A glimpse inside the supersecret world of intel

Rockefeller's letter
The letter was written in the summer of 2003, just after Rockefeller had been made vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. It was his first meeting with the “heavy hitters.” The NSA program came up “and I just said I had some concerns.”

The concerns were voiced in a follow-up letter after the meeting to Cheney. “Clearly, the activities we discussed raise profound oversight issues," Rockefeller's letter stated. "As you know, I am neither a technician nor an attorney. Given the security restrictions associated with this information, and my inability to consult staff or counsel on my own, I feel unable to fully evaluate, much less endorse, these activities. ... Without more information and the ability to draw on any independent legal or technical expertise, I simply cannot satisfy lingering concerns raised by the briefing we received.”

Rockefeller said his concerns “were never addressed” by the administration. “Whether or not the vice president saw my letter or not I have no idea”

What's in a briefing
The revelation of the NSA program and the subsequent congressional fallout have raised concerns on both sides of the aisle about the whether the “gang of four” concept provides adequate checks and balances over the president. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., says “it does not.”

Specter is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, but has previously served as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. “The people in that position are informed," he said. "They're not consulted or asked or have a determination in what is done.”

Viewed by many as one of the sharpest constitutional minds in the Senate, Specter has often butted heads with the administration. He says he's “skeptical” the administration's rationale for bypassing the courts for wiretaps and plans to call for hearings into the matter in late January. “You can't have the administration and a select number of members alter the law.”

As for Rockefeller, he said sending a letter to Cheney was his only recourse. “That's the protocol.” He also suggested his dissent over intelligence issues may extend beyond the NSA matter, saying, “It's not the only letter I've written. That's all I'm saying.”

In a written statement on Tuesday, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, said Rockefeller’s action, "appears to be politically advantageous." Roberts accused Rockefeller of "feigning helplessness" and said "a United States Senator has significant tools with which to wield power and influence over the executive branch."

Roberts listed options he said Rockefeller could have pursued, including discussing his concerns with Roberts and raising objections with the Vice President during various briefings.  "Forgive me if I find this to be inconsistent and a bit disingenuous," Roberts concluded in his statement.

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