General Michael Hayden 5-22-2006

22, May 2006             General Michael Hayden

Gen. Michael V. Hayden's responses to the Senate Intelligence Committee was couched with the usual vague language and obfuscation used by Alberto Gonzales and others in their confirmation hearings. When the occasional ‘hard question’ was posed’, Hayden lifted his ‘national security shield’ to avoid a truthful response and promised to give details in ‘closed sessions’.

The American public will never be privy to the details of these closed sessions because a gag order will be imposed on all attendees. Thus, the dark secrets of this administration will remain sealed to avoid further embarrassments. What was sorely needed was some courageous lawmakers to pose scorching questions on illegal domestic spying of Americans and the appalling abuse of prisoners at Guantanamo, Iraq and Afghanistan. Alas, this did not happen. Instead fawning Republicans and cowed Democrats demurred to Haden with ‘soft questions’ to ensure his confirmation and placate their constituents back home.