Leon Panetta Questioned on Drone Use, Calls Secret Service on Questioner

[ensho]

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/47290


-snip-

Panetta described his work as director of central intelligence:

-snip-

Then came the questioning:

-snip-

Then, to our astonishment (I think we both gasped), she said "One last question. There are many cards about drones," and she read several of ours!

“Since proliferation of drone technology is a low-cost alternative to missile delivery – are DC insiders prepared to hear drones overhead?”

"You've flown a drone a week to Pakistan since taking office. You've killed 538 Pakistani civilians. Are we at war with Pakistan?"

"In 2001 George Tenet said it would be a 'terrible mistake' to use drones as weapons. Why are you?"

"Six of the 41 CIA drone strikes in Pakistan were on AlQuaeda. Who were the rest on?"

"In May 09 you said "Predators are the only game in town. Are we really just playing a video game there?"

He began answering by saying that of course he couldn't talk about Pakistan.

So I started asking questions out loud. He kept claiming that “we didn’t kill that many civilians … there are others who use drones." And that it's not just drones that have killed people.

-snip-

By now the 4 Secret Servce personnel had warned me to be quiet, and now they said I'd be arrested if I didn't leave, so I left, escorted by all of them and a couple of cops. I reminded the audience that we've killed 500 innocent Pakistanis so far.

John stayed. The Secret Service woman came over to him, stuck her face in his, and said “If you say anything, the same thing will happen to you.”

-snip-

All 6 SS formed a spaced line between the exiting Panetta and the audience. Meanwhile, the director of security for the Hopkins, a small, beetley man, told me I could leave and never darken their door again, or be arrested. I agreed to leave.

How tragic that I can never go to the Mark Hopkins again! As usual, the San Francisco cops were calm, polite, and not at all rough; I thanked them. On the other hand, I had to tell the SS woman not to touch me several times.
-snip-
---------------------------------

Panetta should be retired

he needs SS protection??? isn't that telling?

[glitch]

1. I thought there was a shortage in SS -- maybe more like a misuse of resources?!? kr nt