CIA spokesman won't confirm anonymous sources that secret program was to kill Al Qaeda

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-na-cia-cheney14-2009jul14,0,3609174.story

CIA's secret program: Paramilitary teams targeting Al Qaeda

The agency had a plan after Sept. 11 for paramilitary forces to take out Al Qaeda figures overseas. Congress was never told.
By Greg Miller
July 14, 2009

Reporting from Washington - The secret CIA program halted last month by Director Leon E. Panetta involved establishing elite paramilitary teams that could be inserted into Pakistan or other locations to capture or kill top leaders of the Al Qaeda terrorist network, according to former U.S. intelligence officials.

The program -- launched in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks -- was never operational. But officials said that as recently as a year ago CIA executives discussed plans to deploy teams to test basic capabilities, including whether they could enter hostile territory and maneuver undetected, as well as gather intelligence and track high-value targets.

The initiative evolved through multiple iterations, and was close to being scrapped several times as CIA officials struggled to find solutions to daunting logistical challenges. But even as the Predator drone emerged as a potent new weapon against Al Qaeda, CIA officials continued to pursue the secret program as an additional lethal option.

"You always want to have capacity because you cannot predict opportunities," said a former senior U.S. intelligence official with extensive knowledge of the program.

That official and others spoke on condition of anonymity given the acute sensitivity of the issue.

CIA spokesman Paul Gimigliano declined to comment on the nature of the program.

[spanone]

1. this am liz cheney said 'no one would be against taking out al qaeda'

[peacetalksforall]

2. B.S.

[ShamelessHussy]

3. because it is BS and they are about to be hoisted on their own petard imo

Who did not know we had an ACTIVE program to KILL AQ?

the M$M have custom theme music and graphics to go with the two active, ongoing, HOT wars, talking about all our progress in this 'TOP SECRET' program on a daily basis for YEARS, now.

who the @(*#$ do they think they are fool'n with this nonsense?

[Arctic Dave]

4. I am having trouble with the story that "this program

never went operational" after seven years with orders from the top? I find this very hard to believe.

[kentuck]

5. That would mean it was never implemented.

Not even once.

So what's the big deal?

Because the "other program" is the one we are talking about, not "this program".

[Arctic Dave]

6. Ohhhh. The "other program", I see.

Well duhhh.