mentor: blog 
mentor's blog
bush, cheney prepared to go it alone again?...
Published Jun. 30, 2008
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Bush administration has launched a "significant escalation" of covert operations in Iran, sending U.S. commandos to spy on the country's nuclear facilities and undermine the Islamic republic's government, journalist Seymour Hersh said Sunday.
An Iranian flag flies outside the building containing the reactor of Bushehr nuclear power plant, south of Tehran.
White House, CIA and State Department officials declined comment on Hersh's report, which appears in this week's issue of The New Yorker.
Hersh told CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer" that Congress has authorized up to $400 million to fund the secret campaign, which involves U.S. special operations troops and Iranian dissidents.
President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney have rejected findings from U.S. intelligence agencies that Iran has halted a clandestine effort to build a nuclear bomb and "do not want to leave Iran in place with a nuclear program," Hersh said.
"They believe that their mission is to make sure that before they get out of office next year, either Iran is attacked or it stops its weapons program," Hersh said.
Is this another "slam dunk"? This time they don't even seem to have the support of their own intelligence for this move. We are already spread thin in Iraq and Afghanistan, and now Bush is prepared to light another powder keg just in time to leave an even bigger mess in the lap of his successor. What's next? If we strong-arm Iran and dismantle their nuclear capabilities...shouldn't we move on to Pakistan? Can we really afford to allow Pakistan to possess nuclear weapons? ...
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When did the Republicans take over congress again?" -smorg
Good question! Hersh seems to have easy-access to this information. Wonder how this $400 million dollar appropriation (if this is accurate) was sold to the congress?
GOLO member since March 18, 2008
June 30, 2008 8:10 p.m.
When did the Republicans take over congress again?
GOLO member since July 15, 2007
June 30, 2008 6:23 p.m.
Against us, yes.
Not against Isreal. Especially if the "screw Isreal" crowd gets their hands on foreign policy.
June 30, 2008 12:01 p.m.
While the danger exists of material falling into the hands of terrorists (dirty bomb scenario), Iran launching a full scale nuclear attack seems a little implausible. Amadimajad may be crazy, but he isn't stupid.
GOLO member since July 25, 2007
June 30, 2008 11:58 a.m.
Amen, brother.
June 30, 2008 11:50 a.m.
All you people who don't believe where Iran is going here are going to be shocked when they try to use their nuclear weapons....and then you'll blame Bush for not doing anything....
June 30, 2008 11:47 a.m.
GOLO member since December 27, 2007
June 30, 2008 11:41 a.m.
Religious driven Iran has different thinking than the closed off North Korea. The consequences of what is done about Iran, or not done, may be counted in the millions of lives.
GOLO member since January 20, 2008
June 30, 2008 11:32 a.m.
GOLO member since September 24, 2008
June 30, 2008 11:27 a.m.
However, the underlying principle is sound.
June 30, 2008 11:24 a.m.
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