US official responds to criticisms of CIA using Hepatitis B vaccination campaign in Pakistan to try to catch Osama bin Laden

[Jenna]

The comments are a response to criticism of the CIA role, which involved health workers going door to door in the neighborhood near bin Laden’s compound, offering vaccinations against Hepatitis B. According to reports in the Guardian and the New York Times, the goal was to collect DNA to aid in the eventual identification of bin Laden. It’s not clear if the mission was successful.
According to the senior U.S. official, “This was an actual vaccination campaign conducted by real medical professionals. It wasn’t some kind of fake public health effort." The official added, “The plan was for everyone to get the full course of treatments. The disruption of the campaign occurred because medical professionals were rounded up." The Pakistani doctor who led the vaccination effort was later detained by Pakistani security forces.
Earlier Thursday, the aid group Doctors Without Borders issued a statement calling the CIA’s involvement, “a dangerous abuse of medical care.” Dr. Unni Karunakara, the group’s president, said, “The risk is that vulnerable communities—anywhere—needing access to essential health services will understandably question the true motivation of medical workers and humanitarian aid. The potential consequence is that even basic health care, including vaccination, does not reach those who need it most.”

More here: U.S.: Catching bin Laden justifies CIA vaccination ruse – The Chart - CNN.com Blogs

[Captain America]

Do we actually keep any secrets anymore in regards to Intelligence work?

[Ducky]

Do we actually keep any secrets anymore in regards to Intelligence work?

The]Error[/url] United States does not have any Official Secrets Act, although the Espionage Act of 1917 has similar components. Much of the Espionage Act remains in force, although some has been struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional because of the First Amendment (See United States v. The Progressive, Brandenburg v. Ohio, New York Times Co. v. United States).

I suspect most of our problem comes from people who have the right to remain silent, but lack the ability.

[Xiphos]

I think it was a great idea until someone blabbed and ruined it.