Congress Not Told of Covert Action

Kytro · 05-10-2007, 08:40 PM

U.S. intelligence recently undertook a "significant" covert action without notifying Congress, as required by law, the House Intelligence Committee disclosed in a new report on the 2008 intelligence authorization bill.

"The Committee was dismayed at a recent incident wherein the Intelligence Community failed to inform the Congress of a significant covert action activity. This failure to notify Congress constitutes a violation of the National Security Act of 1947."

"Despite agency explanations that the failure was inadvertent, the Committee is deeply troubled over the fact that such an oversight could occur, whether intentionally or inadvertently."

Isn't it interesting how it being that mistakes cannot excuse an individual from failure to follow the law, but when it comes to the government, they seem to think it can.

Publius · 05-10-2007, 08:49 PM

"Sorry officer, I didn't mean to run that stop sign."

Donkey® · 05-10-2007, 08:56 PM

But who really thinks they "forgot to tell them" on purpose? I don't run a stopsign on purpose.

SpicyMcVoodoo · 05-11-2007, 12:07 AM

Everything they tell congress will be leaked.

Kytro · 05-11-2007, 01:42 AM

Originally Posted by SpicyMcVoodoo

Everything they tell congress will be leaked.

Does that justify breaking the law though?

Diesel66 · 05-11-2007, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by Kytro

Does that justify breaking the law though?

does the war power act apply in this situation ? If it applies then they have 60days before notifying congress.

Kytro · 05-11-2007, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by Diesel66

does the war power act apply in this situation ? If it applies then they have 60days before notifying congress.

It is unlikely that it would be seen as a seperate conflict. I don't know that congress had to specifically approve the action.

Diesel66 · 05-11-2007, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by Kytro

It is unlikely that it would be seen as a seperate conflict. I don't know that congress had to specifically approve the action.

Is there even a hint on where the operation took place ?

Kytro · 05-13-2007, 01:54 AM

Originally Posted by Diesel66

Is there even a hint on where the operation took place ?

I was merely going by what the article suggested, and they so claim it is an oversight. Still it may be possible that it falls under that banner, but I thought they need approval from congress in 60 days, rather than notification.

motivez · 05-13-2007, 02:47 PM

I really hope the Democrats rail against attempts to castrate Congress' oversight abilities..

Linzyhop · 05-14-2007, 10:49 AM

i would think if they set a 'secret' date to pull out of iraq, telling congress would be stupid because someone would leak it anyway.... too many fatheads in there wondering if they could profit somehow by leaking the date...