Obama authorizes secret help to Libyan rebels

On Monday Obama stood in front of the American people and told us that regime change was out of the question and that our operation in Libya was strictly to protect the Libyan people.

Obama [emphasis mine]: Now, just as there are those who have argued against intervention in Libya, there are others who have suggested that we broaden our military mission beyond the task of protecting the Libyan people, and do whatever it takes to bring down Qaddafi and usher in a new government.

Of course, there is no question that Libya -– and the world –- would be better off with Qaddafi out of power. I, along with many other world leaders, have embraced that goal, and will actively pursue it through non-military means. But broadening our military mission to include regime change would be a mistake. 

Apparently this was just a major load of cow chips. Reuters is reporting today that between two to three weeks ago, Obama signed a secret order, known as a presidential "finding",authorizing covert U.S. government support to help the Libyan rebel oust Qadaffi.

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.

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. [MORE]

I guess we can either call this back door regime change or regime change a la Kinetic Military Action. Either way we are being lied to ... big time. No wonder there is all this talk about arming the rebels. It appears it has been an option all along, even though we still are not 100% sure who the rebels are.

One of the most important things any Commander In Chief can do is to level with the American people as best he or she can about what we are risking our sons and daughter's blood for. In the case of Libya, I don't think we have the foggiest idea what we are truly doing over there. Hope and change, anyone?

Via: Memeorandum
Via: Politico
Via: Reuters
Via: The New York Times
Via: The Washington Post

Closet Journalism: Reporter confined to closet for Biden fundraiser

Drudge Report: Staffers with Vice President Joe Biden confined an ORLANDO SENTINEL reporter in a closet this week to keep him from mingling with high-powered guests gathered for a Dem fundraiser.

Reporter Scott Powers was the designated "pool reporter" for the vice president's Wednesday visit to the massive Winter Park, Fla., home of developer and philanthropist Alan Ginsburg. The veep hadn't arrived yet but most of the 150 guests (minimum $500 donation) had. They were busy noshing on caprese crostini with oven-dried mozzarella and basil, rosemary flatbread with grapes honey and gorgonzola cheese and bacon deviled eggs, before a lunch of grilled chicken Caesar and garden vegetable wraps.

Not so for Powers. A "low-level staffer" put Powers in a storage closet and then stood guard outside the door, Powers told the DRUDGE REPORT. "When I'd stick my head out, they'd say, 'Not yet. We'll let you know when you can come out.'"

And no crustini for Powers, either. He made do with a bottle of water to sip as he sat at a tiny makeshift desk, right next to a bag marked "consignment." Powers was closeted at about 11:30 a.m., held for about an hour and 15 minutes, came out for 35 minutes of remarks by Biden and Sen. Bill Nelson, Florida Democrat, and then returned to his jail for the remainder of the event. [MORE]

Joe Biden's staff has since apologized to the reporter:

ABC News: "Scott - You have our sincere apologies for the lack of a better hold room today," wrote Vice President Biden spokeswoman Elizabeth Alexander last Wednesday to Orlando Sentinel reporter Scott Powers.[...]

A statement from the VP's office noted that "It is standard policy for the Vice President's office that a print pooler cover the speaking program at fundraisers. This has been the consistent policy throughout the Administration. At times, these fundraisers are at private homes and 'hold rooms' are provided for pool reporters to wait for the speaking program to commence. A hold room, however, should not be a storage room. This was the unfortunate mistake of an inexperienced staffer and the Vice President's office has made sure it will never happen again."

I don't know what is sadder here. Is it the complete lack of transparency that a reporter cannot report on exactly whom the Vice President of the United States is associating with or that a reporter, whose job is protected by the Constitution, would actually submit to this kind of treatment? Whatever the case may be, the truth is both problems are the reason why we have such crappy government today.

In our nation the media is suppose to exist as the eyes and ears of the people. It is their job to keep close tabs on all politicians (from both parties) and alert us when these politicians go astray. Can any of us honest say this is what we are getting when politicians get to decide when they wish to be transparent and the media sheepishly goes along with it?

Great damage has been done to this nation, especially during this last decade, and much of the blame falls right at the feet of our lazy, lopsided and sheepish media.

Via: Memeorandum
Via: The Drudge Report
Via: ABC News

Obama’s MSM lapdogs start to whimper

Remember when Obama promised to have the most transparent administration ever?  Did you ever think that it would look like this? 

CBS News: There was some rich irony at the White House today -- President Obama signed the Press Freedom Act, and then promptly refused to take any questions.

The new law expands the State Department's annual human rights reports to include a description of press freedoms in each country. It seemed a good opportunity to showcase press freedom in this country.

Recall that last Friday the president refused to take any questions after delivering his angry statement on the oil spill in the Rose Garden. And he has not held a prime-time White House news conference in many months, despite much pleading from pundits and members of the media.

So after he signed the bill, and as the press "wranglers" began aggressively herding us out of the room, I asked if he still has confidence in BP. He ignored the question so I tried this: "In the interest of press freedom, would you take a couple questions on BP?"

That did elicit a smile, and he told me I was free to ask questions. Someone else shouted, "Will you answer them?"

He said he's not holding a press conference today as we were escorted out the door.

Well lamestream media, you have reaped what you have sown. After almost two years of playing Obama’s lapdogs, he is now actually treating you like lapdogs. Sit! Beg! Roll over! And of course NO QUESTIONS!

Via: Memeorandum

Via: CBS News