Rockefeller and leading Democrats criticize "mystery spy plan" approved in new intelligence spending legislation approved by the Congress this week:

Rockefeller and three other Democratic senators — Richard Durbin of Illinois, Carl Levin of Michigan and Ron Wyden of Oregon — refused to sign the congressional compromise negotiated by others in the House and Senate that provides for future U.S. intelligence activities...

Each senator — and more than two dozen current and former U.S. officials contacted by The Associated Press — declined to further describe or identify the disputed program, citing its classified nature. Thirteen other senators on the Intelligence Committee and all their counterparts in the House approved the compromise.

One can only wonder what this entails.

Update: Noah Shachtman has more about what the mystery spy program may involve. "...So the AP decided to read some tea leaves, and figure out which program Rockefeller was talking about. Their conclusion: 'Almost certainly a spy satellite system, perhaps with technology to destroy potential attackers'..." [Thanks to Noah and Nick Schwellenbach for the heads up.]

Posted by Laura at December 9, 2004 11:38 AM