What is the CIA doing in Iran? Before we could hypothesize on any and all activities taking place, but now thanks to ABC News, we know what they are doing.
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 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.
Let me get this straight. Iran is arming the Mahdi Army in Iraq to target Coalition soldiers and they are arming Al Qaida in Iraq. Iran has moved on with the nation’s nuclear program without complying with the IAEA. Iran is arming and training the Taliban. Iran’s fingers are deeply entrenched in the instability in Lebanon. Iran is involved in Somalia. Iranian leadership continues to lead circle jerks where the crowd yells out ‘Death to America.’ All of this, and it’s the United States that is escalating anything? Maybe, Mr. Nasr, the U.S. is finally just trying to respond.
But the larger news here is why does ABC News feel this type of information should be brought to the forefront? The Blotter notes that Vice President Dick Cheney favored a military strike but President Bush signed off on the formerly covert plan, so does this news hitting the presses alter that any?
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gary - 
Lars - 
Chad - 
Harry F. Langhorne - 
Kenneth Dean ex 1 BFTS -
This doesn’t bode well for Haleh Esfandiari, who is (said to be) held in an Iranian prison, does it?
Fact is…that this should be put in the “forefront” as you say - and especially now - would seem to somewhat confirm their views in their detention of Mrs H. Esfandiari that the US is ‘involved’ in destabilizing their regime, among others.
However, Iran is also fully involved thruout the region…both in the covert sense and overtly, so why would they be bothered w/ the eye for an eye approach? What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, is it not?
Comment by AHSILERI — Thursday, May 24, 2007 @ 5:53 am CDT
Or the hundreds of others the regime has jailed on the same or similar charges.
We’ve all known the U.S. was at least trying to force regime change in Iran. There’s a bill in the U.S. government that passed to do just that and there’s money budgeted. But very little was ever reported upon that program, likely because those who are involved actually support it.
Now through leaked information, once again, it takes one insubordinate CIA officer to alter the way the U.S. proceeds. It endangers the lives of people like Esfandiari and it pushes both nations closer to war because it harms that ‘covert’ program.
And there’s little question Iran is involved in similar activity in their neck of the woods and elsewhere. Iran has been scouting American points of interest for years, yet if the U.S. did the same and were caught, somehow it would be an American escalation like this story is reported across the pond.
Comment by Chad — Thursday, May 24, 2007 @ 9:43 am CDT
Ahmadinejad said that he is now supporting the Taliban in Afghanistan. via Fox News
Iran has 4 Americans that we know of in custody. Hostages I should say.
Comment by Debbie — Thursday, May 24, 2007 @ 11:37 pm CDT