Durbin: Cheney’s Secret Program ‘Could Be Illegal’
EmailPretty startling allegations in this morning’s New York Times.
The NYTimes reported former Vice President Dick Cheney ordered the C.I.A. to withhold information from Congress about a secret counterterrorism program.
Today on “This Week,” Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill., argued the Senate Intelligence Committee should “absolutely” investigate the matter.
“The executive branch of government should not create programs like these programs and keep congress in the dark,” Durbin told me. “To have a massive program that was concealed from the leaders in congress is not only inappropriate, it could be illegal.”
However Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., argued against any investigation just yet.
“I don’t think we should be jumping to any conclusions,” Kyl told me. “The Republican leader on the intelligence committee in the House, described this certainly not as some kind of massive program but something that was on again off again…never got off the ground.”
I pressed Kyl on whether claims that Cheney ordered the program to be kept secret should be investigated.
“Look the president and the vice president are the two people who have responsibility ultimately for the national security of the country. It is not out of the ordinary for the vice president to be involved in an issue like this,” Kyl said. “What if it’s a top secret program? Of course he and the president would both be responsible for that. Let’s don’t jump to conclusions is what I’m saying.”
–George Stephanopoulos
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Does anyone doubt that if a Dem president had ordered the CIA not to disclose a secret program that the Repubs would not be all over it and calling for an investigation and impeachment? It is blatantly against the law to not disclose a program to Congress. It is a very specific law that everyone knows about. For Cheney to order any program to not be told to congress is a clear violation of this law. It is not like he is disclosing it to all of Congress, but to the gang of eight, the 4 most powerful congressmen and senators from either party. That is hardly a intelligence leak, unless you are doing something underhanded and questionable. Cheney should be held accountable to laws, just as any person should be in this country. I don’t care if he has no punishment, but this should be a black mark on his career and place in history.
Posted by: Ordermonger | July 12, 2009, 10:46 am 10:46 am
What a disgrace!! When will the impeachment begin?
Posted by: al | July 12, 2009, 10:49 am 10:49 am
The Pentagon Preemptive Operations Group.
P2OG.
The Vice Presidents’ Secret Army.
The idea was, to secretly “stimulate” (simulate?) terrorist activity in order to provide the REAL Army a target…in the place and time desired.
Think about it. And think about how it was that Building Seven fell down. Into its’ footprint. On Cue. After everyone left the building AND THEN WAITED TO WATCH IT FALL.
Something WRONG there, isn’t there. It’s EXPLOSIVES. isn’t it. And so is this story. What do you suppose the story IS?
Investigate. Arrest. Prosecute. Convict. Imprison. just like you would if it was me.
Posted by: Frosted Flake | July 12, 2009, 10:58 am 10:58 am
If true, impeach.
Posted by: Oddbuck | July 12, 2009, 10:58 am 10:58 am
Don’t look at Obama destroying America, look at Cheney who didn’t inform congress of a non-operational, “sometimes off and on”, top secret, “never fully operational”, CIA program.
The world must really be getting a laugh at us now.
Posted by: toby hill | July 12, 2009, 11:00 am 11:00 am
Cheney and Gonzalez and Rove should have been charged long ago, but leave it to the gov’t wait until change of guard, then to all of the sudden start to investigate….Dubya did what his cronies wanted, and Darth Cheney ran the show, you see it in his evil grin, and until the ole ticker finally stops, neither will he-
Posted by: youropinionsuckstoo | July 12, 2009, 11:04 am 11:04 am
Rumor has it that the program is a top-secret CIA assasination ring. Thank goodness Obama hasn’t authorized the use of Predator Drones on high value targets.
Posted by: toby hill | July 12, 2009, 11:16 am 11:16 am
Frosted flake – - your name says it all. Conspiracy theorist ! !
When will everyone accept the fact that Obama is now president….. has to deal with what IS …. instead of blaming everything on the previous administration that has kept us safe for 8 years. The deficit was also lower – - with wars going on – than the anointed one has created in 6 months.
Posted by: Reeba | July 12, 2009, 11:19 am 11:19 am
No they won’t. Obama wants to use the same excuses to use the same power against his political enemies… Governments almost never give back power, once they have taken it from the people.
Posted by: hmn | July 12, 2009, 11:25 am 11:25 am
LMAo This coming from the Senator Durbin that called the American fighting forces Nazi’s
This is just a smoke screen to divert attention away from Nancy pelosi and the failing Obama adminstration >Got Jobs? Lmao
Hey how’s them Black Panthers doing after the voter fraud and voter intimidation that Barry ordered Eric not to press charges on
Posted by: Obamas brownnosing media network | July 12, 2009, 11:26 am 11:26 am
Just another way of the democrats shifting attention away from themselves. They dont want everyone to see how expensive their healthcare program and the next “stimulus bill” is really going to be.
Posted by: lol | July 12, 2009, 11:39 am 11:39 am
Given the humanitarian dereliction displayed by some in congress and the judicial branch. I don’t know that congress can govern itself enough not to cause “leaks”. By the way, how is obama’s surge in Afghanistan going?
Posted by: Reflect09 | July 12, 2009, 11:52 am 11:52 am
INTERESTING how conservatives, who claim to favor limited government with limited powers, are just THRILLED when the government increases its snooping and spying on them. Makes so-oooo much sense, right?
Posted by: AlChemist | July 12, 2009, 11:55 am 11:55 am
Actually, Mr. Kyl, the former Vice President had no responsibilities regarding national security of the country — and I’ve even been told that if you asked him he’d say he wasn’t even a member of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government.
Yes, there should be an investigation — and you know that. It’s time to grow up and do your job and stop protecting the shadier characters in your party.
Posted by: eric | July 12, 2009, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm
Idiots ,lib. you need to fucus to Obama and his administation ,they did a lof of damages to our national security,release terrorists , sided with our ennemy (Chavez), plan to open our border for all illegals and terrorists , we are tired of this lib. administration.
Posted by: lu | July 12, 2009, 12:10 pm 12:10 pm
Doing all kinds of crap in the name of secret program.
Posted by: Sam | July 12, 2009, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm
cheney along with bush should be in jail..i wish obama would stand up and dig out and up the info that will put teh worst president and vice president in american history in jail.
Posted by: real T here | July 12, 2009, 12:24 pm 12:24 pm
thankfully we have removed alot of teh evil republicans and will continue to remove even more in coming elections. god is really shineing his love on america as he helps us get republicans out of american politics
Posted by: real T here | July 12, 2009, 12:27 pm 12:27 pm
Darth Cheney has been very chatty lately. I wonder why he nor his daughter have not spoke about this cover up.
Posted by: Darth Vader | July 12, 2009, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm
lol.. we wouldn’t need stimulas packages if the republicans wouldn’t consistently run the country into the ground everytime they take over the white house. And the Bush administration has done more damage than even the recession in the 80′s during the Reagan years. And health care reform should have been instituted decades ago. Our healthcare system is one of the worst in the World.
Posted by: bea | July 12, 2009, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm
i love it darth cheney. he reminds me of darth sedious. and his power of the dark side.
Posted by: real T here | July 12, 2009, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm
bea–so very true we have best hospitals and docters but very few people can afford to go to them.
Posted by: real T here | July 12, 2009, 12:57 pm 12:57 pm
The American people are not stupid what this is all about ISSSSSSSSS FANCY NANCY KNEW ABOUT WATERBOARDING WHEN IT HAPPENED AND SHE SAT UP THERE AND LIED THROUGH HER TEETH AND SHES LOOKING FOR POLITICAL COVER. WERE NOT STUPID AND TO THE THINK WE ARE IS PURE ARROGANCE.PERIOD
Posted by: school_bus_yellow | July 12, 2009, 12:59 pm 12:59 pm
Does anyone here know what security clearance is required to be held by the Members of Congress???
NONE!!!
Who do you think “undisclosed sources in Congress” is referring to, the janitor??
And then you wonder why Congress (the Legislative Branch) aren’t told “secrets” by the Executive Branch.
Why did Obama do a sudden ABOUT FACE on his position regarding the war in Iraq, literally hours after his FIRST National Security Briefing after assuming his role as leader of the Executive Branch??? Yeah, there’s something Congress doesn’t know – and that’s probably BEST for this nation, and therefore there’s even MORE than we don’t know… but that doesn’t stop most of us from talking like we were flies on the wall during the decision-making process.
Posted by: FiercelyIndependent | July 12, 2009, 1:17 pm 1:17 pm
Obama is a FASCIST, and like all Fascist criminalizing political enemies, smears, and propaganda are typcial. ABC is a propaganda site and we all know it………..Obama is trying to criminalize the republicans because he sees them as treat to his 2012 run.
Posted by: PotatoeGater22 | July 12, 2009, 1:30 pm 1:30 pm
PotatoeGater22 – But what goes around, comes around… if the GOP takes the reins, as they did in a landslide after the Carter Administration embarrassment (444-day hostage crisis in Iran, Billy Carter, others), then Obama will be tried as well… that’s likely why Obama wants to BREAK the cycle… HE’S NEXT!!!
Posted by: FiercelyIndependent | July 12, 2009, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
It doesn’t matter of Obama is a Fascist, or if “his” war in Afghanistan is going well or not, or if he and his gang are corrupt. And the idea that he wants an investigation to deflect attention from his healthcare and energy proposals is ludicrous. That’s exactly why Obama has been fighting any investigation — to keep attention on his agenda.
Obama’s position as president has been clear and consistent. He doesn’t want an investigation. Bush and, especially, Cheney continue to argue in public that Obama’s return to legality is wrong for the country and that what they did was right. They are not actually telling us what they did. They never have. Cheney’s message now, as always, is “trust us.”
The only question is whether Holder, the highest-ranking law enforcement officer in the land, will try to find out if the Bush administration broke any laws concerning the use of torture and surveillance that violates the second amendment of the Constitution. And they already admitted they have.
Posted by: Robert Maxwell | July 12, 2009, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm
…and the vendetta continues. With Obama appointing 25+Czars. without vetting, or confirmation to rule over America’s life…and only report to him, how can Congress get their knickers in a twist over a Proposed Plan, never implemented? With Biden as V.P.,Pelosi as 3rd in line of POTUS, and Obama selling the U.S to his donors, I shall hope that the CIA doesn’t tell anyone they are going to the john!!
Posted by: vltg | July 12, 2009, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm
Democratic smoke screen to divert the public away from rising unemployment; failed stimulus; failing economy; spending binge; failed foreign policy; etc.
For God’s sake – we are not falling for the old tricks – we are living the truth and the reality of a failure by Obama to turn this economy around.
I don’t give a d**n about Cheney – I want JOBS and RECOVERY!!!!!!
Posted by: jlpillinois | July 12, 2009, 2:36 pm 2:36 pm
It’s truly terrifying for me to think how close we came to losing our way of life under the Cheney Administration. I feel it very likely that if another major terrorist attack had occurred on his watch, he would have suspended the Constitution, turned this country into a dictatorship, and launched a war against the entire Muslim world.
P.S. Who knows how many other secret programs Cheney instigated and are still operating today.
Posted by: bpai99 | July 12, 2009, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm
I want the death penalty for Cheney, Rove, Gonzales, Addington, Feith, Yoo, Bush, and anyone else involved! They are traitors in the highest degree ad their names always be in infamy as traitors and tyrannts.
Posted by: eyeonyour | July 12, 2009, 3:51 pm 3:51 pm
Always thought Bush/Cheney were Fascists, I just didn’t realize the depth of their hatred of democracy, it’s a shame that those two traitors will never see the inside of a prison.
Posted by: JR | July 12, 2009, 6:34 pm 6:34 pm
IMPEACH BUSH AND CHENEY,WHO ARE NOW OUT OF OFFICE? I SURE HOPE THAT YOU DIDN’T GET THAT FROM YOUR SOCIAL STUDIES PROF!! GOD HELP THIS COUNTRY IF YOU DID.
Posted by: Jimbo | July 12, 2009, 6:34 pm 6:34 pm
ABC, since when is somebody’s opinion that something “maybe illegal” about a political matter news? This is a perfect example of not reporting news but just doing what the DNC tell them to publish. I personally am delighted the we had no terrorist attacks and not 1 American’s rights were violated.
Posted by: brian | July 12, 2009, 6:39 pm 6:39 pm
So I guess you Republicans are okay with Biden ignoring the constitution and the separation of powers now that Dems are in control of the executive branch? We are either a nation of laws or we aren’t. If members of any administration act above the law they need to be investigated and brought to justice. Stop your hypocritical babble and excuses please.
Posted by: Waltjabsco | July 12, 2009, 7:47 pm 7:47 pm
The USA is screwed up from the likes of Durbin, and his co-horts in Congress. They live in the yesterdays, and refuse to move forward.
Posted by: Larry Wallace | July 12, 2009, 8:25 pm 8:25 pm
Nothing good can come of this investigation. This is a no-win situation that can only harm the US’s image, create mistrust between the intelligence agencies and Congress and could be used as propaganda vs us in the future.
Posted by: Marko | July 12, 2009, 8:49 pm 8:49 pm
cheney really needs to spend a few years in prison…
Posted by: pt | July 12, 2009, 9:10 pm 9:10 pm
I still cannot believe there are Americans dumb enough not to admit that the previous administration cheated and lied to the people…If these people are in the majority, America shall have another 8 years in the slums.
Posted by: al | July 12, 2009, 10:39 pm 10:39 pm
There are some calling our president a Fascist. I don’t ever remember Americans ever calling a president a fascist. To this fellow American I say, you are wrong.
The facts will prove Cheney right or wrong. Presidents don’t condemn someone, facts do. On that count my fellow American , you should show a little respect for our president and speak from facts not propaganda.
Remember that only ENEMIES of America could call our president a fascist.
Posted by: Alex | July 13, 2009, 1:48 am 1:48 am
Now we find out it was an unimplemented secret program to kill or capture Al Qaeda terrorists. DUH!! This is not news and nobody in their right mind would tell Congress anything about this. This is DNC propaganda, not news.
Posted by: brian | July 13, 2009, 9:39 am 9:39 am
How dare anyone investigate possible criminal actions by a vice president. What do you think the USA is, a country of morals and laws?
Posted by: Waysie | July 13, 2009, 9:53 am 9:53 am
A secret program to kill Al Qaeda terorists? DUH!! Not implemented but could be illegal? How dumb is this? Has the news media lost its mind? This is the DNC control of the media at its best.
Posted by: Byron | July 13, 2009, 10:08 am 10:08 am
When did the democrats become Pro- al-Qaida ??
Posted by: SeanBean | July 13, 2009, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
Wow, there are alot of crazies here in
America. I used to think I was weird, now I’m amazed how sane and normal I am compared to some of the people who post these comments. Do you not feel the pull of the strings on your hands. Enough of the hate, wow, let’s step back and take a look at ourselves.
Posted by: Scared of us | July 13, 2009, 1:34 pm 1:34 pm
Maybe he was after One MIIILLLion Dollars.
Posted by: just a thought 53 | July 13, 2009, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
Durbin Dribble. Spend a few minutes with Durbin, and you’ll be all the dumber.
Posted by: jonec1200 | July 13, 2009, 5:07 pm 5:07 pm
President Bush was never in charge. More and more info everyday seems to be coming out of the woodwork indicating VP Chaney was making the the major calls. We may never have to wait to hear the Bush tapes. Media investigative reports each day about the 43rd Presidental era shows there may have been many times the President was “not in charge”.
Posted by: Pedro Dixon | July 13, 2009, 5:35 pm 5:35 pm
SAFE for 8 years? How were the people in the Twin Towers kept safe? How were the people on board the flights kept safe? How were the Pilots and crews kept safe? How were the employees of the Pentagon kept SAFE? Tell me? And if I recall correctly, that happened on September 11, 2001……during the very years you call safe!!! And as far as Obama goes, if Bush/Cheney would have left him lemons, as least he could have made lemonade. Instead, he has a whole lot of crap to clean up.
Posted by: FedUP | July 13, 2009, 6:13 pm 6:13 pm
This is such garbage. The Democats still blame the worlds woes on Bush/cheney. Since WHEN does the CIA report directly to the Vice President? Is the CIA reporting to Biden right now? NO…the Dem’s are dragging this garbage up to cover up THEIR failures over the last 4 years of THEM controlling Congress and accomplishing nothing but putting us in debt.
They also don’t want the public seeing that the Dem’s have put us in huge amounts of debt and how the debt is NOT creating jobs.
The Democratic Congress approved the CIA’s budget and were all the “secret Congressional meetings (even if Pelosi denies it!!) If the Democrat want to investigate something, they should start looking at themselves…THEY controlled Congress!
Posted by: mIke | July 13, 2009, 7:50 pm 7:50 pm
In Milan, Italy, a criminal trial is underway against CIA operatives and agents who masterminded the kidnap and transportation of a Muslim cleric who was subsequently tortured in Egypt. The disclosure of this “on again, off again” clandestine operaton will make it easier for the court to obtain a conviction. Bottom line: the Cheney-CIA operation also considered kidnapping of important Muslim/Al Quaeda persons and therefore it was NOT so “off again” as it was on.
Posted by: Jane | July 14, 2009, 8:36 am 8:36 am
Now, isn’t like the Democrats to prosecute the CIA for doing their job. I guess Holder has nothing to do. The democrats need a crisis to take the attention off the 16.5% of Americans that need a job (That number is increasing by the way).
Does the unemployed American public really care about torturing a few terrorists that have American soldier blood on their hands…of course not.
By the way, Pelosi (A Democrat) knew plenty, or she just wasn’t listening during those intelligence breifings.
Posted by: Paul | July 15, 2009, 12:58 am 12:58 am
At first I agreed with the President to not follow up and prosecute Cheney. Now, the more I read and understand, we are aware that this man made himself judge and jury as to what he would share with the Senate and the House. We really do not know just what he hid from people and unlawfully. I now feel that everything should be looked into. He cannot get away with saying “for security reasons.” I think the “eight” people who were chosen to hear this kind of information should have been informed. He is the one who said Hussain had weapons of mass destruction even though a commitee sent by Bush claimed nothing was found. How foolish of us not to protest more when our men were sent to fight a war we did not need. Too many sons and husbands and wives lost their lives and limbs to this man’s ego.
Posted by: talmag | July 15, 2009, 11:52 am 11:52 am
Wasn’t it “Tricky Dicky Durbin” who illegally smuggled secret documents in his socks and underwear? I guess he has some expertise in illegal matters.
Posted by: noibody63 | July 16, 2009, 3:52 pm 3:52 pm
How many times has the US been attacked on US soil since 9/11? I think the Bush strategy to provide for the safety of it’s citizens has worked. Of course the spinless Bill Clinton’s methods were every bit as effective as the French.
Posted by: noibody63 | July 16, 2009, 4:02 pm 4:02 pm
Its a shame.Thats why their is so much corruption now.They let wealthy people get off.Then they turn around and bribe everybody to do dirty work for them and avoid prosecution.What the hell kind of democracy is that?Then they sit back and point fingers pretending to be innoscent average citizens using their wealth to mask truly who they are.Mean while me and my child poor law abiding citizens slip through the cracks.
Desiree R
Posted by: Desiree Rogers | July 18, 2009, 1:44 pm 1:44 pm
They use their money as power and blend in with society pulling off this facide fooling people.When they are the ones victimizing me.And using their money to do it.Cheney getting way with that.Just makes wealty feel that their is more they can do and get away with especially in small towns.Something needs to be done.I have been under the duress of stress since 2006.But, everything is kept quiet bc the family from louisiana is wealthy and have kept their busineses from going under.Meanwhile my child and I are victims.
Posted by: Desiree Rogers | July 18, 2009, 1:48 pm 1:48 pm
Something else that divides us along party lines. Both sides (but mainly republicans) are afraid that if they agree with anything from the other side they’ll lose support. Sometimes the right thing is JUST the right thing.
When will we come together to solve problems?
Posted by: Barbara | July 19, 2009, 9:59 am 9:59 am
Oddbuck: how are you going to impeach anyone no longer in office??????
Posted by: bluedog | July 19, 2009, 2:42 pm 2:42 pm
You know with our rep and senators you have to keep some things away because the element of surprise is gone because they don’t know how to keep their mouth shut.
Posted by: sam peterson | July 20, 2009, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm
Is there anyone out there who listens to “Gitmo soldiers are Nazis” Durbin anymore? Or for that matter supports any other members in “good” standing of the hog trough which is the Chicago Democrat Machine like Louis Farrakhan, Jesse Jackson, Father Pfleger, Chicago ACORN, William Ayers, Rahm “Fish in the Box” Emanuel, the Marxist Chicago Democratic Socialists, and the “Messiah” himself?
If so, call yourselves “useful idiots” and save me the trouble.
Posted by: patriotic | July 20, 2009, 3:42 pm 3:42 pm
I have been a demo all my life. (61 Yrs.) How blind can we be. Ask your Senator and Rep. to take the retirement and health care we are going to get. Now you will find out what they are really made of.
Vote to place them on Social Security and Medicare. They don’t mind placing us on Socialized health care, ask them if they will accept it.
You don’t have a ‘set’ if you don’t ask. Ba ma said he wanted all of us to have the same, but now he says we can’t afford it for everyone. Interesting isn’t it.
Cheney is history, quit using this crap for a diversion.
Start by asking Richard Durbin and see what kind of wash job he gives you. Then you will realize how stupid we are. Oh!, will the congress take a pay cut during these hard times? How stupid are we for even thinking this?
catfish 20-20
Posted by: Gary Nelson | July 24, 2009, 5:57 am 5:57 am
I thought George Will blew it when he mentioned President Eisenhower in the discussion about whether President Obama should have gotten involved with the Professor Gates and the police dept. Maybe he forgot that Ike send federal troops to Little Rock in 1957 so black students could go to white high school. I am sure that some people thought that it was just local issue at that time.
Posted by: Mike Park | July 26, 2009, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm