Reply #9: Wexler inquiry into spying on peace groups stifled

[ProSense]

Wexler stifled in unveiling spying like that on Lake Worth peace group

By Larry Lipman

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Thursday, March 02, 2006

WASHINGTON — Voting along party lines, a Republican-controlled House committee Wednesday rejected a resolution seeking information from the Bush administration about the Pentagon's spying program on dissident groups.

The House Armed Services Committee's action came on a "resolution of inquiry" filed by Rep. Robert Wexler, a Democrat from Delray Beach, in response to reports that the Pentagon's secret "TALON" program had spied on peace groups including the Truth Project Inc., which sought to counter military recruitment efforts in local high schools.

Snip...

Wexler's resolution would have required the administration to provide the legal authority for the National Security Agency's warrantless eavesdropping activities, as well as the justification and scope of the Pentagon's counterterrorism intelligence program, known as TALON.

Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., argued that Wexler's resolution was not needed because Attorney General Alberto Gonzales gave Congress a 42-page legal brief in December outlining the administration's justification.

In addition, Hunter said, the Defense Department has admitted mistakes with the TALON program.

more...

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2006/03/02/s3b_truth_0302.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17