Obama Veto Is Threatened on 2010 Intelligence Budget Measure (anthrax investigation)

[deminks]

One of the three sections of this bill that the Obama administration is evidently opposed to is a section that calls for a new Anthrax investigation.


http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-03-15/obama-veto-is-threatened-on-2010-intelligence-budget-measure.html

March 15 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama probably would veto legislation authorizing the next budget for U.S. intelligence agencies if it calls for a new investigation into the 2001 anthrax attacks, an administration official said.

A proposed probe by the intelligence agencies’ inspector general “would undermine public confidence” in an FBI probe of the attacks “and unfairly cast doubt on its conclusions,” Peter Orszag, director of the Office of Management and Budget, wrote in a letter to leaders of the House and Senate Intelligence committees.

On Feb. 19, the Obama administration released a 92-page summary of a Federal Bureau of Investigation probe that said the late Bruce Ivins, a government scientist, was behind the attacks. Lawmakers including Representative Rush Holt, a New Jersey Democrat, have questioned the thoroughness of the investigation.

Anthrax-laced letters sent to lawmakers and news outlets nine years ago infected 22 people, killing five.

Orszag said the administration also opposes other provisions in the intelligence budget that allow more scrutiny of spy operations. “The president’s senior advisers would recommend that he veto the bill” unless those restrictions are removed, he said.

(end snip)

emphasis mine

Also reported at Raw Story:

http://rawstory.com/2010/03/protecting-agencies-oversight-obama-threatens-veto-intelligence-funding/

(snip)

Strangely, Orszag additionally called out an effort to re-investigate the 2001 anthrax attacks, which have since been blamed on the deceased government scientist Bruce Ivins. An unnamed Obama administration official told Bloomberg News that if the 2010 Intelligence Budget demands another look at the FBI's conclusions, the bill would be vetoed.

(end snip)

Unnamed source says Obama would veto over the new anthrax investigation, but the investigation IS called out in Orszag's letter as objectionable.

I thought we were going to try to fix the Bushco fiasco. But that would be looking back, wouldn't it./sarcasm off.

[asjr]

1. Another act in Kabuki theater.

[RC]

2. What are they afraid of? More proof of government duplicity

in attacks against the American people?

"A proposed probe by the intelligence agencies’ inspector general “would undermine public confidence” in an FBI probe of the attacks “and unfairly cast doubt on its conclusions,” Peter Orszag, director of the Office of Management and Budget, wrote in a letter to leaders of the House and Senate Intelligence committees."

Now why would they think that?

[Festivito]

3. Denying another investigation also "undermines public confidence."

So, were dealing with a lying president, a stupid president, or a president that is being threatened by unseen undisclosed forces.

And I don't think he's lying or stupid.

[ThomWV]

4. He can Veto every Intelligence budget he wants as far as I'm concerned

Don't give them a fucking dime.