Congress in dark on terror bill: less than 10% briefed on CIA programs..

[elehhhhna]

How can they vote on something they don't dammned UNDERSTAND?

Congress in dark on terror program
Few briefed on CIA interrogation

By Rick Klein, Globe Staff | September 23, 2006

WASHINGTON -- As lawmakers prepare to debate the CIA's special interrogation program for terrorism suspects, fewer than 10 percent of the members of Congress have been told which interrogation techniques have been used in the past, and none of them know which ones would be permissible under proposed changes to the War Crimes Act.

Only about 40 of the 535 senators and representatives -- the top members of leadership in both parties, members of the House and Senate intelligence committees, and a small handful of others -- have been briefed on the past practices of the CIA program, which permits more aggressive interrogation tactics than those used by other agencies.

The lack of consultation means that senators and representatives will be voting next week to authorize a program that most know little about, raising questions about Congress's oft-repeated vow to increase its oversight of the war on terrorism.

``You're not having any checks and balances here," said Norman J. Ornstein, a resident scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. ``It sure doesn't look to me as if they stood up and did anything other than bare their teeth for some ceremonial barking, before giving the president a whole lot of leeway. I find it really troubling."

Beyond the briefings received by the 40 senators and representatives, the three Republican senators who initially opposed the president's proposal -- John McCain of Arizona, Lindsey O. Graham of South Carolina, and John W. Warner of Virginia -- were given additional details of the CIA program as part of their negotiations with the White House, according to a congressional aide. The senators' offices declined to say what, if any, extra information they were given.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/09/23/congress_in_dark_on_terror_program/

[Solly Mack]

1. Then refuse to vote for something blind

Demand to know

Don't let this be an excuse...I voted but I didn't know what I voted for so how can I be held responsible for my vote

Demand to know...it's your responsibility as representatives of the people to know

[liberal N proud]

2. call me surprised

It is pretty sad when Congress know no more than the average joe citizen about laws they are discussing in Congress.

This is how a rubber stamp congress works, They like the republican voters don't need to know anything to vote for it.
All they need are the talking points and then they stumble on to the floor and vote yea or nay depending on the party line.

[sandnsea]

3. CIA is always that way

They vote on budgets for them without knowing what programs the money is going to as well. That's what all the intelligence budget hoopla was about in 2004. People who voted againt a CIA budget because they found out the CIA had a secret slush fund. Some Senators introduced legislation so that there would be oversight into exactly what they were doing, but then some of those same Senators were called weak on defense - or warmongers for even acknowledging we need intelligence.

[Disturbed]

4. They damn well know that

the CIA has practiced Torture and supervised it. They also know that the CIA has kidnapped suspects and sent those suspects to countries that practice Torture (Rendition). 22 CIA Agents were charged with kidnapping in Italy. Most in Congress saw the photos and videos of Abu Graib. The FBI has published reports of the Torture Methods that were used in GITMO. They know!

[elehhhhna]

5. CIA also trains people around the world. USA #1 export: VIOLENCE

[sandnsea]

6. They know alot more

So imagine how much more they don't know if this is what they do know. I'm just saying that votes on classified CIA stuff is common. I don't support the Bush bill at all, I also don't know the solution to balancing the need for classified intelligence and Congressional oversight either. It used to be our adherence to our Constitution, the Geneva Conventions and rule of law was enough to have faith that we weren't straying too far off track. Not anymore, I get that. But how do we rein them in while upholding the Constitution and our legal traditions as well.