Is anyone really surprised? The precedent already exists for Cheney's advocacy of torture, as well as the Bush administration's proclivity to concealing information on torture and counterterrorism techniques, one can only surmise what the actions of this concealed program may have been. If concealed, that suggests either torture techniques or a specialized covert military operation. Concealing either of these in the way described by the NYTimes would have been an abuse of Cheney's powers.
The Central Intelligence Agency withheld information about a
secret counterterrorism program from Congress for eight years
on direct orders from former Vice President Dick Cheney, the
agency's director, Leon E. Panetta, has told the Senate and
House intelligence committees, two people with direct
knowledge of the matter said Saturday.
The report that Mr. Cheney was behind the decision to conceal
the still-unidentified program from Congress deepened the
mystery surrounding it, suggesting that the Bush
administration had put a high priority on the program and its
secrecy.
Cheney | Linked to Conceiling Terror Program
Is anyone really surprised? The precedent already exists for Cheney's advocacy of torture, as well as the Bush administration's proclivity to concealing information on torture and counterterrorism techniques, one can only surmise what the actions of this concealed program may have been. If concealed, that suggests either torture techniques or a specialized covert military operation. Concealing either of these in the way described by the NYTimes would have been an abuse of Cheney's powers.