[$tinkle]

ABC reports on up-til-now covert ops to destabilize iran:

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."

although i'm glad to know this effective prong in our foreign policy fork is being implemented, i'm not too smitten with its openness. are they trying to out-do last year's nytimes reporting of wiretaps?

 

[valve bouncer]

Well Iran has been doing their level best to see some of your blokes go home from Iraq in more pieces than they came in so I guess turn about is fair play. I suspect thought that more of their blokes imagine their futures as being buried in 342 different bags than (y)our blokes do. Perhaps doing less to piss them off might ease the collective plight....yeah, yeah freedom hater that I am.

 

[MikeD]

Well , I guess it's just like Iran's peaceful nuclear program...

MD

 

[manimal]

"...and in other news tonight; There is a super-duper special forces guy hiding in the Iranian leaders' closet waiting for the right moment to surprise him with a k-bar to the back of the neck." "An imbeded reporter, with said super-duper special forces guy, stated that he could neither confirm or deny the report due to the level of secrecy required for this mission."

 

[MikeD]

It's probably all bluster, seeing as we probably don't have much in the way of humint assets in the country...

 

[Greyhound]

Well Iran has been doing their level best to see some of your blokes go home from Iraq in more pieces than they came in so I guess turn about is fair play. I suspect thought that more of their blokes imagine their futures as being buried in 342 different bags than (y)our blokes do. Perhaps doing less to piss them off might ease the collective plight....yeah, yeah freedom hater that I am.

I kept reading--hoping you would throw in another "bloke" to that statement. I was so disappointed when it didn't contain one.

 

[LordOpie]

one bloke, two blokes, three blokes, mwuhahaha!

 

[valve bouncer]

I kept reading--hoping you would throw in another "bloke" to that statement. I was so disappointed when it didn't contain one.

I know this may come as a terrible shock to you but there are people in other parts of the world. Some of these people even use English as their first language. LIKE YOU. Some of them use words differently to you, but I assure you, it's nothing to be alarmed about. Personally, I hoped you'd write something worth reading in this forum but it seems we're both set for disappointments.

 

[ohio]

It's probably all bluster, seeing as we probably don't have much in the way of humint assets in the country...

"Humint?" Pfft, you think making up conjuncted words somehow gives your opinions credibility?

 

[MikeD]

"Humint?" Pfft, you think making up conjuncted words somehow gives your opinions credibility?

It's a Greek word meaning "watersports."

I see you survived Bulgaria...