Serial Killer Heads CIA
by Stephen Lendman
Chalmers Johnson called the CIA the presidents private army. Imperial Rome had its praetorian guard. It served and protected emperors.
CIA rogues work the same way. They do lots more than that. Extrajudicial killing is prioritized. Much that goes on is secret. Unaccountability keeps Congress and ordinary people uninformed.
Johnson said US presidents have untrammeled control of the CIA. Its probably (their) single most extraordinary power.
It puts them beyond checks and balances. Whats constitutionally mandated doesnt exist.
CIA originally had five missions. Four dealt with collection, coordination and dissemination of intelligence.
The fifth is vague. It lets agency operatives perform such other functions and duties related to intelligence affecting the national security as the National Security Council may direct.
This mandate turned CIA into the personal, secret, unaccountable army of the president. Doing so prioritizes lawless covert operations.
They include overthrowing democratically elected governments, assassinating heads of state and key officials, propping up friendly despots, snatching individuals for extraordinary rendition, treating them harshly in torture prisons, and using drones as instruments of state terror.
CIA is more active than ever, said Johnson. Its mostly a global Mafia hit squad. Its incompatible with democracy.
Its bag of dirty tricks (reflects) a defining characteristic of the imperial presidency.
Its unchecked power threatens freedom. Its existence shorten(s) the life of the American republic. It menace(s) democratic rule.
On March 8, rogue senators approved John Brennan. They did so 63 34. Hes new CIA chief. Voting followed Rand Pauls filibuster. After 13 hours, he caved.
He omitted explaining whats most important. He refused to condemn drone killing. He ignored Brennans previous and current role. He focused solely on killing Americans. He stressed doing it domestically.
He took issue with Attorney General Eric Holder. He wrote Paul. He said its OK to kill Americans domestically under extraordinary circumstances.
A brief follow-up letter assuaged Paul, saying:
It has come to my attention that you have now asked an additional question: Does the President have the authority to use a weaponized drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on American soil?
The answer to that question is no.
He lied. So did Press Secretary Jay Carney. He said Obama has not and would not use drone strikes against American citizens on American soil.
Targeted assassinations reflect official US policy. Theyre longstanding. They occur worldwide. No ones safe anywhere. Heads of state are vulnerable. So are US citizens.
A bathroom break ended Pauls filibuster. Serial killer Brennan now heads CIA. Hes Obamas maestro of murder. His mandate is kill, kill, kill. Expect him to take full advantage. No ones safe anywhere.
In January, the New York Daily News headlined Pull back the curtain on drones, saying:
Brennan, more than any other single official, represents Washingtons lethal drone policy.
No politically appointed official in US history has played such a prominent role in killing so many people outside of a war zone as John Brennan.
He was heavily involved in Bush/Cheneys torture policy. A classified Senate Intelligence Committee report includes lawless interrogation practices.
Committee chairwoman Diane Feinstein (D. CA) called it one of the most significant oversight efforts in the history of the United States Senate, and by far the most important oversight activity ever conducted by this committee.
The report uncovers startling details about the CIA detention and interrogation program and raises critical questions about intelligence operations and oversight.
I.believe this report will settle the debate once and for all over whether our nation should ever employ coercive interrogation techniques such as those detailed in this report.
She added that creating longterm, clandestine black sites and (using) enhanced-interrogation techniques were terrible mistakes.
Neither she nor other congressional members do anything to stop them. They continue aggressively under Obama. Feinstein knows but wont say.
Straightaway in office, Obama planned to name Brennan CIA head. At the time, The New York Times called it politically difficult to do so.
He chose Leon Panetta and David Petraeus instead. Michael Morell twice served as acting head. On March 8, Brennan took office.
Most Democrats support him. So do some Republicans. Congressional profiles in courage are few and far between. Theyre practically non-existent.
Obama said the the Senate has recognized in John the qualities I value so much his determination to keep America safe, his commitment to working with Congress, his ability to build relationships with foreign partners, and his fidelity to the values that define us as a nation.
He added that CIAs now headed by one of its own. Under Brennan, Murder, Inc. elevates to a higher level. He reflects ideological extremism. Hes comfortable committing state terror.
Appointing him sanitizes crimes of war and against humanity. Theyre too grave to ignore. Committing them is official US policy.
Expect drone wars to continue. Theyll expand worldwide. So will targeted assassinations.
Rule of law principles dont matter. Imperial priorities take precedence. Counterterrorism takes no prisoners.
State-sponsored terrors in good hands with John Brennan. Obama authorized him to kill.
About the Author: Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected]. He writes for MoneyNewsNow.com and VeteransToday.com.
He is also author of the celebrated books Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity and How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War.
Lendman also hosts his own blog at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
He is host of a progressive radio show with cutting-edge discussions and distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. It airs Fridays at 1AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening. It airs Fridays at 1AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.