yesterday but the road to the cemetery was blocked off by US troops, witnesses said.

Meanwhile, near Baghdad, a hospital said it had received the bodies of a man and a woman, both believed to be Westerners, found by police on Saturday. The man had been beheaded and the woman shot in the head. They carried no identification documents. - Reuters

[librechik]

10. "Let's just say, we won't be hearing much from Abdul anymore"

heheh smirk


Gee, how can anyone imagine the Shrub enjoys sadism? Just becasue we have anecdotal evidence spanning generations that he enjoyed sadism?

Oh, it's the Your Lying Eyes syndrome. Obviously, Der Fuhrer must be believed above all others. And Obeyed (whipsnap)

[TomClash]

3. An excellent article from one of my favorite journalists

Gee, I love this part:

"In the past, presidents set up buffers to distance themselves from covert action," said A. John Radsan, assistant general counsel at the CIA from 2002 to 2004. "But this president, who is breaking down the boundaries between covert action and conventional war, seems to relish the secret findings and the dirty details of operations."

[tanyev]

6. He finally found something about "presidenting" that interested him.

[The2ndWheel]

5. Get outta town

You mean they don't care? They don't give a damn if anyone knows what they do?

Well at least we can have comfort in the knowledge that as we argue the legality of their actions, those actions will continue.

Not that any of that is new. Mmmmmm, democracy.

[tuvor]

7. bush, uh, believes it's legal. Dat okay witchu?

From the same article:

Still, virtually all the programs continue to operate largely as they were set up, according to current and former officials. These sources say Bush's personal commitment to maintaining the GST program and his belief in its legality have been key to resisting any pressure to change course.

"In the past, presidents set up buffers to distance themselves from covert action," said A. John Radsan, assistant general counsel at the CIA from 2002 to 2004. "But this president, who is breaking down the boundaries between covert action and conventional war, seems to relish the secret findings and the dirty details of operations."

(Recommended)

[Kagemusha]

8. President of the Flies

""Everything is done in the name of self-defense, so they can do anything because nothing is forbidden in the war powers act," said one official"

You can do anything, nothing is forbidden. Sounds like Lord of the Flies to me.

[Supersedeas]

9. A regular President Palmer - only not black, not articulate, not wise and

this time * is for real in relishing the dirty details.