For more:
“No person employed by or acting on behalf of the United States Government shall engage in, or conspire to engage in, assassination.”
– From Executive Order 12333, signed by President Ronald Reagan. Quoted by Marcy Wheeler, Emptywheel, July 13, 2009.
Cheney’s CIA Secret Was an Assassination Squad
David Swanson, After Downing Street, July 13, 2009.
Dick Cheney Hid Hit Squad from Congress
The Guardian (UK), July 13, 2009.
CIA Had Secret Al-Qaeda Plan
Sioban Gorman, WSJ, July 14, 2009.
Since the days when the CIA was the OSS, they’ve been involved in manipulating foreign governments. Their activities have never stopped at assassination. Why the surprise now? Are we that gullible and/or ignorant?
Comment by SusanW. — July 14, 2009 @ 4:37 pm
That’s true, SusanW, but this is the first time I know of where a Veep was directing the assassination squads, ordering them kept secret from Congress, or in any other way involved. Most of our BM (Big Media), who apparently can’t find the time to read our Constitution between putting on Chapstick before visiting the high-and-mighty and exchanging cocktail party gossip, don’t seem to realize that the VP has only three legal functions: 1) He or she becomes president if the president dies or is unable to carry out the duties of the office due to illness, resignation or impeachment and removal; 2) to cast the tie-breaking vote in the senate; and 3) to preside over the senate.
Cheney clearly overstepped his authority by involving himself in other areas of government and, BTW, Bush can’t just cede the power to him, no matter what the BM say. That would require a constitutional amendment.
Comment by RS Janes — July 15, 2009 @ 11:22 am
RS, the key phrase in your comment is “the first time I know of.” You really believe George Sr. was unaware of the activities engaged in by Ollie North in his Arms deal?
I believe the entire administration of every Republican President operates in secrecy with an agenda that would fry your eyebrows if you knew of it. Maybe this applies to the Dems as well.
I think Pres. Obama is the first president to have no strong ties to any PAC or lobbyist group which could influence him or Biden. Not so sure about Pelosi and Reid. I don’t trust the CIA’s word in anything.
Comment by SusanW. — July 17, 2009 @ 4:58 pm
You’re right, SusanW, I clean forgot about old Poppy “I Was Out of the Room When It Was Discussed” Bush and his weak tea explanations for not knowing anything about Iran/Contra. There are also the ‘October Surprise’ allegations.
I also don’t have much good to say about Reid and Pelosi, especially Reid.
It gives me a chuckle every time some dimwit claims the CIA would never lie to Congress — it’s an organization founded to tell lies and spread disinformation and they really think they won’t do that to a bunch of slouchy congresscreatures? Obviously they forget, if they ever knew, what the Church Committee hearings were all about.
Truman said he regretted ever signing the CIA into existence. It was the mistake that keeps on giving.
Comment by RS Janes — July 17, 2009 @ 5:46 pm