NOT A WAR: Obama Secretly Authorizes CIA To Arm Libyan Rebels
It’s not a war because after all, things like this happen every day, right?
I’m sure it’s very common for the president to sign orders in secret to authorize the CIA to provide aid to an insurgent army trying to topple a dictator in a foreign country. Must happen all the time…
(Reuters) – President Barack Obama has signed a secret order authorizing covert U.S. government support for rebel forces seeking to oust Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, government officials told Reuters on Wednesday.
Obama signed the order, known as a presidential “finding”, within the last two or three weeks, according to government sources familiar with the matter.
Such findings are a principal form of presidential directive used to authorize secret operations by the Central Intelligence Agency. This is a necessary legal step before such action can take place but does not mean that it will.
The best part of the article is this little tidbit which tells you pretty much everything you need to know…
As is common practice for this and all administrations, I am not going to comment on intelligence matters,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement. “I will reiterate what the president said yesterday — no decision has been made about providing arms to the opposition or to any group in Libya.”
The CIA declined comment.
The Central Intelligence Agency declined comment? You don’t say.
MORE:
EmptyWheel: Where Will Obama Try Himself for Material Support for Terrorism?
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Reason: Would Arming the Libyan Rebels Violate U.S. Law?
