Congress, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Politics, Society

Report: Cheney Ordered Concealment of Secret Program From Congress

225px-richard_cheney_2005_official_portraitIt goes without saying that, where there is a story of constitutional or human rights abuse, Dick Cheney cannot be far behind. It is therefore little surprise to learn this week that, according to sources in the recent disclosure of a hidden counterterrorism program, the prior concealment from Congress was allegedly ordered by Cheney.

The Central Intelligence Agency reportedly withheld information about program for eight years on orders from Cheney, who continually fought any disclosures on a host of subjects to either Congress or the courts.

As I discussed on this segment of MSNBC Countdown, it is a crime to withhold such information from Congress — yet another crime that is not being investigated by the Obama Administration.

While covert operations can be limited to disclosures to the Gang of Eight, the National Security Act of 1947 requires such disclosure.

It was previously known that Cheney’s legal adviser, David S. Addington, (another dark character in these scandals) was involved in this matter as well.

Once again, it is astonishing that Attorney General Eric Holder continues to refuse to appoint a special prosecutor to deal with the mounting allegations of criminal acts by the Bush Administration. The blocking of such investigations by the Obama Administration reaffirms the view that our intelligence services live beyond the reach of the law and that our leaders are unaccountable under the criminal laws that they apply to average citizens. While Obama insists that no one is above the law, he has ensured that we have two separate systems of justice for the powerful and the plebes.

In another story, Gen. Michael Hayden who carried out many of the presumptively unlawful programs during the Bush Administration insists that Congress was informed of this particular program, here.

For the full story, click here

235 thoughts on “Report: Cheney Ordered Concealment of Secret Program From Congress”

  1. To everyone.

    Cook applied to go on active duty. He could have revoked his application at any time up until the day he was due to report.

    So he has volunteered for duty, but could step back at any time prior to reporting for duty.

    THEN he files a lawsuit asking for a temporary restraining order (TRA) and later a preliminary injunction (PI) to stop his deployment.

    Lets rewind and play that back. He wanted a TRO or PI to stop the deployment that he had requested. He wanted the court to order an action that he could have freely taken at any time by withdrawing his request.

    That is the essence of bad faith. It was and is a waste of the court’s time.

    It was publicized in the press and broadcast to the nation. It was the use of his offer of military service to launch a high profile legal showcase for his pet theories of birther nonsense. As a sideshow, active duty military were encouraged to join in.

    Anyone out there still think that he volunteered for active duty in good faith?

    Anyone still think his lawsuit was in good faith?

    Yes, I see Jim Byrne’s hand raised. Anyone else?

  2. Why are people getting all upset over Cheney’s illegal death squads, illegal torture techniques, illegal NSA spying program, lets face it, nothing will happen to him, they might investigate, the justification will be 9/11, 9/11, 9/11 or you are only giving ammunition to our enemies and in the end nothing will happen, he is part of the ruling class. The chickens are coming home to roost from the operatives that stole the election for Bush/Cheney 2000 in Florida and 2004 in Ohio. I love listening to Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, and Glenn Beck, these chicken hawks on the War of Terror have become chicken little’s that the sky is falling when it comes to the economy, too funny.

  3. Vince,

    Questioning the legitimacy of an order is not a court martial offense. In fact, if he believes the qualifications to be in question, he has a sworn duty to question them.

    By rescinding his order to active duty, the only military avenue of discipline was removed.

  4. Vince you said, hold on I don’t want to get this wrong

    QUOTE Once in, follow orders. UNQUOTE

    Son I order you to shoot every man woman and child in that village, thats an order, soldier.

    Now what

  6. Jim Byrne asked Why?

    Cook is attacking the legitimacy of a duly elected, qualified President of the United States, with no legal or factual basis for his attack. His views are free for a civilian, but active duty soldier are under military discipline, and his views would undermine and disrupt military discipline.

    He has prosecuted a frivolous lawsuit against the Commander in Chief, working with attorney Taitz, who is wrongfully inducing active duty soldiers to risk their careers and freedoms by taking ill-advised legal steps on the basis of internet solicitations, as detailed by Leo Donofrio.

    His “volunteering” for active duty was in bad faith, because he did not volunteer to serve his country but to create the basis for a lawsuit.

  7. “What has Major Cook done that is a court martial offense?”
    I read Mike’s post.
    Mike did not say he a done anything yet that was a court martial offense.
    He actually said “Unfortunately, she may be leading Maj. Cook down the road to a court martial.”

  8. “Entering into a contract voluntarily, and being bound by the terms of such contract, does not change the fact that such contract was entered into vuluntarily.”

    You can enter, or not enter, voluntarily. Once in, you cannot exit voluntarily. The contract was entered into voluntarily, but service is involuntary during the term of the contract. Once in, follow orders.

  9. Cook barred from base? Just a messenger reporting some scuttlebutt: Q kimba says: July 15, 2009 at 2:59 pm: It looks like she’s added plaintiff’s to Cook’s case and wants to give him Whistleblower status. It looks like Cook works(ed) for an IT company that did contract work for the DOD and Cook worked at SOCOM right on McDill AFB, where he was supposed to report to be deployed. When he called to say he didn’t need that leave for active duty, the CEO told him he’d been terminated because DOD said it was too nutty and crazy for him to be on the base anymore. I am eager to hear what really happened. UQ
    http://www.obamaconspiracy.org/2009/07/orly-filed-something/comment-page-4/#comment-13747
    Not vouching for it.

  10. Mike A.,

    “I have read Ms. Taitz’ pleadings. Frankly, they are a mess, an incoherent and occasionally random series of delusional allegations that neither state a cognizable claim nor admit of proof.”

    Would you do us the courtesy of quoting what you find to be “a mess”, “incoherent” or “delusional”?

    “Unfortunately, she may be leading Maj. Cook down the road to a court martial.”

    What has Major Cook done that is a court martial offense?

  11. Vince said; “Don’t get too excited about saluting the good “Major” any time soon. Word is that he has been barred from the base.”

    Now why would you start rumors? What legitimate reason would they have to bar Major Cook from the base?

    “Once you are in, you are no longer a volunteer.”

    I think you are confused. Entering into a contract voluntarily, and being bound by the terms of such contract, does not change the fact that such contract was entered into vuluntarily.

  12. Vince,

    I’ll take the bait.

    Why do you think Major Cook is “unfit for duty in the military of the United States, unfit to wear the uniform of a US Army Officer, and unfit to be accorded the customs and courtesies afforded to those of his rank”?

  15. I have read Ms. Taitz’ pleadings. Frankly, they are a mess, an incoherent and occasionally random series of delusional allegations that neither state a cognizable claim nor admit of proof. The “victory” she claimed at the recent hearing was basically a gift from the court to get the case moving toward a resolution. She apparently is clueless about the concepts of service of process and personal and subject matter jurisdiction. There will be a motion to dismss. The motion will be granted. She will be fortunate if she is not hit with sanctions. And the conspiracy theorists will continue to assert that the presidency has been hijacked. Should she continue the charade, the court could eventually enter an order directing the clerk not to accept any further pleadings from her unless they are co-signed by another member of the bar. She is, in short, the last person in the world I would want to hire to represent me. Unfortunately, she may be leading Maj. Cook down the road to a court martial.

  17. Vince I love you man, always see the silver linning. He also has to worry about a job, He’s been fired. Which I’m sure if you took the time to read the latest pleading you would understand that this is going to get blown wide open. This is partly why she refiled today.

  18. Don’t get too excited about saluting the good “Major” any time soon. Word is that he has been barred from the base.

    Once you are in, you are no longer a volunteer.

  19. Vince,

    “Now, you started this line with “FYI -We have an all volunteer military.”

    Are you still defending that? That all active duty military personnel are now volunteers?”

    Yes. I am. –Do you know what NAVY stands for?

    Never Again Volunteer Yourself.

    Just Kidding….but that’s what we called it.

    How do think people enter into military service? Do we have a draft? Are people ordered to serve? -No. We have an “all volunteer military”.

  20. Byrne, he is not on active duty. I used “sworn in” to signify the change to active duty status. He is a civilian in the reserves. He could be ordered to active duty, or volunteer for active duty, but neither has happened and he is not on active duty. He is not an active duty soldier.

    Now, you started this line with “FYI -We have an all volunteer military.”

    Are you still defending that? That all active duty military personnel are now volunteers?

    Active duty military personnel are not the same as civilian reservist Cook.

    The fact that Cook was not accepted for active duty does not mean that active duty military personnel are now volunteers.

    Come back and gloat if the court grants him standing. I wll be here to take my medicine.

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