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February 13, 2009

Senate Intelligence

Yes, it's still a contradiction in terms

Reporting from Washington -- A senior U.S. lawmaker said Thursday that unmanned CIA Predator aircraft operating in Pakistan are flown from an air base in that country, a revelation likely to embarrass the Pakistani government and complicate its counter-terrorism collaboration with the United States.

The disclosure by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, marked the first time a U.S. official had publicly commented on where the Predator aircraft patrolling Pakistan take off and land.

...Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism expert at Georgetown University, said Feinstein's comments put Pakistan's government on the spot.

"If accurate, what this says is that Pakistani involvement, or at least acquiescence, has been much more extensive than has previously been known," he said. "It puts the Pakistani government in a far more difficult position [in terms of] its credibility with its own people. Unfortunately it also has the potential to threaten Pakistani-American relations."

As chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Feinstein is privy to classified details of U.S. counter-terrorism efforts. The CIA does not publicly acknowledge a campaign against Pakistan-based extremists using remotely piloted planes, making Feinstein's comment all the more unusual.

Gosh, I feel so much better knowing that secret information is securely held in her hands.

(h/t to HotAir)

Posted by Mr. Bingley at February 13, 2009 08:57 AM

Comments

Once upon a time, we put people in jail for this level of stupidity, senatorial status or not. It's way past time to bring back that quaint custom.

Posted by: JeffS at February 13, 2009 11:03 AM

Mr B,

Try it like this:

(h/t to Hot Air)

Posted by: Rob at February 13, 2009 11:23 AM

Never mind. :)

Posted by: Rob at February 13, 2009 11:23 AM

Any active duty guy would go to jail for that. If you are high enough up the chain nothing happens. What an idiot.

Posted by: major dad at February 13, 2009 11:41 AM

I stinks at the links today, Rob.

Luckily THS bailed me out.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at February 13, 2009 12:01 PM

"BAILOUTS R US"

That's me!

Posted by: tree hugging sister at February 13, 2009 01:45 PM

One word:

Treason

Posted by: Gunslinger at February 13, 2009 05:07 PM