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USAid chief faces questions over 'Cuban Twitter' USAid chief faces questions over 'Cuban Twitter'
(35 minutes later)
The administrator of the US agency for international development will begin a series of appearances before before a US government panel questioning his agency's secret 'Cuban Twitter' – a social media network allegedly built to stir domestic unrest. The administrator of the US agency for international development will appear before a US government panel questioning his agency's secret 'Cuban Twitter' – a social media network allegedly built to stir domestic unrest.
Rajiv Shah will face a first round of questioning from Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy, who has publicly called the social media programme "dumb, dumb, dumb".Rajiv Shah will face a first round of questioning from Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy, who has publicly called the social media programme "dumb, dumb, dumb".
Last week it emerged that USAid had overseen the creation of a text message-based service dubbed ZunZuneo and went to great lengths to conceal Washington's ties to the project. Last week, it emerged that USAid had overseen the creation of a text message-based service dubbed ZunZuneo and went to great lengths to conceal Washington's ties to the project.
A key question for the hearings will be whether or not the programme endangered its users by concealing that the US government was behind ZunZuneo.A key question for the hearings will be whether or not the programme endangered its users by concealing that the US government was behind ZunZuneo.
The network was publicly launched shortly after the arrest of American contractor Alan Gross in Cuba in 2009. He was imprisoned there after travelling repeatedly on a separate, clandestine USAid mission to deliver internet access for Cubans using sensitive technology that only governments use.The network was publicly launched shortly after the arrest of American contractor Alan Gross in Cuba in 2009. He was imprisoned there after travelling repeatedly on a separate, clandestine USAid mission to deliver internet access for Cubans using sensitive technology that only governments use.
The government panel will also try to determine whether the programme should have been classified as "covert" under US national security law, which would have required authorisation by the president and a briefing to congressional intelligence committees.The government panel will also try to determine whether the programme should have been classified as "covert" under US national security law, which would have required authorisation by the president and a briefing to congressional intelligence committees.
Shah said last week that the ZunZuneo programme was not covert, though "parts of it were done discreetly" to protect the people involved. He said on MSNBC that a study by the government accountability office into democracy promotion programmes run by USAid and the State Department – including the Cuban Twitter project – found the programmes to be consistent with the law. Shah said last week that the ZunZuneo programme was not covert, though "parts of it were done discreetly" to protect the people involved. He said on MSNBC that a study by the government accountability office into democracy promotion programmes run by USAid and the state department – including the Cuban Twitter project – found the programmes to be consistent with the law.
"This is simply not a covert effort in any regard," he said."This is simply not a covert effort in any regard," he said.
But the author of the GAO study, David Gootnick, said this week that investigators did not examine the question of whether the programmes were covert.But the author of the GAO study, David Gootnick, said this week that investigators did not examine the question of whether the programmes were covert.
Gootnick said the GAO's report was focused on examining the extent that USAid knew what its contractors were doing. It found that the agency was adequately monitoring the work. Gootnick said the GAO's report was focused on examining the extent that USAid knew what its contractors were doing. It found that the agency was adequately monitoring the work. "We did not ask, nor did we report, on the wisdom of conducting such activities," he said.
"We did not ask, nor did we report, on the wisdom of conducting such activities," he said. Leahy, who oversees a Senate appropriations subcommittee that authorises spending for USAid and the state department, said he was not aware of the Cuban Twitter project while he was in charge.
Leahy, who oversees a Senate appropriations subcommittee that authorises spending for USAid and the State Department, said he was not aware of the Cuban Twitter project while he was in charge.
"If I had been, I would have said, 'What in heaven's name are you thinking?'" he said on MSNBC last week. "If you're going to do a covert operation like this for a regime change, assuming it ever makes any sense, it's not something that should be done through USAid.""If I had been, I would have said, 'What in heaven's name are you thinking?'" he said on MSNBC last week. "If you're going to do a covert operation like this for a regime change, assuming it ever makes any sense, it's not something that should be done through USAid."
In addition to Leahy's committee, Shah is expected to appear before a Republican-chaired House appropriations subcommittee, as well as the House and Senate foreign relations committees. Last week, the Republican chairman of a House oversight panel said it would be looking into the project.In addition to Leahy's committee, Shah is expected to appear before a Republican-chaired House appropriations subcommittee, as well as the House and Senate foreign relations committees. Last week, the Republican chairman of a House oversight panel said it would be looking into the project.
In a blog posted Monday, USAid reiterated its position that the programme was not covert. It said references to the use of "smart mobs" in documents obtained by the AP "had nothing to do with Cuba nor ZunZuneo", though the two are clearly referenced. In a blog posted on Monday, USAid reiterated its position that the programme was not covert. It said references to the use of "smart mobs" in documents obtained by the AP "had nothing to do with Cuba nor ZunZuneo", though the two are clearly referenced.
The agency also said that several CEO candidates for the network's company were told explicitly that the US government was involved. Documents showed that the creators of ZunZuneo wanted to keep the origins of the service secret from CEO candidates. Associated Press reporters contacted two of the candidates, both of whom said they'd interviewed for the job with no idea of US involvement.The agency also said that several CEO candidates for the network's company were told explicitly that the US government was involved. Documents showed that the creators of ZunZuneo wanted to keep the origins of the service secret from CEO candidates. Associated Press reporters contacted two of the candidates, both of whom said they'd interviewed for the job with no idea of US involvement.