Page 2 - Covert Action Programs News Today

What did they do? they took the document marked secret which is a fairly low level of classification and they put it on the super uber sensitive classified network at the white house which only a very hugh handful of individuals have access to, in effect shoving it in the desk drawer so it would never see the light of day. >> along with the other sensitive secrets like plans we may have for foreign leaders and assets we may have placed in foreign capitals, correct? this was right up against some...

A lockdown server. >> at the director of intelligence programs, they have an enclave able to protect the most sensitive secret city intelligence community. this includes covert action programs. detailed information about things like the bin laden raid. some of the spooky satellites we have or collection platforms. it is not a good place to put telephone calls unless they involved one of those calls. >> thats about the only time you can envision a phone call between two leaders showing up in that...

Adviser would need to lie or to make misleading statements about communications with foreign entities? >> i cannot think of one, nor have i experienced one. look, this was at the time the national security adviser, the last time i saw michael flynn in the white house, he was being briefed on all of the covert action programs and the special intelligence programs that were being run in pursuit around the world. this is not an unsophisticated policy maker. this is someone who had been vaulted to t...

Servant, no matter what kind of sacrifices theyve made. >> because, john brennan, that is part of the deep state that the president wants to convince america is going on. you know gina haspel, by the way, the person who will be nominated to be the new cia director. shes going to have a bit of a rough ride, just because of her role in enhanced interrogation or torture. but what do you know about her and what do you think about her? >> i have great respect for gina. she has 33 years of cia experie...

At this point? >> it concerns me, because hes not prepared to make foreign policy decisions. being a businessman he has some foreign experience, but he really does need the cia at this point to explain to him crises which are on the horizon. iraq is going from bad to worse. the taliban has 50% to 70% of afghanistan. theres a crisis looming with north korea. and hes got to get up to speed. and the people to do that is the central intelligence agency. its not just the briefing. he needs the expert...

Pain on someone, either to punish them or force them to say or do something. isnt this torture, what you were doing? >> there are a number of thing on the record about this. first is a piece of paper, a binding paper from the justice department, the office of legal department that said waterboarding and ten other techniques were legal. the second thing i would tell you is this is one of the most thoroughly reviewed covert action programs in the history of the agency. there were thorough investig...

Pain on someone, either to punish them or force them to say or do something. isnt this torture, what you were doing? >> there are a number of thing on the record about this. first is a piece of paper, a binding paper from the justice department, the office of legal department that said waterboarding and ten other techniques were legal. the second thing i would tell you is this is one of the most thoroughly reviewed covert action programs in the history of the agency. there were thorough investig...

Pain on someone, either to punish them or force them to say or do something. isnt this torture, what you were doing? >> there are a number of thing on the record about this. first is a piece of paper, a binding paper from the justice department, the office of legal department that said waterboarding and ten other techniques were legal. the second thing i would tell you is this is one of the most thoroughly reviewed covert action programs in the history of the agency. there were thorough investig...

And your other point was -- >> that the full committees were not briefed. >> yes, the full committees were not briefed and that was at presidential direction. i think one of the things that if there was anything i regret, its that we didnt brief the full committees. we didnt have permission because of the covert action programs. we were directed to brief the intelligence leadership. i can tell you these briefings were detailed. we did not hold anything back here. they were free to ask any questi...

He has been too free, too forthcoming with information about counterterrorism issues in the past. whether he has talked too openly to the press and to former counterterrorism officials who talked to the press about things going on in the counterterrorism world. >> do you think theres any situation where its legal to disclose to the media or the public these tales of covert action programs? >> i do not think it is ever appropriate to improperly disclose classified information to anybody who does ...