Congress' new blueprint for U.S. intelligence spending includes a mysterious and expensive spy program that drew extraordinary criticism from leading Democrats, with one saying the highly classified project is a threat to national security. In an unusual rebuke, Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, the senior Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, complained Wednesday that the spy project was "totally unjustified and very, very wasteful and dangerous to the national security." He called the program "stunningly expensive." Rockefeller and three other Democratic senators _ Richard Durbin of Illinois, Carl Levin of Michigan and Ron Wyden of Oregon _ refused to sign the congressional compromise negotiated by others in the House and Senate that provides for future U.S. intelligence activities. The compromise noted that the four senators believed the mystery program was unnecessary and its cost unjustified and that "they believe that the funds for this item should be expended on other intelligence programs that will make a surer and greater contribution to national security." | "We can't tell you anything about it, but it's evil. Trust us!" |
Each senator _ and more than two dozen current and former U.S. officials contacted by The Associated Press _ declined to further describe or identify the disputed program, citing its classified nature. Thirteen other senators on the Intelligence Committee and all their counterparts in the House approved the compromise. Despite objections from some in the Senate, Congress has approved the program for the last two years, Rockefeller said. The Senate voted Wednesday night to send the legislation to President Bush. The bill is separate from the intelligence overhaul legislation that also won final congressional approval Wednesday. | Ah, so this is different bill than the one the 9-11 Commission jammed down our throats |
The rare criticisms of a highly secretive project in such a public forum intrigued outside intelligence experts, who said the program was almost certainly a spy satellite system, perhaps with technology to destroy potential attackers. | It's the space-based Zionist Death Ray! I was hoping that would be funded this year. |
They cited tantalizing hints in Rockefeller's remarks, such as the program's enormous expense and its alleged danger to national security.
First the Dhimmicrats make it a national scandle that the 9/11 commision recommendations aren't passed. Then they whine when it is passed because it includes things they lost on in a majority vote. They sound like all whiners all the time. They need to start doing something positive or they will get as much attention as a 5 year old whiner.
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