Perhaps in sympathy to the Muslim faith, Team Obama has terminated a CIA program to eliminate Al Qaeda. Via the Wall Street Journal we learn that...
A secret Central Intelligence Agency initiative terminated by Director Leon Panetta was an attempt to carry out a 2001 presidential authorization to capture or kill al Qaeda operatives, according to former intelligence officials familiar with the matter.
The CIA does not get a lot of respect on this site. It has become a largely political organization that appeared during the Bush years to harbor high level executives who did their best to undermine Bush policies.
Perhaps this was along the lines of the CIA's Keystone Cops attempts on Castro: exploding cigars or poisoned wet suits. Whatever.
What's interesting is that this should become a major controversy since little was actually done to implement such a plan. This is too convenient as a way of covering up Pelosi's accusation that the CIA lie about briefing her on water boarding. I question the timing
One last point. The CIA or the military should have plans and teams in place to do exactly what this program implies: kill or capture enemy leaders without sending in whole armies. Why use a battle ax when a surgeon's scalpel is called for? If there is a scandal, it's America's inability to do something like this.
What's interesting is that this should become a major controversy since little was actually done to implement such a plan. This is too convenient as a way of covering up Pelosi's accusation that the CIA lie about briefing her on water boarding. I question the timing
One last point. The CIA or the military should have plans and teams in place to do exactly what this program implies: kill or capture enemy leaders without sending in whole armies. Why use a battle ax when a surgeon's scalpel is called for? If there is a scandal, it's America's inability to do something like this.
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