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January 15, 2007

We Can't Handle the Truth

Y
esterday, VP Dick Cheney defended the so-called "National Security Letters" used by the CIA and Pentagon to gather financial and other information on Americans suspected of terrorism or espionage. Cheney, as reported by the NYTimes, called the practice a “perfectly legitimate activity” used partly to protect troops stationed on military bases in the United States.

Here we go again. The old "as Commander in Chief" meme under which the President can pretty much do whatever he wants to American citizens whenever he wants. [Dahlia Lithwick had an interesting piece on this Administration's imperial psychosis in Sunday's Wash Post here.]

But that's not what gets me.

What gets me is the idea that Cheney believes that he and his minions -- among whom I include GWBush -- are entitled to whatever information they desire about anyone anywhere. But when it comes to Congressional oversight to ensure transparency in the Executive Branch, the American people aren't entitled to anything in the way of information except that which the President (or, perhaps, more specifically David Addington) thinks we should have.

So all together now, let's just say "thank you" and go on our way.

Posted by shertaugh at January 15, 2007 9:56 AM

Comments

I often think that Bush seems himself as Harrison Ford in Air Force One, while Cheney and Rummy definitely see themselves as Jack Nicholson shouting "You can't handle the truth!"

But who's gonna play Robert Redford from "All The President's Men"? Not Woodward this time...

Posted by: gandhi at January 15, 2007 8:31 PM