Episode # 8432.47-96b: In which our continuing story of the plucky little Senate Intelligence Committee that only wanted to release it's 6,000 page review of the CIA's detention & interrogation program takes a dastardly twist into the shadows of the pages of The New York Times ("All The News The Government Tells Us It's Okay To Print!").
Best guesses, inside.
C.I.A. Employees Face New Inquiry Amid Clashes on Detention Program
Mystery #1
Then, in December, Mr. Udall revealed that the Intelligence Committee had become aware of an internal C.I.A. study that he said was “consistent with the Intelligence Committee’s report” and “conflicts with the official C.I.A. response to the committee’s report.”
It appears that Mr. Udall’s revelation is what set off the current fight, with C.I.A. officials accusing the Intelligence Committee of learning about the internal review by gaining unauthorized access to agency databases.
In a letter to President Obama on Tuesday, Mr. Udall made a vague reference to the dispute over the C.I.A.’s internal report.
“As you are aware, the C.I.A. has recently taken unprecedented action against the committee in relation to the internal C.I.A. review, and I find these actions to be incredibly troubling for the committee’s oversight responsibilities and for our democracy,” he wrote.
"Unprecedented action" ??
-- The CIA is reclassifying itself as a private contractor to the NSA and their puny little laws don't apply to them. Also, The CIA, as one entire corporation, is invoking the 5th.
-- Whistle-blower arrest & prosecution of a current Senator?
-- Some backroom threat to use some of that "bulk metadata" thingys to change a few committee members perspectives? * I hope it's not some boring ol' breaking & entering or hacking or some such.
Mystery #2
The Senate’s investigation into the C.I.A. program took four years to complete and cost more than $40 million, in part because the C.I.A. insisted that committee staff members be allowed to review classified cables only at a secure facility in Northern Virginia. And only after a group of outside contractors had reviewed the documents first.
... black marker through the "sponsored by Your Friends at the The Oil & Gas Association" logos, take out all the Papa John's catering receipts ...
Add your best guesses below! I hear Cuba is lovely this time of year.
* I do wish we had the style of the Brits when it comes to discrediting politicians and such. They make it fun and release pics of them dressed in frilly, lacy bits or front page their best goat "friend." Smashing.