CIA, Pentagon reject recommendation on paramilitary operations

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON - The CIA and the Defense Department have rejected a call by the independent 9-11 commission to consolidate secret U.S. paramilitary operations within the Pentagon, including those in which the U.S. government wants its hand to remain hidden.

In its final report, the commission that investigated the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks argued that the United States couldn't afford separate agencies conducting such operations and "should concentrate responsibility and necessary legal authorities in one entity."

President Bush asked the Pentagon and CIA in November to study the issue and submit their findings within three months.

The agencies have determined that each of them brings different capabilities to different situations and both should retain an ability to mount paramilitary operations, a participant in the study and U.S. officials familiar with its findings said Wednesday. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the study hasn't yet been sent to Bush.
...
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld "feels that he has capabilities that are important, and I agree. And I feel I have capabilities that are important, and he agrees," Goss said. "There's not a lot of disagreement on this. We just didn't come out at the same place the 9-11 commission did."

Rumsfeld said he had not yet reviewed the study. Previously he has said he does not think the Defense Department should conduct the kinds of covert paramilitary operations the CIA has specialized in.

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/10917281.htm

[ConcernedCanuk]

1. Good idea really -

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.
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Gotta make sure that the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing

:eyes:

[thebigidea]

2. oh, for fun!

" Previously he has said he does not think the Defense Department should conduct the kinds of covert paramilitary operations the CIA has specialized in. "

until Tenet one-uped him in Afghanistan, that is.

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. They are already doing this, it's a secret and thus this "rejection"

They can tell all the lies that they want, nobody is going to do anything about it since, conveniently, we are "at war".