The Pentagon, edging into foreign spy operations traditionally handled by the CIA, will soon begin using its own special intelligence teams to work with US military forces in world trouble spots, senior defense and military officials said on Monday. The officials told reporters that a new Strategic Support Branch under the Defense Intelligence Agency was a change sparked by 2001 attacks on America and not an attempt by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to grab authority over intelligence operations.

The Pentagon detailed the program after the Washington Post on Sunday revealed its existence, sparking charges from some Washington critics that Rumsfeld was trying to circumvent the CIA and may even have avoided necessary congressional oversight. Some Democrats called for congressional hearings.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/FlashNewsStory.aspx?FlashOID=23266


From:
Aftermath News
Top Stories - January 27th, 2005