Watching The Detectives

The CIA doesn't exactly have a sterling reputation these days. While being shielded from real scrutiny and prosecution by the White House, the revelations on secret prisons, illegal kidnappings and renditions, and torture have damaged the credibility of the nation's chief intelligence agency. Obviously there's only one recourse in this case; investigate the inspector general.

CIA Director Michael V. Hayden has mounted a highly unusual challenge to the agency's chief watchdog, ordering an internal investigation of an inspector general who has issued a series of scathing reports sharply critical of top CIA officials, according to government officials familiar with the matter.

The move has prompted concerns that Hayden is seeking to rein in an inspector general who has used the office to bring harsh scrutiny of CIA figures including former Director George J. Tenet and undercover operatives running secret overseas prison sites.

This is obviously an attempt to intimidate the IG into backing off with the oversight. And the group heading the investigation is working directly out of Hayden's office. The New York Times has more.

I don't know what more you can say about it, this is the standard operating procedure of federal agencies in the Bush era; avoid accountability, threaten opponents, rule by fear.