House lays groundwork for CIA probe

By PAMELA HESS, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON – The House Intelligence Committee has asked the CIA to provide documents about the now-canceled program to kill al-Qaida leaders, congressional officials said Tuesday. The agency spent at least $1 million on the eight-year program before it was terminated last month, one congressional official said. Intelligence officials say the operation never progressed beyond a planning stage.

The CIA said Tuesday that the agency would cooperate in the House move, a precursor to what would likely become a full-blown investigation into the secret operation and why the program was not disclosed to Congress. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

CIA Director Leon Panetta, meanwhile, ordered a thorough internal review, agency spokesman George Little said.

Panetta told Congress on June 24 that he had canceled the effort to kill al-Qaida leaders with hit teams soon after learning about the operation. Panetta also told lawmakers that former Vice President Dick Cheney directed the CIA not to inform Congress of the specifics of the secret program.

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