Newsweek: Cheney tried to abolish the gov't unit that monitors the handling of government secrets

[sabra]

http://www.newsweek.com/id/81883/page/1

Challenging Cheney

A National Archives official reveals what the veep wanted to keep classified--and how he tried to challenge the rules
By Michael Isikoff | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Dec 24, 2007


J. William Leonard learned the hard way the perils of questioning Vice President Dick Cheney. The veteran National Archives official challenged claims by the Office of Vice President (OVP) to be exempt from federal rules governing classified information. His efforts touched off a firestorm—and a counter-strike by Cheney's chief of staff, David Addington, who tried to wipe out Leonard's job. (Addington did not respond to requests for comment on the subject.)

Now, Leonard is quitting as director of the Archives' Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO)—the unit that monitors the handling of government secrets. He tells NEWSWEEK that his fight with Cheney's office was a "contributing" factor in his decision to retire after 34 years of government service.

<snip>

So how did matters escalate?
The challenge arose last year when the Chicago Tribune was looking at (ISOO's annual report) and saw the asterisk )reporting that it contained no information from OVP) and decided to follow up. And that's when the spokesperson from the OVP made public this idea that because they have both legislative and executive functions, that requirement doesn't apply to them.…They were saying the basic rules didn't apply to them. I thought that was a rather remarkable position. So I wrote my letter to the Attorney General (asking for a ruling that Cheney's office had to comply.) Then it was shortly after that there were (email) recommendations (from OVP to a National Security Council task force) to change the executive order that would effectively abolish (my) office.

Who wrote the emails?
It was David Addington.

...

A number of people have noted that the vice president's office stopped reporting to you and complying with ISOO in the fall of 2003 when the whole Valerie Plame case blew up. Do you think there was a connection?

I don't have any insight. I was held at arms length (from that.) But some of the things based on what I've read (have) given me cause for concern. A number of prosecution exhibits (in the Plame-related perjury trial of I. Scooter Libby, Cheney's former chief of staff) were annotated, 'handle as SCI.' SCI is Sensitive Compartmentalized Information, the most sensitive classified information there is. As I recall, (one of them) was (the vice president and his staff) were coming back from Norfolk where they had attended a ship commissioning and they were conferring on the plane about coming up with a (media) response plan (to the allegations of Plame's husband, Iraq war critic Joseph Wilson.) That was one of the exhibits marked, 'handle as SCI.'

These were internal communications about what to say to the press?
Let me give you some the irony of that. Part of the National Archives is the presidential libraries….So we're going to have documents (at the libraries) with the most sensitive markings on it that isn't even classified. If I were going to do a review (of OVP), that would be one of the questions I would want to ask: What is this practice? And how widespread is it? And what is the rationale? How do we assure that people don't get this mixed up with real secrets?

[EFerrari]

1. Somebody should go looking for more of Cheney's notes

in the margins.

No wonder he's so nuts about shredding -- he scribbles his thoughts out on paper.

[Supersedeas]

2. The Republican oversight during the Bush early years was something else--no stained dress, no

oversight.

[Octafish]

3. When all else fails, use fire.

And if you can't fire the problem, set fire to the problem.

[formercia]

4. Mafia Consigliere

David Addington needs to be disbarred and sent to prison for a long time.

Cheney covers his ass by claiming that Addington determined something was legal based on some dubious interpretation of the law. Addington, in turn, will claim that he was only advising his client and not part of any illegal activity, when in fact, they are co-conspirators to violate the law.

[sabra]

5. with every new scandal, Addington's name surfaces... including the most recent

re: the "destroyed" CIA tapes.

[formercia]

9. Addington is an active participant.

In the Mafia world, the Consigliere is often the second in command and often acts as the head decision maker.

Day by day his role is uncovered. His kind likes to stay in the background and not attract attention to themselves.

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. Wouldn't the key be to waterboard Addington for information?

I mean that figuratively, of course.

[formercia]

14. Just tell hm that he is being turned over to Iraq

for prosecution.

I bet he would squeal like a piglet.

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. "dubious interpretation of the law."

There is way too much of that, and I think we all know in our guts, that they're doing it on purpose. "Wilful failure to know," comes to mind.

[formercia]

13. I'm sure they are doing it on purpose

Any shady defense attorney will use it as a stalling tacic or diversion.

The are trying to run out the Statute of Limitations clock.

[The Backlash Cometh]

18. It's time to end the Statute of Limitations. If government bodies are using

it as a reason to stall investigations, then I say that once you can prove negligence, incompetence or intentional fraud when requesting public records, then the SoL should be rescinded.

[Octafish]

23. Sneer's Brain

The thought of Addington doing the first real work of his life -- making little rocks out of big ones -- brings great joy.

The bugger's good at other forms of treason, too, like corruption:

Enron Reps Met With Cheney 6 Times

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
January 8, 2002

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Enron Corp. representatives met six times with Vice President Dick Cheney or his aides on the nation's energy policy, including a discussion in mid-October just before the company's sudden collapse.

In a letter to Congress, vice presidential counsel David Addington disclosed the number of meetings between the Bush White House and the former energy giant whose CEO, Ken Lay, has been among President Bush's top political supporters. The company became the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history on Dec. 2.

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., released the White House's Jan. 3 letter on Tuesday. He is seeking details of the meetings and information about any telephone calls or e-mails between the vice president's office and Enron.

``An employee of the vice president's staff ... met on Oct. 10, 2001, with Enron representatives and reports that they discussed energy policy matters and did not discuss information concerning the financial position of the Enron Corp.,'' the letter from Cheney's counsel said.

On Oct. 16, Enron announced huge losses, the first in a series of admissions that eventually drove down the price of the company's stock to less than a dollar a share.

CONTINUED...

http://www.truthout.org/docs_01/01.09A.Enron.Cheney.htm

PS: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to You and Yours, formercia! May joy and peace be Yours in 2008!

[formercia]

24. And a very Joyous Holidays to you and yours

May the coming year bring Peace and Joy to the World, and fair and due process to the perpeTRAITORS.

[Demeter]

34. Very Clever! A New Corporate Slogan!

[MidwestTransplant]

6. That's too bad. Now his job will be filled by a sycophantic piece of shit.

[L. Coyote]

7. Okay, Bush Junta Scandal Number 292, and counting.

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. Who in this country isn't convinced that Dick Cheney is the biggest crook

this country has ever seen?

[sabra]

12. Lynne Cheney?

[formercia]

15. I have a feeling she has thrown her lot in with the Gang.

She can't be that stupid.

[The Backlash Cometh]

20. She has nothing to lose. She can't testify against her husband.

[rucky]

16. He is living disproof of Will Smith's theory

that even the most evil people don't think they're evil.

He loves being evil.

[sabra]

17. Cheney: "Darth Vader is one of the nicer things I've been called recently"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21575478/

<snip>

"Most of you knew me long before anyone called me Darth Vader," Cheney said in a speech at The Washington Institute last week. "I've been asked if that nickname bothers me, and the answer is, no. After all, Darth Vader is one of the nicer things I've been called recently."

Darth Vader is the heavy-breathing villain of the Star Wars movies — a reference to Cheney's terse manner and sometimes gloomy view of world affairs.

[The Backlash Cometh]

21. I think he knows that he is doing things that are pissing people off.

I just think that he has committed his soul to a certain group of people and is doing what he believes is the responsible and difficult thing to do in order to insure the world remains with the same management in the years to come where we'll be facing diminishing resources.

[shanti]

32. he doesn't give

a flying rat's ass if anyone hates him and has even said such.

[The Backlash Cometh]

35. So why should we give a rat's ass if he spends his golden years in jail?

This is about the power of the people vs. Dick Cheney. One man who has sent this country down the wrong path. If the USA is a true democracy, Dick Cheney will spend time in jail.

[shanti]

36. i would LOVE

for that to happen! :thumbsup:

[SpiralHawk]

19. "Hell, I've got five military deferments and that makes me special." - Dickie Cheney

"I am not like other Americans. Sneer"

- Dickie Five Military Deferments Cheney

[Garbo 2004]

22. K & R n/t

[bonito]

25. David Addington wikipedia

This bio is lacking he's motivation, personal connections, affiliations etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Addington

[Progressive Radical]

26. Question:

What are the Democrats going to do?

I think we all know the answer.

[bonito]

27. David Addington rightweb

http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/2940
This guy is not a player, he's a tool, a pawn.

[seemslikeadream]

28. For years, Addington has carried a copy of the U.S. Constitution in his pocket

For years, Addington has carried a copy of the U.S. Constitution in his pocket; taped onto the back are photocopies of extra statutes that detail the legal procedures for Presidential succession in times of national emergency.

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/07/03/060703fa_fact1

[deacon]

29. kick and highly recommend. n/t

[deacon]

30. kick and highly recommend. n/t

[Divine Discontent]

31. sounds about right... n/t

[Xipe Totec]

33. Three comments were posted on the article

all three about Hillary; none about the Dick.

I thought it was metaphorical on both the article, and the way freeper minds work:

Always performing flanking maneuvers on reality.

[Marie26]

37. K&R