I don’t for a minute believe that we have any idea about the scope or purpose of VP Dick Cheney’s secret CIA program. I think once you know that Cheney told the CIA not to inform Congress about a program, the question immediately arises: how will we ever know what the program was about? Who is going to tell us about the scope and purpose of the program?

The “secret program” is being peddled as targeting assassinations of top al qaeda leaders. There are a lot of legal, not to mention ethical and moral, problems with that plan, but it is probably palatable to an American electorate that is informed on international law by watching Jack Bauer on 24. But what if the program really was operational and actually targeted a Cheney enemies list? Do I need to remind anyone that Richard Nixon compiled his famous “enemies” list and that the list led to harassment by IRS, the break-in at Ellsburg’s psychiatrist office and who knows what else? (everybody who believes that we ever got to the bottom of the Watergate scandal should line up now, they are pouring the Koolaid)

So, let’s think for a minute… are there any convenient deaths of folks who would certainly make a Cheney “enemy list.”

Well, I guess Paul Wellstone and David Kay come to mind.

I have no confidence that a House panel will get to the bottom of Cheney’s secret CIA programs, but I guess it’s encouraging that some legislators think they should exercise their oversight responsibilities.

Simple solution: put Cheney under oath. No immunity. If he says anything (other than invoking the protection of the 5th amendment) that can be shown later to be a lie, indict him for perjury.) Don’t hold your breath for that. Any lawmakers who decide they want to take on Dick Cheney will need to consider the untimely end of folks like David Kay and Paul Wellstone and his family.

Can you say military-industrial complex? I knew you could.

[1] clipped from [2] www.washingtonpost.com House Panel to Investigate Canceled CIA Program The House intelligence committee announced yesterday it will investigate the CIA’s handling of its secret al-Qaeda assassination program, including whether Vice President Richard B. Cheney improperly intervened to stop the agency from telling Congress about the initiative. The probe will examine the nature of the now-canceled program — described by intelligence officials as a series of planned attempts to use assassins to kill or capture senior terrorists — but it will mostly focus on whether the agency improperly withheld information from lawmakers, committee members said. “The committee must be kept fully and currently informed of significant intelligence activities as required by law,” �[3] Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-Tex.), chairman of the panel, said in a statement. He said the decision to investigate was made in consultation with House Republicans. [4]