Congress Authorized Secret CIA Plan That Cheney Is Under Fire For

This is a political hatchet job meant to divert attention and public scrutiny of Major Leader Pelozzi and her repeated denials of having been briefed by the CIA of torture to terrorist prisoners several years ago. .. Lakotahope

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A secret CIA program to capture or kill Al Qaeda operatives never came close to being operational, an official says.

FOXNews.com

Monday, July 13, 2009

Congress originally authorized the CIA to develop the secret counterterrorism program that is now drawing fierce criticism from House Democrats who say they were kept in the dark all along, a former senior intelligence official told FOX News on Monday.

The program, which sources told FOX News was a plan to capture or kill Al Qaeda operatives, also never came close to being operational, the intelligence official said.

"This was not a program. It never began," the former official said. "The authority was given by Congress to develop this idea. ... There was no need to brief it. It wasn't a reality."

Democrats want an investigation into the program, particularly following reports that former Vice President Dick Cheney was the one who ordered it kept secret.

Another official told The Associated Press that while Congress was aware of the program, CIA Director Leon Panetta recently told lawmakers that according to notes he had been given Cheney directed the CIA not to tell Congress specifics of the secret program.

Panetta told the committees there was no indication of anything illegal or inappropriate about the effort itself, the official said.

But after Panetta told congressional lawmakers that he canceled the program, House Democrats also called on the CIA director to retract his statement that the CIA does not mislead Congress. Panetta made that statement after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi claimed the CIA lied to Congress.

The former intelligence official suggested House Democrats made the demand for the sake of providing Pelosi political cover.

"If you notice, Director Panetta briefed both (the Senate and House) intelligence committees on the same day ... about the same issue. Did you hear anyone from the Senate intelligence committee say anything about it?"

The Wall Street Journal first reported Monday that the CIA was developing the Al Qaeda program and had spent money for planning and possibly training, acting on a 2001 presidential pronouncement.

The CIA also briefly examined the possibility of targeted assassinations of Al Qaeda leaders in 2001, the Journal reported, though it's not clear whether that was a part of the program Panetta stopped.

Congress has a right to know everything the CIA does, but the president can by law limit those told about covert operations to just the top four members of the House and Senate from the two parties and the senior members of the intelligence committees. Democrats on the House intelligence committee are pushing for a legal provision that would require the president to brief both committees in their entirety more often, but the White House has threatened to veto that.

No Smoking for U.S. Soldiers

1 in 3 soldiers smoke....bad for your health...so is 12 and 18 month deployments in combat zones....and, IEDs are considered bad for your health....What do they want ROBO Soldiers....Maybe make 'em pure like the Knights Templar were supposed to be???... lakotahope



From Chris Lawrence
CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- You've seen the iconic picture of a soldier with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, but that could soon be a thing of the past.

The Pentagon is considering a ban on the sale and use of tobacco in the military.

A new study commissioned by the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs recommends a complete ban on tobacco, which would end tobacco sales on military bases and prohibit smoking by anyone in uniform, not even combat troops in the thick of battle.

According to the study, tobacco use impairs military readiness in the short term. Over the long term, it can cause serious health problems, including lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. The study also says smokeless tobacco use can lead to oral and pancreatic cancer.

The Defense Department's top health officials are studying the report's suggestions and will make recommendations to the Pentagon's policy team and Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

The study recommends phasing out tobacco products such as cigarettes and cigars over a five- to 10-year period.

However, the suggested ban does not sit well with many in uniform, including retired Gen. Russel Honore, best known for coordinating military relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina-affected areas with an ever-present stogie. He said soldiers at war need to puff.

"When you're tired and you've been going days on end with minimum sleep, and you are not getting the proper meals on time, that hit of tobacco can make a difference," said Honore, who was in charge of the Army's training programs before he retired.

Other soldiers questioned whether this was a good time to stamp out smoking, given the Army's concern with a high suicide rate.

"For some, unfortunately, they feel that smoking is their stress relief. Well if you take it away, what is the replacement?" said Sgt. 1st Class Gary Johnson.

The Pentagon supports the goal of a tobacco-free military, said spokeswoman Cynthia Smith.

"However, achieving that goal will depend on coincident reductions of tobacco use in the civilian population," she said.

Dr. Ken Kizer, the author of the study, found that civilians don't smoke as much as soldiers. One in three active duty soldiers smoke, he said, adding that among the general population, that number is less than one in five.

The Pentagon banned smoking in buildings on bases years ago. It has counselors on call to help service members quit. But while local governments have heavily taxed tobacco, the commissaries often sell it at deeply discounted prices.

"The military sends very mixed signals," Kizer said. "This is what's confusing to people."

The study found that profits from those tobacco sales -- $80 million to $90 million -- often pay for recreation and family programs on base

Shadow Economy, As Home Prices Still Falling--So What?

On the other side of the coin, shouldn't houses be affordable? We can artificially inflate the prices of houses so people don't lose their equity, but as we bump up one segment the other unhealthy segments get boosted also. As we artificially adjust all value on all economic goods, how does the economy regain equilibrium through the normal supply and demand rules? How far will we go from "laissez-faire" to the government being so far stuck up our "drawers" that when we scratch our asses, we'll get a tax statement. Yes, I know! Lassez-faire is an old phrase that most hard working individuals always endeavored to live life under. The less government interference, the better off most of us will be. Pipe dream now!

What is it now? Four trillion dollars in debt we will have written ourselves just to 'artificially' push ourselves through this collapse? How can we possibly absorb this amount without raising taxes? From payroll taxes to bathroom tissue, the federal government will need to gather funds to pay off or rather, 'pay down' the debt load all Americans will continue to suffer.

As we try to keep Americans from losing value in their homes and property, aren't the provisions now being enacted artificial? Fake? Falsely held up under paper! Where's the control, truly? ... lakotahope