Part 4/11:
This incident highlights the enduring challenge of oversight in covert military operations. The Gang of Eight—comprising the Speaker of the House, House Minority Leader, Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, and the leaders of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees—is tasked with oversight of classified intelligence activities. However, as discussed, the mechanism often relies on timely notifications. Notably, the debate touches on whether these extraordinary operations require prior approval from the President of the United States (POTUS) or whether some blanket approvals are in place allowing authorities to proceed without immediate consent.