Democracy Now! - Seymour Hersh, Congress Agreed to Secret Operations Against Iran

[L. Coyote]

"... the end of democracy in a way, we don't know what the government is doing, people on the inside don't know what the government is doing...."

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Hersh: Congress Agreed to Bush Request to Fund Major Escalation in Secret Operations Against Iran
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/6/30/hersh_congress_agreed_to_bush_request

Congressional leaders agreed to a request from President Bush last year to fund a major escalation of covert operations against Iran aimed at destabilizing Iran’s leadership, according to a new article by veteran investigative journalist Seymour Hersh in the New Yorker magazine. The operations were set out in a highly classified Presidential Finding signed by Bush which, by law, must be made known to Democratic and Republican leaders. The plan allowed up to $400 million in covert spending for activities ranging from supporting dissident groups to spying on Iran’s nuclear program. Hersh joins us from Washington DC.

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Congressional leaders agreed to a request from President Bush last year to fund a major escalation of covert operations against Iran aimed at destabilizing Iran’s leadership. This according to a new article by veteran investigative journalist Seymour Hersh in the New Yorker magazine.

The operations were set out in a highly classified Presidential Finding signed by Bush which, by law, must be made known to Democratic and Republican House and Senate leaders and ranking members of the intelligence committees. The plan allowed up to $400 million in covert spending for activities ranging from supporting dissident groups to spying on Iran’s nuclear program.

According to Hersh, US Special Forces have been conducting cross-border operations from southern Iraq since last year. These have included seizing members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, and taking them to Iraq for interrogation, and the pursuit of so-called “high-value targets” who may be captured or killed. .....

[tekisui]

1. Well, goddammit all.

The People have no representation. Or so little, they are trampled.

[TahitiNut]

19. Only if "the poeple" allow it.

"We" obviously are allowing it. (Just don't interrupt "American Idol.") "We" are so divided and cowardly and criminal that "we" are lucky "we" get any better government than "we" deserve. It's the best government that corporate money can buy.

[L. Coyote]

2. Deja DU: Iran Busts CIA Terror Network 'Devised By US To Bomb Educational & Religious Centers'

Deja DU: Iran Busts CIA Terror Network 'Devised By US To Bomb Educational & Religious Centers'
May-18-08 - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3305955

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Iran busts CIA terror network
davidswanson ...

TEHRAN - The Intelligence Ministry on Saturday released details of the detection and dismantling of a terrorist network affiliated to the United States.

In a coordinated operation on May 7, Iranian intelligence agents arrested the terrorist network’s members, who were identified in Fars, Khuzestan, Gilan, West Azerbaijan, and Tehran provinces, the Intelligence Ministry announcement said.

The group’s plans were devised in the U.S., according to the announcement, which added that they had planned to carry out a number of acts such as bombing scientific, educational, and religious centers, shooting people, and making public places in various cities insecure.

One of the terrorists was killed in the operation, but the rest are in detention, the Intelligence Ministry said, adding that the group’s main objective was to create fear among the people. ......

more at:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/33498

[butterfly77]

3. Too many blue dogs..

and some of these people don't know what in the hell they are doing..

[Hydra]

6. In Congress?

You've got to be kidding. They know EXACTLY what's going on, and they have no problem with it as long as they get their cut.

[L. Coyote]

23. They do not know what is going on. That's the problem.

Bush is operating in secret, and even when Congress is informed, only a few are told and they have to keep what they are told sewcret from the rest of Congress! This resembles a dictatorship moreso than democracy, the members of Congress know it, and there is nothing much they an do as long as the Rs in the Senate hold the line for Bush!!

[Hydra]

25. They DO know about it

And they offer to do nothing. That says a LOT about how "powerless" they are.

A drowning man will reach for anything to bring him to safety. I don't see much panicking going on.

[L. Coyote]

26. They DO know about it NOW, because it was leaked.

The Gang of Eight knew, the rest of Congress did not know.

It is very important to realize that Congress does not know what is going on!!!
A select few are informed of secret operations,and they cannot discuss it under penalty of law, not even with other members of Congress.

[L. Coyote]

9. Actually, the Gang of Eight = 4 Rs and 4 Dems = Intelligence Committees

[Hydra]

4. I remember hearing about that last year

And nary a peep from most people. I couldn't believe Iran was not screaming bloody murder about having commandos running around in their country at our order.

[L. Coyote]

10. Actually, Iran has jailed some ot the conspirators after catching them.

See the Deja DU thread above.

[Hydra]

15. Good to know

I knew they busted all of our spies a few years ago, but can't find the article. We cried bloody murder when they swept up our spies, but later we find out that one of the CIA agents downloaded the entire list of operatives in Iran and wound up giving it to them.

Such brilliance.

[Breeze54]

5. I saw him in an interview last night about this ... we have people IN Iran now....

:grr:

Thank You for posting this!!

:kick: & Recommeded

[The Stranger]

7. So the Nancy Traitor knew all about it and made sure to give it the green light.

[L. Coyote]

11. Actually, Rep. Jane Harmon is the person in the Gang of Eight, replaced Pelosi

It is quite possible this happened w/o Pelosi knowing about it!!

That's democracy under Bush for you!!!

[Postman]

8. Only the Bush Adm. could make the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor look honorable.

A bunch of friggin criminals.

[Hydra]

12. Wanna know a grand irony in that regard?

When I was in school, my teacher talked about how FDR had probably been informed of the attack, but allowed it to happen anyway without warning the troops stationed there.

He opined that historically speaking, it was probably morally excusable considering how we "saved the world."

I have to wonder if 9/11 will be seen in that fashion 50 years later. As a "necessary loss" rather than a murderous political decision.

[Postman]

22. 5 years after Pearl Harbor the world was "saved"

5 years after Bush's Pearl Harbor on Iraq, the US has hit the proverbial iceberg and is sinking fast.

We don't need 50 years to figure out just how bad these assholes have fucked things up.

What is more, we don't have 50 years.

[whistle]

13. K & R the Hersh portion is the first 20 minutes well worth listening to

[L. Coyote]

14. VIDEO: Morning Joe: Andrew Card on the Sy Hersh Leak

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x153016

[L. Coyote]

16. VIDEO: CNN: Hersh on U.S Activity in Iran: Be Nervous

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x153090

[L. Coyote]

17. VIDEO: Sy Hersh says White House attacking Iran = CNN LATE EDITION

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x152816

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0806/29/le.01.html

[L. Coyote]

20. VIDEO: Faux News on Sy Hersh & New Yorker article, et.al...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x153098

[L. Coyote]

18. Preparing the Battlefield by Seymour M. Hersh = Article LINK

Preparing the Battlefield
The Bush Administration steps up its secret moves against Iran.
by Seymour M. Hersh July 7, 2008
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07/07/080707fa_fact_hersh


L ate last year, Congress agreed to a request from President Bush to fund a major escalation of covert operations against Iran, according to current and former military, intelligence, and congressional sources. These operations, for which the President sought up to four hundred million dollars, were described in a Presidential Finding signed by Bush, and are designed to destabilize the country’s religious leadership. The covert activities involve .....

[pleah]

21. K&R damn it.

[Muttocracy]

24. kick. nt