Legal Disputes Over Hunt Paralyzed Clinton's Aides

The Washington Post ^ | 2/22/04 | Steve Coll

[Gothmog]

Between 1998 and 2000, the CIA and President Bill Clinton's national security team were caught up in paralyzing policy disputes as they secretly debated the legal permissions for covert operations against Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan.

The debates left both White House counterterrorism analysts and CIA career operators frustrated and at times confused about what kinds of operations could be carried out, according to interviews with more than a dozen officials and lawyers who were directly involved.

[Excerpted]

It was common in Clinton's cabinet and among his National Security Council aides to see the CIA as too cautious, paralyzed by fears of legal and political risks. At Langley, this criticism rankled. The CIA's senior managers believed officials at the White House wanted to have it both ways: They liked to blame the agency for its supposed lack of aggression, yet they sent over classified legal memos full of wiggle words.

[mondonico]

Take note those who would support KerryTheTalkingAss: this is what happens when you deal with people who have declared war on you as a "law enforcement problem."

[Squantos]

Zactly......A real President defends their nation . The Clintonista's version defend only their actions.

Stay Safe

[Vaduz]

And sell to the top bidder take the money and run

[mewzilla]

This is one explanation. I don't buy it, but it's a nice try.

[angkor]

The CIA's senior managers believed officials at the White House wanted to have it both ways ...they sent over classified legal memos full of wiggle words.

You need to read the whole article.

The CIA field teams were certain of the threat posed by bin Laden. But they were constantly hampered by the WH and DoJ law-enforcement approach, and they never received orders that directly answered the "kill versus capture" question. So they could have been strung-up no matter what happened.

The most ambitious plan was terminated by Tenant because it probably would have left "civilian" casualities inside OBL's Kandahar compound. As if anyone living there could have been considered an innocent "civilian".

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

'HILLARY and TERRORISM's plan to regain the White House'


http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1022571/posts


...just so's she won't.


.

[rodguy911]

Guess how many time Bubba met with his CIA director--0--guess how many times he met with monica--lots--I rest my case--and Bubba rested a lot too.NO surprise the washed out post wrote this tripe.

[skinkinthegrass]

...consider the source, The Washington Compost.

..just another CYA operation for Bubba/Shrillary's DNC on WOT, (looking @ Been Hidens' actions...WTCI,Somalia,Kobar Towers...etc..etc. since '93)....in an unlimited number of CYAs for the Clintoons and their Ilk.

[Jack Black]

bump ..
don't feel like registering w/ the ComPost right now ... but looks like an interesting article

[Grampa Dave]

[Gothmog]

I like the way in the Wallace interview he used the lawyer/weasel word "responsibly" to describe his efforts. IOW: Gorelick/Berger interfence.

[Grampa Dave]

Clintoon is the poster boy for weasel/lawyers and what they say to stir up the mud, like define "Is".