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For OpEdNews: Ray McGovern - Writer Outgoing CIA Director Michael Hayden is going around town telling folks he has warned President-elect Barack Obama "personally and forcefully" that if Obama authorizes an investigation into controversial activities like water boarding, "no one in Langley will ever take a risk again." Upon learning this from what we former intelligence officers used to call an "A-1 source" (completely reliable with excellent access to the information), the thought that came to me in the face of such chutzpah was from Cicero's livid oration against the Roman usurper Cataline: "Quousque, tandem, abutere, Catalina, patientia nostra!" — or "How long, at last, O Cataline, will you abuse our patience!" Cicero had had enough. And so, apparently, has Obama, who has been confirmed once again of the wisdom of his vote against Hayden's becoming CIA director. It was striking that Obama did not even mention Hayden on Jan. 9, when the president-elect formally named Leon Panetta as his choice to run the CIA and Dennis Blair to be director of national intelligence. Obama did announce that Mike McConnell, whom Blair will replace after he is confirmed, has been given a sinecure/consolation prize—a seat on the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. Hayden, a former Air Force general, should be given a seat in the military prison in Leavenworth (see below). It is not only a bit cheeky, but more than a little disingenuous that Hayden should think to advise Obama "personally and forcefully" against investigating illegal activities authorized by president George W. Bush, since Hayden himself can already be described as an unindicted co-conspirator based on publicly available information. He has bragged loudly about the crimes in which he was directly involved, and has defended others, like what he has called "high-end" interrogation techniques—water boarding, for example.
Could it be clearer? "Water boarding is torture," said President-elect Obama last Sunday to George Stephanopoulos. Torture is a crime. Obama added, twice, that no one is "above the law," although also citing his "belief that we need to look forward as opposed to looking backward."
Despite the President-elect's equivocations, it seems that President Bush and the current CIA director have a problem. And apparently Hayden's palms are sweaty enough to warrant, in his view, a thinly veiled threat.
In the outrage category, that threat/warning goes well beyond chutzpah. What an insult to my former colleagues at the CIA to suggest that they lack the integrity to fulfill their important duties in consonance with the law; to suggest that they would treat the incoming president like a substitute teacher!
"Should Have Been Court-martialed"
So spoke the late Gen. Bill Odom on Jan. 4, 2006 referring to Hayden. Odom's comment came before being interviewed by George Kenney, a former Foreign Service officer and now producer of "Electronic Politics." And President Bush "should be impeached," added Odom with equal fury.
Odom ruled out discussing during the actual interview the warrantless eavesdropping that had been revealed by the New York Times just a few weeks earlier. In a memorandum of conversation Kenney opined that Odom was so angry that he realized that if he started discussing the issue, he would not be able to control himself.
Why was Gen. Odom so angry? Because he, like all uniformed officers, took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; because he took that oath seriously; and because, as head of the National Security Agency from 1985 to 1988, he did his best to ensure that all employees strictly observed NSA's "First Commandment"—Thou Shalt Not Eavesdrop on Americans Without a Court Warrant.
Also disappointed was former NSA Director Admiral Bobby Ray Inman, who led NSA from 1977 to 1981, was one of the country's most highly respected senior managers of intelligence, and actually authored parts of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) of 1978. At a public discussion at the New York Public Library on May 8, 2006, Inman took strong issue with Hayden's flouting of FISA:
"There clearly was a line in the FISA statutes which says you couldn't do this," said Inman. He went on to call specific attention to an "extra sentence put in the bill that said, 'You can't do anything that is not authorized by this bill.'" Inman spoke proudly of the earlier ethos at NSA, where "it was deeply ingrained that you operate within the law and you get the law changed if you need to."
Hayden the Martinet
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Hayden or Himmler?
Always said this Hayden character that Bush put in there looks and acts just like a German SS officer. Now this arrogant son of a something is threatening Obama saying if he investigates crimes committed by the CIA, the CIA will"never go out on a limb for him?" Oh is that right Mr. swastika man? I just love how the Bush Administration has acted more like German fascists than like Americans. Instead of protecting the Constitutioin, they start spying on citizens and detaining people without due process; instead of calling it "Civil Defense" they call it "Homeland Security" (sounds like "Vaterlands Sicherheit") and how Bush people used "blitzkrieg" (shock and awe) to invade a sovereign country that was not at war with us, all on the say-so of a little would-be tin god dictator (Bush and Cheney thought they were above the law).... What a piece of you-know-what. That goose stepper, Hayden, needs to join the other reactionaries in the neocon movement and hop on a bus straight to prison, right NOW. by John Lorenz (26 articles, 133 quicklinks, 166 diaries, 433 comments [89 recommended]) on Thursday, Jan 15, 2009 at 2:25:27 PM  (0+)
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In other words...
No one in Langely will ever take a risk for you... Is a CIA euphemism for "We've got your back" (In our sights) by Matthew Peters (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 226 comments [37 recommended]) on Thursday, Jan 15, 2009 at 3:27:39 PM (0+)
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Reply: I believe you're right...
I believe that nazi s.o.b has, in so many words, just threatened the life of the President-Elect. And then openly boasted of the "forcefulness" of his purely "policy" advice. By rights the Secret Service should have that bastard in custody as we speak. WTF?
by jasper sneed (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 14 comments) on Thursday, Jan 15, 2009 at 3:45:27 PM (0+)
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Reply: Really!
What "Risk" is that? Helping a president cook up another illegal war based on lies and manufactured/ forged "Evidence"? ! ? Helping him create for himself another "Tri-fecta" and cover it up to look like, say, the IRANIANS did it? ? (Watching his back for who? the Mossad?) WTF!? by Bia Winter (15 fans, 10 articles, 2 quicklinks, 24 diaries, 1544 comments [606 recommended]) on Sunday, Jan 18, 2009 at 9:08:10 AM (0+)
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1 fan
Cautiously Optimistic
Mr. McGovern has somewhat higher hopes than I might in regard to anyone investigating bush administration wrong doing. As far as I can see Obama is just giving lip-service to placate the backlash he's been getting from his "looking ahead" statements. It would be nice if it happened, because if you start pulling at the threads of this administration it would unravel like a cheap suit and lead to more and more crimes until you'd be lead right up to 9/11. And it's for that reason I don't believe Obama is going to do anything more than talk a good game. Most likely right after he's in they'll be so many crisis's to arise that any talk of accountability would be put-off, much like they used the excuse of not impeaching for various reasons. by Mr M (1 fan, 8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 66 diaries, 2845 comments [669 recommended]) on Thursday, Jan 15, 2009 at 4:06:43 PM (0+)
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Reply: Break point
wouldn't that be somethin. To actually open the canker of 9/11. to have the machinary of state actually DO something with their investigative techniques other than water board us with WMD, anthrax, and osamas driver. what did they get him on??driving the wrong side of the road.?? Maybe this powerhouse of justice could investigate Barbara Olsens 0 second phone call that gave us box cutters and middle eastern terrorists cutting throats. They could ask the FBI. That'd be a start. Imagine how history would change. by remo (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 122 comments [72 recommended]) on Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 12:51:41 AM (0+)
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Thanks
Thanks, Ray, for another of your knowledgable commentaries. It's so nice to have this kind of importantly weighty material seasoned with enough wit to bring a smile or two along with the bitterness that arises every time more of the slime slips off the Bush Administration.
by Bob Ranney (8 articles, 1 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 27 comments [9 recommended]) on Thursday, Jan 15, 2009 at 4:28:54 PM (0+)
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Mike Hayden putting country first.
From their track record they (the CIA) havn't contributed much in the way of useful intellegence anyway. Why are we in Iraq again? Oh. yea, it was the sterling job the CIA did selling us a bunch of sh_t about yellow cake and WMDs. Great job! Don't let the door hit you in the behind on the way out! I think his exit interview should be a nice waterboarding. by mnmike44 (22 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 71 comments [25 recommended]) on Thursday, Jan 15, 2009 at 4:43:04 PM (0+)
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Reply: Exit interview waterboarding
Now that's an idea for bush/cheney and their appointees that I could get behind. What's good for the goose...
by Rob Kall (109 fans, 1227 articles, 4453 quicklinks, 421 diaries, 2619 comments [985 recommended]) on Thursday, Jan 15, 2009 at 4:45:47 PM (0+)
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Reply: We Don't Need Pocket-Sized J Edgar Hoovers
Since George "we don't torture" Bush is involved, we might hold the exit interviews at Gitmo. We could invite all CIA Agents as well, guilty until proven innocent. Thinly veiled threats recall J Edgar Hoover, the Iran-Contra scandal and George H W Bush. Haven't we tired of these thugs? by Jason Paz (112 articles, 106 quicklinks, 142 diaries, 2323 comments [224 recommended]) on Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 3:46:22 AM (0+)
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If we had impeached Bush the CIA wouldn't be so mad
Don't think the CIA would be so mad about the excesses being investigated if we had started at the top by impeaching Bush and Cheney first.
by John H Kennedy (12 articles, 7 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 319 comments [29 recommended]) on Thursday, Jan 15, 2009 at 6:33:30 PM (0+)
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Check this out-about Kucinich
click here
by John H Kennedy (12 articles, 7 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 319 comments [29 recommended]) on Thursday, Jan 15, 2009 at 6:33:50 PM (0+)
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Clearly a smoke screen.
Get a psychologist to interpret that statement. “no one in Langley will ever take a risk again.” Get real. Hayden lost his mind years ago. This spook needs serious 'Cheney deprogramming' The CIA didn't take much risk with the intel prior to 911. Nor did they take a risk to come forward with an objection to Bush's comments on intel. I pray Obama goes forward. The detainees should all be debriefed. I'd start with Ashcroft as my first subpeona and get him to roll. Gonzales, Mukasey, Rumsfeld, Feith, Tenet and right down the black hole that we got sucked into in 2000. It wouldn't surprise me to know Cheney or Rove were whispering in Haydens ears though lord knows he's already hearing voices these days. I expect more warnings and subtle threats coming from the old guard. A smokescreen indeed. The violations go far beyond waterboarding. Cheney admitted waterboarding and others have as well. The Bush-League is merely trying to accept the waterboarding because they don't want it to go the deeper and more heinous violations they had their hands in. Bush talks about 'lighthearted moments', Those are of the blackest hearts I have ever encountered.
by Patrick Lafferty (10 articles, 0 quicklinks, 14 diaries, 557 comments [318 recommended]) on Thursday, Jan 15, 2009 at 7:07:33 PM (0+)
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A lot more like Hayden
I'm sure McGovern and many others were above board during his days in the CIA. But, illegal activity has been the heart of CIA operations since its inception. It is one thing when their acts are non-violent espionage, but when it extends to operations like 9/11 (1973, that is) that kill thousands to facilitate massive corporate robbery, we know there is a huge problem.
by Richard Pietrasz (2 fans, 0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 597 comments [186 recommended]) on Thursday, Jan 15, 2009 at 7:19:59 PM (0+)
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2 fans
C.I.A.
C. Criminal I. Illegal A. Activities by William Whitten (2 fans, 0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4880 comments [1730 recommended]) on Thursday, Jan 15, 2009 at 7:37:21 PM (0+)
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Hidin'?
This article and the comments relating to it would be hilarious if they weren't related to the president elect and the head of the US spy system. Something definitely has to change if the head spy feels he can state such threats to the incoming president and do it with impunity. I can hardly believe that senior officials are counselling ignoring the law of the land and international law as well. How deep into the dirt do they want to drag the country?
by Archie (3 fans, 0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 2911 comments [491 recommended]) on Thursday, Jan 15, 2009 at 9:07:46 PM (0+)
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2 fans
Reply: Intel Cult
The "Intelligence Community" has covertly run this nation for the International Bankers since Brinks started the Secret Service.
by William Whitten (2 fans, 0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4880 comments [1730 recommended]) on Thursday, Jan 15, 2009 at 9:46:44 PM (0+)
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Reply: right you are
well spotted william. thank you once again ray, for a fun, fact-filled read. loved; 'overlook' vs oversight and treating the incoming president as a 'substitute teacher'. i share your outrage at this and other acts of our congressional 'invertebrates' and i reserve particular bile for the aiding and abetting of pelosi and reid in the subversion of our constitution. by hourglass (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 74 comments [49 recommended]) on Thursday, Jan 15, 2009 at 10:22:20 PM (0+)
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spot on William Whitten and thanks Ray
The fact that Ray McGovern is such an outstanding american combined with how many nasty things that the CIA has done over the decades is hard to figure out. I think it does show somewhat of a direct reflection on the President but also how easy it is to have such diverse personalities under the same organization such as the CIA. My ex-girlfriend was CIA field op in Russia and she's not nasty nor stupid, just naive as hell.
by truthseeker7 (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 59 comments [67 recommended]) on Thursday, Jan 15, 2009 at 10:43:00 PM (0+)
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Tilted to the right
This shows you how amazingly tilted to the Right our national discourse is. If a Democratic administration had been caught waterboarding, there would be no phoney debate about whether it was torture, whether it was effective, or whether it was legal. by Perry Logan (7 fans, 0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1219 comments [502 recommended]) on Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 4:41:18 AM (0+)
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Reply: It has nothing to do with "Democrat" or "Republican." For
example, Bill Clinton bombed civilian installations in Serbia, which is a war crime. He never got the slightest bit of flack for that in the US, even while being witch-hunted for Monica & Whitewater. In recent years, Democrats like Pelosi, Harman & Jay Rockefeller all knew about the waterboarding for years. They didn't lift a finger to stop it. The Dems as a party didn't seriously try to stop the Military Commissions Act of 2006 from passage. (Most Dems voted against it, but they didn't filibuster it, or make an electoral issue of it.) Kerry ran for president months after Abu Ghraib, & didn't even mention it in his campaign, much less make a major issue of it. In other words, Democrats are little better than Republicans on issues like torture & war crimes. And when they're guilty of these things, they don't catch flack for them, because the Establishment approves of these things. Democrats are held to different standards than Republicans on some issues -- but crimes that fall under the rubric of "national security" is not one of them. by Richard Mynick (2 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 1552 comments [256 recommended]) on Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 11:00:11 AM (0+)
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The Big Fish
This may be a fine point, but my main concern is to nail the Big Fish -- Cheney, Rummy, Condi, and Bush. Anybody who watches police shows knows the main reason for going after the little fish is to get the goods on the big ones. So for a completely different reason, I somewhat agree with Hayden: I don't want to see CIA agents going to prison. But putting the arm on them in order to put the REAL criminals away would make my day. by Gary Anderson (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 26 comments [30 recommended]) on Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 9:06:18 AM (0+)
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Industrial Military Complex
I may not be as smart as the average bear (drinking beer). 'Military Intelligence' is MIA and synonimous with fire up the incinerators and paper shredders (to dispose of the daily war reports like the disposable heroes mentioned there in). Secret recon remains secret for a reason, "Spooky". RE: naive (or gay) service men and women. Proud and Few, we want you! [The naive tend to be (Dan) Rather "patriotic".] (Gays--insofar as they are typically thought to be a minority and in light of their pride parade.) What entity hangs thicker than thieves in the night than US law enforcement, at any level and in any country? 99% of every article/comment on OpEdNews can list descent amongst America, but as far as nations go: who rocks the party all night long?! And this is coming from someone who's just a lop, not in the loop, not even of the Netherlands, but merely someone with with a lengthy "fake" record. The quality of American life is like saying: I wouldn't want to be a jarhead in front of my boss and then finding out he was a Marine in Kuwait. Full of s*pit are the colors that never blend and never fade. Tho, they might degrade (a little). Just because they've publicized interrogation techniques doesn't mean they haven't been standard procedure for decades. 'Tell us what you know' (-sodium pentathol-). Isn't it a little too late to impeach? If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit. GW 'legacy' lives on. (Where's the thumbs down icon?) Waterboarding is torture, but so is shoving tubes down a monkey's throat, in the name of science, and gutting dolphins & tunas while alive. Fishing/hunting/war in general, for that matter...Us shoving "freedom" down the throats of planet earth...it's all the same. Since when did law officials need warrants before the fact to accomplish anything? (Dumb show dummies...) If we are to defend the Constitution 'Under God', it's hypocritical to start any war: 'Tho Shalt Not Kill'... Considering Nixon, MLK, and the Kennedy's were all seemingly 'pushed' out of the way by the New World Order, what's the big surprise 'they' do what they want? Torture could also be defined as being forced/relegated to live in poverty under the red, white, and blue; but what can ya do? Defect? That didn't get Lee Harvey very far. It's only torture if they die from it, right?! P.E.N.T.A.G.O.N. (P.eople E.xacting N.eglible T.enacity A.t G.uaranteeing O.ur N.obility) The only difference between a cop and a criminal is the badge. ~ {big} daddy is under the armpit of Uncle Sam right now and forever more, ever more. The shell-shocked, terrorized, ssNazi, Iron Curtain, Totalitarianist Regime lives on. ~ IA 50644 by STEVE RISK (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 70 comments) on Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 5:21:40 PM (0+)
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2 fans
Reply: IMC
Great commentary Steve! From the deep inside, I can feel it. You got it covered my man. by William Whitten (2 fans, 0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4880 comments [1730 recommended]) on Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 12:21:40 AM (0+)
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Reply: What an honor:)
I am glad to have won you over as far as this comment. You are sometimes a harsh critic; but in retrospect, I think that's good. Get people actually thinking if their views are really their's or just spun-off rehashments of the modern media. ~s (I'll try ta keep on keeping it real 4 ya!)
by STEVE RISK (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 70 comments) on Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 12:10:54 PM (0+)
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thanks for the Hayden brief
Nice details of Hayden's complicity in torture during the Bush Administration. I hope Holder and Obama have a full investigation of this policy and have a Truth and Reconciliation Commission if they choose not to prosecute the upper level officials who cooked up this scheme. Also Obama should pardon all the sergeants and privates and agents who implemented Bush's decisions and Hayden's orders, especially since brass always skates away. I WANT ACCOUNTABILITY FOR UPPER ECHILONS!
by luckydjw (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 46 comments [8 recommended]) on Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 2:34:30 AM (0+)
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Family Jewels
Deep politics at work..........Obama in the crosshairs
by Steve May (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 2 comments) on Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 8:09:38 AM (0+)
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Good reason for Kucinich's current silence
From what I understand, the reason for the lull in the push for impeachment is simple: If these criminals are not charged in the first place, Bush cannot pardon them (or himself, as it has been suggested he would do.) From the brazen acknowledgements of their crimes lately, I wouldn't be surprised if (at least Cheney) hasn't been trying to force a new call for impeachment so Bush can pardon everyone before he leaves office. Waiting may be the prudent thing to do as, even if they are not impeached before January 20, they're still not off the hook. They can, and I believe will, be prosecuted AFTER Bush leaves office and is no longer in a position to grant pardons. I also believe that if Dennis Kucinich is keeping quiet about this, after delivering those incredible 43 Articles of Impeachment to Congress, he has a solid reason for doing so. He is one of the very few politicians I actually trust.
by Suzanne Jarnagin (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 5 comments [1 recommended]) on Sunday, Jan 18, 2009 at 9:20:00 AM (0+)
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Holder
Holder's got skelatons too from what I hear. He was instrumental in covering up the Oklahoma bombing. Google Eric Holder and Jesse Trentadue together and see what comes up. The Rabbit Hole is deep, indeed! by Bia Winter (15 fans, 10 articles, 2 quicklinks, 24 diaries, 1544 comments [606 recommended]) on Sunday, Jan 18, 2009 at 9:27:23 AM (0+)
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