the system worked

The military operation that killed Osama bin Laden appears to have been a textbook example of good presidential and military planning.

But it also proved that Congress can keep a secret. As Vice President Biden told the Atlantic Council:

"What was even more extraordinary was -- and I’m sure former administration officials will appreciate this more than anyone -- there was such an absolute, overwhelming desire to accomplish this mission that although for over several months we were in the process of planning it and there were are many as 16 members of Congress who were briefed on it, not a single solitary thing leaked. I find that absolutely amazing."

Since I helped write the law that requires presidential findings prior to CIA covert actions and notification to Congress, I was gratified that this aspect worked well, too.

I also used an on-the-record meeting at the Council on Foreign Relations to ask the current chairman of the House Intelligence Committee,Cong. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), whether his panel would consider extending this law to cover covert actions conducted solely by non-CIA personnel. He indicated that they had been following what he called "Title 10 operations" (after the part of the U.S. Code controlling the Pentagon) and would be considering whether to make any changes in the law.