ABC News Blotter: Bush Authorizes New Covert Action Against Iran

[AsburySkinsFan]

Here's a quote from Tom Clancy for ya: "If you kick a tiger in the ass, you had better have a plan to deal with its teeth."

Iran ain't Iraq you moron!

--------------------------------------------

Bush Authorizes New Covert Action Against Iran

May 22, 2007 6:29 PM

Brian Ross and Richard Esposito Report:

The CIA has received secret presidential approval to mount a covert "black" operation to destabilize the Iranian government, current and former officials in the intelligence community tell the Blotter on ABCNews.com.

The sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the subject, say President Bush has signed a "nonlethal presidential finding" that puts into motion a CIA plan that reportedly includes a coordinated campaign of propaganda, disinformation and manipulation of Iran's currency and international financial transactions.

"I can't confirm or deny whether such a program exists or whether the president signed it, but it would be consistent with an overall American approach trying to find ways to put pressure on the regime," said Bruce Riedel, a recently retired CIA senior official who dealt with Iran and other countries in the region.

A National Security Council spokesperson, Gordon Johndroe, said, "The White House does not comment on intelligence matters." A CIA spokesperson said, "As a matter of course, we do not comment on allegations of covert activity."

The sources say the CIA developed the covert plan over the last year and received approval from White House officials and other officials in the intelligence community.

Officials say the covert plan is designed to pressure Iran to stop its nuclear enrichment program and end aid to insurgents in Iraq.

"There are some channels where the United States government may want to do things without its hand showing, and legally, therefore, the administration would, if it's doing that, need an intelligence finding and would need to tell the Congress," said ABC News consultant Richard Clarke, a former White House counterterrorism official.

Current and former intelligence officials say the approval of the covert action means the Bush administration, for the time being, has decided not to pursue a military option against Iran.

"Vice President Cheney helped to lead the side favoring a military strike," said former CIA official Riedel, "but I think they have come to the conclusion that a military strike has more downsides than upsides."

The covert action plan comes as U.S. officials have confirmed Iran had dramatically increased its ability to produce nuclear weapons material, at a pace that experts said would give them the ability to build a nuclear bomb in two years.

Riedel says economic pressure on Iran may be the most effective tool available to the CIA, particularly in going after secret accounts used to fund the nuclear program.

"The kind of dealings that the Iranian Revolution Guards are going to do, in terms of purchasing nuclear and missile components, are likely to be extremely secret, and you're going to have to work very, very hard to find them, and that's exactly the kind of thing the CIA's nonproliferation center and others would be expert at trying to look into," Riedel said.

Under the law, the CIA needs an official presidential finding to carry out such covert actions. The CIA is permitted to mount covert "collection" operations without a presidential finding.

"Presidential findings" are kept secret but reported to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and other key congressional leaders.

The "nonlethal" aspect of the presidential finding means CIA officers may not use deadly force in carrying out the secret operations against Iran.

Still, some fear that even a nonlethal covert CIA program carries great risks.

"I think everybody in the region knows that there is a proxy war already afoot with the United States supporting anti-Iranian elements in the region as well as opposition groups within Iran," said Vali Nasr, adjunct senior fellow for Mideast studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

"And this covert action is now being escalated by the new U.S. directive, and that can very quickly lead to Iranian retaliation and a cycle of escalation can follow," Nasr said.

Other "lethal" findings have authorized CIA covert actions against al Qaeda, terrorism and nuclear proliferation.

Also briefed on the CIA proposal, according to intelligence sources, were National Security Advisor Steve Hadley and Deputy National Security Advisor Elliott Abrams.

"The entire plan has been blessed by Abrams, in particular," said one intelligence source familiar with the plan. "And Hadley had to put his chop on it."

Abrams' last involvement with attempting to destabilize a foreign government led to criminal charges.

He pleaded guilty in October 1991 to two misdemeanor counts of withholding information from Congress about the Reagan administration's ill-fated efforts to destabilize the Nicaraguan Sandinista government in Central America, known as the Iran-Contra affair. Abrams was later pardoned by President George H. W. Bush in December 1992.

In June 2001, Abrams was named by then National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice to head the National Security Council's office for democracy, human rights and international operations. On Feb. 2, 2005, National Security Advisor Hadley appointed Abrams deputy assistant to the president and deputy national security advisor for global democracy strategy, one of the nation's most senior national security positions.

As earlier reported on the Blotter on ABCNews.com, the United States has supported and encouraged an Iranian militant group, Jundullah, that has conducted deadly raids inside Iran from bases on the rugged Iran-Pakistan-Afghanistan "tri-border region."

U.S. officials deny any "direct funding" of Jundullah groups but say the leader of Jundullah was in regular contact with U.S. officials.

American intelligence sources say Jundullah has received money and weapons through the Afghanistan and Pakistan military and Pakistan's intelligence service. Pakistan has officially denied any connection.

A report broadcast on Iranian TV last Sunday said Iranian authorities had captured 10 men crossing the border with $500,000 in cash along with "maps of sensitive areas" and "modern spy equipment."

A senior Pakistani official told ABCNews.com the 10 men were members of Jundullah.

The leader of the Jundullah group, according to the Pakistani official, has been recruiting and training "hundreds of men" for "unspecified missions" across the border in Iran.

[heyholetsgogrant]

I much rather have CIA action there, then a full scale invasion..

-Grant

[AsburySkinsFan]

I much rather have CIA action there, then a full scale invasion..

-Grant

One word: Blowback.

Do we really think that Iran won't respond? Heck, read the whole article it spells out how there is already a shadow war going on and how this move is an escalation of that shadow war, how will Iran next escalate? Did you also catch the part about Cheney strongly advocating military strike against Iran! OMGness, our elected leaders are acting like this is a dang video game!

I guess that was more than one word.

What also alarms me is that there are current CIA personel that are worried enough about this to leak this escalation to the media, and if the spooks are spooked, then what are we to think?

[Lowghost]

Great assumption.

I like how our CIA operations are leaked. :doh:

[AsburySkinsFan]

Great assumption.

I like how our CIA operations are leaked. :doh:

Assumption? What are you talking about? CIA agents gave this top secret information to reporters under the condition of anonymity, how is that not a leak?

*edit*

Furthermore, who cares if it was leaked or not, the real question is whether or not its true, and if it is....well....disaster would be an understatement.

[twa]

ABC is full of idiots,do you think there is a reason it is called covert?

As far as blowback Iran is helping kill US soldiers and innocent civilians every damn day...How are they going to escalate?

[Destino]

The sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the subject, say President Bush has signed a "nonlethal presidential finding" that puts into motion a CIA plan that reportedly includes a coordinated campaign of propaganda, disinformation and manipulation of Iran's currency and international financial transactions.

This is a great thing ASF. We should be using propoganda and helping moderate groups in Iran. If anything has been lacking from the fight against these kooks it's been engaging them on the battlefield of ideas. They spread crazy **** and now it's time for us to fight back. We certainly fought communism in this manner.

Now we just need world leaders to openly mock the extremists and stop pretending burning down buildings in response to cartoons is acceptable.

[twa]

ASF, why don't you get your knickers in twist about this or something worthwhile?

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2007/05/my-god-theyre-beating-their-women-to.html

[paredskinsfan]

This is a great thing ASF. We should be using propoganda and helping moderate groups in Iran. If anything has been lacking from the fight against these kooks it's been engaging them on the battlefield of ideas. They spread crazy **** and now it's time for us to fight back. We certainly fought communism in this manner.

Now we just need world leaders to openly mock the extremists and stop pretending burning down buildings in response to cartoons is acceptable.

Well said.

[AsburySkinsFan]

How are they going to escalate?

You do understand that they have an ARMY right?

[AsburySkinsFan]

This is a great thing ASF. We should be using propoganda and helping moderate groups in Iran. If anything has been lacking from the fight against these kooks it's been engaging them on the battlefield of ideas. They spread crazy **** and now it's time for us to fight back. We certainly fought communism in this manner.

Yeah, and when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad feels backed into a corner, what do you suspect he'll do? I guess he'll just look at us and go, "Oh, yeah guys I was just kidding." Whatever!:doh:

[Tarhog]

'What happens now?'

'Well....now you, Rummy, Cheney, and Ashcroft LEAP out of the rabbit taking the Iranians TOTALLY by surprise!!!........alright I've got another idea, we build this giant wooden badger.....'

[AsburySkinsFan]

ASF, why don't you get your knickers in twist about this or something worthwhile?

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2007/05/my-god-theyre-beating-their-women-to.html

Ok, maybe I don't get your point, because it seems like you're saying that I shouldn't be worried about our government provoking Iran, and potentially starting a war with Iran, and instead I should be supporting such action because they have a bad human right record. Am I understanding you correctly, because I do care about the human rights violations in Iran, but guess what? If a nation is willing to violate the human rights of their own people then what do you think they would be willing to do to us?

And furthermore, don't try and do the diversion tactic anymore, because you're not very good at it.

[Lowghost]

Assumption? What are you talking about? CIA agents gave this top secret information to reporters under the condition of anonymity, how is that not a leak?

*edit*

Furthermore, who cares if it was leaked or not, the real question is whether or not its true, and if it is....well....disaster would be an understatement.

1, it doesn't take a genius to realize that our CIA operatives are doing something to cause unrest in Iran.

2, the disaster would be an understatement comment, how can I say this nicely, never mind I can't.

That is why it would not have been leaked. CIA agents do not leak this stuff to the press.

Some folks have a better understanding on what goes on in the world, things we are not told, whether that is a good or bad thing, I am not sure. One thing I am certain of is that it would not be leaked by anyone one that was is the know of what is going on concerning Iran. :2cents:

[Larry]

As far as blowback Iran is helping kill US soldiers and innocent civilians every damn day...How are they going to escalate?

Kidnap another few dozen people?

[AsburySkinsFan]

Kidnap another few dozen people?

It got our attention before, and as I recall that President had a 28% approval rating too.

[luckydevil]

This is a great thing ASF. We should be using propoganda and helping moderate groups in Iran. If anything has been lacking from the fight against these kooks it's been engaging them on the battlefield of ideas. They spread crazy **** and now it's time for us to fight back. We certainly fought communism in this manner.

Now we just need world leaders to openly mock the extremists and stop pretending burning down buildings in response to cartoons is acceptable.

A great thing? How in the world did you come to that conclusion. It is amazing how little people know about Iranian politics. The kooks are losing the battle of ideas. Mullahs are losing their grip and influence. The population is young and liberal.

A CIA coup last time I checked, didn't work out well in that country. It gave rise to kooks. Iranians will rally with their government against a foreign power. It will only reinforce the notion that United States is an imperial power hell bent on trying to impose their views on others. This will only strengthen the current regime and the mullahs. It will only speed up the process to build a nuclear weapon. This is makes it even easier for Bin Landen to recruit ( it is fairly easy now for him) This is beyond stupid, it's dangerous.

[Larry]

I suspect you're right, that a CIA-planned attempted coup would actually result in the people rallying around an administration that was nearly collapsed. Kind-of their 9/11, so to speak.

(In fact, I think if I was one of the puppet master mullahs, I wonder: If President Iwannajihad were to be killed two weeks from now by a "CIA sniper" (who dies), what would that do for the government's approval ratings?)

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

My whole confusion with Iran and whatnot is that aren't we kinda on the same side in Iraq? By us putting the Shia in power aren't we in fact putting people that are going to be sympathetic to Iran, perhaps controlled by Iran, in power?

[mojobo]

how does something like this get leaked?

[luckydevil]

I suspect you're right, that a CIA-planned attempted coup would actually result in the people rallying around an administration that was nearly collapsed. Kind-of their 9/11, so to speak.

(In fact, I think if I was one of the puppet master mullahs, I wonder: If President Iwannajihad were to be killed two weeks from now by a "CIA sniper" (who dies), what would that do for the government's approval ratings?)

Yep

Skyrocket

[Kilmer17]

There should be a fullscale investigation into who leaked it, including press members called and forced to testiffy,

And the guilty party should rot in Gitmo for life.

Where is the journalistic integrity these days?

Treason IMO.

Oh, and Des nailed it regarding the actual issue.

[twa]

Lucky, does this sound like a coup?

a CIA plan that reportedly includes a coordinated campaign of propaganda, disinformation and manipulation of Iran's currency and international financial transactions.

How about we join hands and sing kumbaya instead?

[ACW]

Yep

Skyrocket

Exactly. And :laugh: @ Iwannajihad

[Larry]

This is a great thing ASF. We should be using propoganda and helping moderate groups in Iran. If anything has been lacking from the fight against these kooks it's been engaging them on the battlefield of ideas. They spread crazy **** and now it's time for us to fight back. We certainly fought communism in this manner.

Now we just need world leaders to openly mock the extremists and stop pretending burning down buildings in response to cartoons is acceptable.

Oh, I've been saying this since 9/11.

(I ticked off a bunch of people by declaring, for example, that 9/11 was a publicity stunt.)

One of the key battlefields, perhaps the key, in this "war" is a political one. (And if you think Bush and Co have screwed up the military part of this war, . . . )