The Current Crisis
Consequences of the Liberals’ Death Wish
Congressional Democrats harass those who would keep our country safe.
WASHINGTON — Witnessing the current attempt by liberal Democrats in Congress to investigate CIA officers and possibly prosecute them for a covert initiative allegedly undertaken in time of war (a war that is still going on) inspires a happy thought. Perhaps these liberals have a death wish. The American people do not want another 9/11 attack on our shores. They approve of operations against al Qaeda, covert or otherwise. If the liberals continue in their harassment of the CIA for its efforts to protect American national security, for a certitude the electorate will turn these liberals out. Sayonara, my liberal friends!
If the liberals’ death wish only extends to themselves, they have my full support. Yet, it is conceivable that their death wish extends to the country itself. They rarely have anything very complimentary to say about their homeland. President Barack Obama talks about the United States as though it were a failed state. Liberals in general talk about the United States as though it were the provenance of slavery, bigotry, male chauvinism, and — oh yes — cowboy diplomacy. The only favorable thing about America that I have heard from the liberals recently is that America was the birthplace of Michael Jackson. In Congress they observed a moment of silence, to commemorate his assuming room temperature.
The liberals’ present furor over the CIA’s covert operations against al Qaeda suggests that they harbor a death wish not just for themselves but for the whole country. Nations at war are not supposed to divulge military or intelligence operations. Often they keep them confidential for generations. The British historian David Reynolds, in his superb book about Winston Churchill’s World War II memoirs, tells us that both Churchill and the Labour government kept state secrets hidden from the British public and from the world years after the war had ended. Reynolds relates in In Command of History how Churchill’s famous Nobel Prize-winning memoir abounds with evasions and inaccuracies, for instance, Churchill’s silence about cracking the Nazi code (Enigma), or Churchill’s true assessment of Eisenhower and Stalin. Had Churchill been forthright on these matters the Labour government might never have allowed the volumes to be published.
Today’s liberals in Congress are demanding the investigation and threatening the prosecution of intelligence officers who are rumored to have undertaken a secret initiative to assassinate al Qaeda leaders. The initiative was supposedly authorized by the president immediately after 9/11. It is not clear that the initiative ever got beyond the planning stages. Reportedly it envisaged sending hit teams into al Qaeda territory to do what our Predator and Reaper drones are now doing, killing our enemies. Naturally much about the initiative is shrouded in secrecy. Yet, by charging that Congress should have been informed of the initiative, liberals are making a colossal fuss. They claim the diabolical Cheney ordered the CIA to keep the Congress in the dark. They claim the initiative was illegal. They want the whole shocking scheme out in the open. Doubtless, al Qaeda does too.
There are serious consequences to this sort of harassment of intelligence operations. Over at the CIA there are professionals today who are fearful that they may soon be forced to hire lawyers to defend them against the politicians’ investigations. Uncertain as to whether the Obama Administration will protect them, they are distracted and hunkering down. Ongoing operations are being affected.
Right now, very reliable sources tell me that the CIA is aware of the presence of al Qaeda leaders in Somalia and possibly Yemen. The terrorists have moved operations there from Pakistan, but the CIA is reluctant to take action against these brutes out of fear that they will not be supported by the government and may be exposed on Capitol Hill.
Such are the consequences of our liberals’ death wish. As I say, I do not mind them imperiling their existence. When they imperil our intelligence community’s ability to prevent another 9/11, it is no joke.
About the Author
R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. is the founder and editor in chief of The American Spectator. He is the author of The Death of Liberalism, published by Thomas Nelson Inc. His previous books include the New York Times bestseller Boy Clinton: the Political Biography; The Impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton; The Liberal Crack-Up; The Conservative Crack-Up; Public Nuisances; The Future that Doesn’t Work: Social Democracy’s Failure in Britain; Madame Hillary: The Dark Road to the White House; The Clinton Crack-Up; and After the Hangover: The Conservatives’ Road to Recovery.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (82) | Leave a comment
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Big J| 7.16.09 @ 7:39AM
The democrats have no shame. With righteous indignation they cry "How dare they (the Bush administration) do something without telling us!".
This is a distraction created for political expediency. While one of the most liberal activist judges gets confirmed to the highest court in the land; while Crap and Tax is getting crammed down our throats; while government is hijacking the health care system: we need investigations???
It's a massive diversion. The fact that it endangers our national security is of no consequence to these fools.
They have no shame.
Sean| 7.16.09 @ 8:19AM
Tyrrell's a fearmonger. Tell me true, Bob, if we are at war like you say, why allow stock market speculation on war materiels like oil? During WW2 that was treasonous. Why are you divulging the whereabouts of enemy leaders, info told to you in confidence?
Tim| 7.16.09 @ 8:27AM
Just order all the guards and security forces around Langley to turn around and keep the CIA people locked in. Instant prison, plus they can keep doing their work (at $.35 an hour). Should make the Democrats happy.
Mike| 7.16.09 @ 8:38AM
As usual, Mr. Tyrrell intentionally misrepresents the situation he is discussing in this article. Americans agree we are at war. Americans have no problem with CIA operatives assassinating al-Qaeda leaders who orchestrated the 9/11 attacks. Some Americans have trouble with a vice president ordering the CIA to break the law. Some Americans have trouble with conservatives who so readily defend gross violations of the U.S. Constitution while proclaiming so loudly how much they love the Constitution. There are two significant dangers to our freedom and our way of life: al-Qaeda and conservatives who would undermine the foundational principals of our democracy in the name of national security. As Ben Franklin observed those who would sacrifice freedom for security will get neither.
Pingback| 7.16.09 @ 8:42AM
CIA Was On Verge Of Training Hit Squads When Panetta Ended Program - Politics and Oth links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 7.16.09 @ 8:44AM
Dems Vs. The CIA... Another Phony Scandal - Politics and Other Controversies - Page 2 links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
JP| 7.16.09 @ 8:46AM
Sean,
You show your ignorance concerning how oil is bought and sold. Oil is a commodity. Commodities are bought on sold on the world market. Sixty eight percent of our oil comes from overseas. That is, we have no control over nearly 70% of the oil we use. We cannot force nations like Canada and Mexico (our 2 biggest oil providers) to sell us oil straight from thier oil fields. Perhaps you are for us drilling more oil stateside?
Mike,
Tell me exactly when President Cheney forced CIA operatives to break the law. Please offer hard evidence (not some link from Koz and his Moonbats).
Turk| 7.16.09 @ 8:52AM
Sean
From under what rock did you crawl? Was it the same one that shelters the likes of move on and their billionaire provider; acorn; the fellow traveler vermin from the 60's?? Having been well below draft age in WW II, I got to read the V-mail letters back home from an older brother slogging through Italy in the 34th Infantry Division. Not then nor for decades did there exist such American hating scum as you and yours. It is a puzzle-- where did you people come from???
Howard| 7.16.09 @ 8:52AM
The liberal responders to Tyrell's column seem to have mastered the Obama straw man concept. There is no shortage of oil Sean. And Tyrell said that the Al Qaeda leaders are perhaps in one or two countries. He did not say what street they are living on. I believe if Congress muzzles the CIA like they did in the 1970's, we will suffer as a nation.
Bram| 7.16.09 @ 9:14AM
So much irony. The Democrats complain loudly and publicly that the CIA doesn't give them enough secret briefings - and give the press examples.
Didn't Obama promise to kill or capture Osama bin Laden? How did he think this was going to happen? Charm?
As the article pointed out - we are currently fulfilling the proposed mission with different equipment - UAV's.
It would be scandalous if the CIA was NOT working on plans to kill AQ leaders.
Michael L. Hauschild| 7.16.09 @ 9:35AM
It appears that the are , indeed, imperiling their existence politically with a liberal death wish. Worse actually; assuming "room temperature" would be easier than the tortuous moans of anguish we witnessed during Bush II. That "chorus" will only amplify from 2010 to 2012.
Sean| 7.16.09 @ 9:37AM
Didn't say there was a shortage..said it was illegal to speculate on oil in WW2. Speculators drove the price up to $147; how much of that excess funded our enemies? As to Tyrrell's big mouth, he says he was told on the QT, so STFU.
owyheewine| 7.16.09 @ 9:46AM
I have a little trouble differentiating among (undisclosed) Special Forces raids on Al-Qaida hideouts, (undisclosed) Predator bombing of Al-Qaida hideouts, and CIA backed killing of Al-Qaida leaders.
I don't have trouble differentiating left wing blabbermouths from patriotic Americans.
Turk| 7.16.09 @ 10:15AM
Sean
Answer the question! Where DID you people come from???
Mike M| 7.16.09 @ 10:22AM
The one true irony is the places most likely to be struck by terrorists - New York, LA, Chicago, DC et al, all voted for the esteemed Mr. Obama. They asked for it.
Mike| 7.16.09 @ 10:34AM
JP,
Look up the story as reported in the WSJ and NYT. The law is the National Security Act of 1947. Remember, the vice president argued a theory of a strong executive that undermined the concept of checks and balances and he also argued the he was a member of the legislative, not the executive branch, of government. This would put him in the curious position of arguing that he had the authority to disregard a law passed by the body of which he is (supposedly) a member.
Johnba| 7.16.09 @ 10:43AM
I am so happy to see someone who believes what I believed since 9/11. I was always taught that an attack upon one's homeland was an act of war. Given that, I absolutely expected my government to defend its citizens. If kicking in doors in the middle of the night is part of that process, I'm all for it. If they want war, then they should have it.
Sam Vaughn| 7.16.09 @ 11:05AM
Obama said recently that the "stimulus" package worked as intended when everybody started saying it failed. He was wrongly interpreted by the MSM/SRM, it did, it's wrecking our economy as intended. I never thought I'd see naked aggression against the US by our own elected officials... I blame myself for saying this could never happen here....Liberals elitists will rejoice when we get attacked again...just more payback....from the Liberals
Cassandra| 7.16.09 @ 11:27AM
Ha. Assassinating Osama is chicken feed. Illegality? Look into the domestic terror program, the "virtual" prison of "gangstalking" that is spreading across the US.
Hermit| 7.16.09 @ 11:34AM
The intelligence committee was briefed less than a month ago on the al Qaeda initiative. It was a SECRET BREIFING. It was leaked immediately to the press for political reasons (protection/diversion of the speaker)
The idiotic idea that we should know everything our government undertakes in the prosecution of a war effort REAL TIME only works in Neverland. Check your constitution as to which branch is charged with prosecuting wars.
Interesting which GROSSS violations of the constitution you choose to get upset about.
Our constitutional protections do not extend to enemy combatants on the battle field or to people making calls from a foreign country to the US planning an attack. So I do not concede the gross violations in the first place.
I think on the other hand due process rights and property rights were thrown out the window completely in the GM and Chrysler take over. The house just urinated all over the 10th amendment with cap and trade. What article or amendment allows for the takeover of the banking industry, the takeover of the healthcare system? To be constitutional nationalized health care should be undertaken via constitutional amendment.
Liberal Democrats find it necessary to render us defenseless with their endless war on the CIA. Look what the Church commission did, look at the result. Look at the Gorelick wall. Our intelegence community has an extremely difficult responsibility and liberal democrats constantly undermine their effort. It is undeniable they make us more vulnerable to attack. The most despicable behavior is when their efforts have the predictable results these same liberal democrats are quick to condemn the CIA for its failure to protect or failure to know…
ds80| 7.16.09 @ 11:42AM
Mike's hyperbolic statements:
"vice president ordering the CIA to break the law".
"gross violations of the U.S. Constitution"
Mike's reliable evidence: (none)
Mike's credibility: zero
Dean Vander Linde| 7.16.09 @ 12:37PM
I wish the CIA would have gone ahead with its plan to kill Al-qaeda's leadership. They are a legitimate target in wartime, and any opportunity to eliminate them should have been exploited fully. The much-maligned Phoenix Program was very successful in killing Viet Cong leaders until liberal do-gooders learned of it and forced its cancellation.
In 1943 U.S. intelligence learned that Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, commander-in-chief of Japan's Combined Fleet, would be conducing a personal inspection of Japanese forces in the Solomons. Long-range P-38 fighters were dispatched from Guadalcanal and intercepted and destroyed Yamamoto's aircraft over Bougainville. Yamamoto's death was a serious blow to the Japanese war effort; they never found a dynamic leader to replace him.
Today, Admirals Nimitz and Halsey and everyone else involved in the planning and execution of the Yamamoto mission would be regarded as "war criminals" by our liberal friends.
The attitude today is reminiscent of Henry Stimson, Herbert Hoover's Secretary of War. When he learned of the Army's "Black Chamber" cryptanalysis unit, he ordered it to be shut down. According to Stimson, "Gentlemen do not read each others mail."
PeterH| 7.16.09 @ 12:38PM
Which ENEMY Invented or real:
I read your rambling mess twice and still can't find your point. Are you actually saying the CIA is full of Nazi killers?
It never ceases to amaze how many paranoid fools exist that seem to find the Nazis behind every intrique.
Perhaps the Nazis caused the subprime mortgage meltdown as well. Actually it could have been the Mafia.
Pingback| 7.16.09 @ 1:07PM
Obama Will Destroy Healthcare: Videos to Share « Jim Blazsik links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Aaron| 7.16.09 @ 2:04PM
There is Qaeda in Somalia? SHOCKER! I'm sure they were there in '93 when I was. Perfect place for them, we couldn't control that place, the Pakistanis couldn't either... for that matter neither could Ivan back in the day. Another few years from now we will be watching the aftermath of cruise missile strikes on terrorist training camps. Add a dash of U.N. peace keepers, 12 billion in U.S. aid and we will be ready for Clinton administration #3 and Blackhawk Down #2.
Marc Jeric| 7.16.09 @ 2:29PM
Our wimp #1 Bush left some 6,000 Clintonistas in their government posts, instead of firing them on Day 1. So all war secrets were communicated instantly to the New York Times and published the same day. The rot has set in during the Vietnam war; instead of introducing marshal law in time of war, and executing the traitors the same day, we have allowed the matters of national security to become political discourse. The enemy is always the same even though they change teir names from time to time:
1) in the 1930-1956: communists;
2) from 1956-1975: liberals;
3) from 1976-1990: progressives;
4) from 1990 to now: environmentalists (or, as I call them eco-nazis.
During all that time, from 1930-2009, the country enemies have been Democrats.
No further proof is required - just watch what Abu Hussein from Kenya and his aides Pelosi, Reid, Schumer, Rangel, Waxman, Markey, Leahy, Frank, Dobbs, etc, are doing daily. What a gallery of rogues!
John Navratil| 7.16.09 @ 4:17PM
Hermit - you are absolutely correct.
Where is the outrage that classified briefings are leaked? One might be inclined to forgive a "whistleblower" who had a corrupt chain of command and evidence of illegal behaviour. But to release details of a plan which never came to pass the existence which was thought by Panetta not properly disclosed in order to impugn the agency should cause these leakers to lose access to these secrets.
If, as alleged, Cheney ordered this to be kept secret because he didn't trust the Congress, it only shows how correct Cheney was in his assessment.
Mike| 7.16.09 @ 6:04PM
ds80
No rebuttal; just typical ditto-head cant
JaneG| 7.16.09 @ 8:26PM
It seems insane to argue that the CIA shouldn't covertly attempt to kill Al Qaeda operatives.
But that's where we are, isn't it? After all we've been through, a large number of congressional Democrats and Americans (maybe 30%) are in fact arguing that the CIA should not do this. I don't recognize this country anymore.
PCP Smoker| 7.16.09 @ 8:38PM
Hate to disagree with you as you are the best, but I can't see a correlation between the CIA and the safety of the republic. 9/11 and recruitment from Ivy League schools confirmed to me that the CIA is full of libs like Joe Wilson and Valery Plame.
Bring back Frank Churchill and release the hounds!
Pingback| 7.16.09 @ 9:03PM
CIA, Cheney, Lies & Secrets links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Tootsie| 7.16.09 @ 9:08PM
Right now Obama is assassinating Al Qaeda leadership hiding in Pakistan by using Unmanned aerial vehicles (drones); so it's BS for liberals to object to the CIA doing it.
Ran| 7.17.09 @ 2:46PM
Mr. Tyrrell, many thanks!
Anonymous| 7.18.09 @ 8:00AM
Killing bad guys? During a war? This is bad? (Damn, liberals are dumb.)
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Hercules won’t help you until you have all five items from Zeus’ quest. Once you have the five items, bring them to Athena. Zeus will appear and steal them. The big jerk! Once this happens, talk to Athena and she will tell you that Hercules will help you. You’ll need to have the magic mirror from Aphrodite because Hercules doesn’t want to have to walk. He’s so lazy!
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