Andrew Cockburn comments on a new US covert initiative that is truly frightening in its scope…
“Six weeks ago, President Bush signed a secret finding authorizing a covert offensive against the Iranian regime that, according to those familiar with its contents, “unprecedented in its scope.”
Bush’s secret directive covers actions across a huge geographic area – from Lebanon to Afghanistan – but is also far more sweeping in the type of actions permitted under its guidelines – up to and including the assassination of targeted officials. This widened scope clears the way, for example, for full support for the military arm of Mujahedin-e Khalq, the cultish Iranian opposition group, despite its enduring position on the State Department’s list of terrorist groups.
Similarly, covert funds can now flow without restriction to Jundullah, or “army of god,” the militant Sunni group in Iranian Baluchistan – just across the Afghan border — whose leader was featured not long ago on Dan Rather Reports cutting his brother in law’s throat.
Other elements that will benefit from U.S. largesse and advice include Iranian Kurdish nationalists, as well the Ahwazi arabs of south west Iran. Further afield, operations against Iran’s Hezbollah allies in Lebanon will be stepped up, along with efforts to destabilize the Syrian regime.
All this costs money, which in turn must be authorized by Congress, or at least a by few witting members of the intelligence committees. That has not proved a problem. An initial outlay of $300 million to finance implementation of the finding has been swiftly approved with bipartisan support, apparently regardless of the unpopularity of the current war and the perilous condition of the U.S. economy.
Until recently, the administration faced a serious obstacle to action against Iran in the form of Centcom commander Admiral William Fallon, who made no secret of his contempt for official determination to take us to war. In a widely publicized incident last January, Iranian patrol boats approached a U.S. ship in what the Pentagon described as a “taunting” manner. According to Centcom staff officers, the American commander on the spot was about to open fire. At that point, the U.S. was close to war. He desisted only when Fallon personally and explicitly ordered him not to shoot. The White House, according to the staff officers, was “absolutely furious” with Fallon for defusing the incident.
Fallon has since departed. His abrupt resignation in early March followed the publication of his unvarnished views on our policy of confrontation with Iran, something that is unlikely to happen to his replacement, George Bush’s favorite general, David Petraeus.
Though Petraeus is not due to take formal command at Centcom until late summer, there are abundant signs that something may happen before then. A Marine amphibious force, originally due to leave San Diego for the Persian Gulf in mid June, has had its sailing date abruptly moved up to May 4. A scheduled meeting in Europe between French diplomats acting as intermediaries for the U.S. and Iranian representatives has been abruptly cancelled in the last two weeks. Petraeus is said to be at work on a master briefing for congress to demonstrate conclusively that the Iranians are the source of our current troubles in Iraq, thanks to their support for the Shia militia currently under attack by U.S. forces in Baghdad.
Interestingly, despite the bellicose complaints, Petraeus has made little effort to seal the Iran-Iraq border, and in any case two thirds of U.S. casualties still come from Sunni insurgents. “The Shia account for less than one third,” a recently returned member of the command staff in Baghdad familiar with the relevant intelligence told me, “but if you want a war you have to sell it.”
Even without the covert initiatives described above, the huge and growing armada currently on station in the Gulf is an impressive symbol of American power.”
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” At that point, the U.S. was close to war. He desisted only when Fallon personally and explicitly ordered him not to shoot. The White House, according to the staff officers, was “absolutely furious” with Fallon for defusing the incident.”
At the risk of sounding ironic, I’d like to give that man a medal…
xx
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And here, we’re worrying about Hillary Clinton vs. Barack Obama: a perfect distraction allowing a sitting government to slip a declaration of war past its constituents?
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didn’t see a post about it. so GO HABS GO!!!
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Quoting Calogero:
I’m disappointed that:
1) the fans had to be reminded to show respect for the US anthem
2) they didn’t
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for more on this: http://www.counterpunch.org/cockburn05032008.html
scroll down to Iran: Yes, War Really Does Loom
“Can America afford a war against Iran? Perhaps Uncle Sam is merely following orders from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states’ princes, whose billions are necessary to bail out the US banks.”
how else would this pass through Congress?
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Why am I not suprised to hear this. It is clear that warfare is something the present US administration will continue to be involved with, as wel as sticking to their guns with this one.
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Hi Matt:
There is a frustrating lack of reporting on this by the Times, Post, and other MSM. Also, Cockburn doesn’t link to any authority. While I don’t doubt it’s out there, I would like to look at it myself. Anything you’ve found substantiating Cockburn’s post?
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Quoting P. Martini:
It probably has something to do with yet another “missile defense briefing report” (dated beginning of april, seems appropriate) -I found this link to a very short summary http://www.afpc.org/mdbr/mdbr240.htm. I got to it through American Foreign Policy web site ;)
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Quoting deb:
Especially disappointing after it happened to us (Edmonton two years ago) and then the Canadians showed respect for the USA anthem by singing.
I hate this kind of display. It really bothers me.
There is just no need for it.
Boo all you want during the game.
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Thanks, vika. I don’t see a leak there similar to the leak Cockburn is claiming, however.
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As for booing the U.S. anthem, we protested the Olympic torch, and that isn’t even a symbol of China. China simply has the Olympic games. The U.S. anthem is a symbol of the U.S., and, if you disagree with the U.S., it’s proper to express it by protesting its symbol. Obama isn’t un-American just because he doesn’t wear a flag pin; no one in Canada is “un-anti-American” (which seems to be the virtue extolled here) and, therefore, “enlightened” simply because he or she refrains from booing the U.S. anthem. Like Obama’s flag pin, it is an insubstantial measure of patriotism or, for Canadians, of personal integrity, generally.
Quite simply, booing the U.S. anthem is a public relations problem for the NHL which is trying to make hockey popular in the U.S. market, in which the Philadelphia-Montreal game was televised.
That is not an unrelated issue; it is only tangential, and here is why: That an uncorroborated report such as Cockburn’s might be taken seriously is the only justification you need to protest, isn’t it?
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Quoting P. Martini:
We have to learn to leave problems we might have with the country at home while at sporting events.
Personally, its still wrong to boo at while at such an event.
I mean you don’t see the likes of Crosby and other Canadians booing during the anthem etc or talking etc…
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I mean, if you don’t like the US, just sit there, and do nothing.
Its very unclassy and unsportsmanlike.
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One of the key reasons why some Iranians detest Americans is that in 1953 the US and British overthrew Iran’s first democratically elected government and installed a dictator Shah:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_Iranian_coup_d‘état
Iranians were given just pennies for every dollar earned from the sale of their oil. Thanks BP!
That worked out well.
Iranians are caricatured as medieval lunatics - some clearly are - but they have genuine historical grounds to suspect and dislike the USandA.
The west needs to bring Iran back into the global community by trading fairly with them and by ending isolationism. Fallon and Obama appreciate this.
Chomsky writes a primer on US foreign policy here:
http://www.amazon.com/What-Uncle-Really-Wants-Story/dp/1878825011/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209920163&sr=8-2
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Booing any anthem of a country made up of however many distinct people just speaks to people’s ignorance.
I can see how folks on either side of the border could look at it as innocent fun and partake, but the people who look at it as some means of legitimate political expression are morons, plain and simple.
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The longer we have a Presidential race, the more chance this lame-duck administration gets to shove us deeper into an unwanted global conflict. Bush seems like the neighbourhood nerd who was picked on all his life, the became a policeman. He has his guns, and by God, he’ll use them on everyone he can. Unfortunately, that comes with serious consequences, and I’m not just talking about a little pain at the pump. If he creates enough havoc this summer and fall, he can start a long-term war with Iran that has a chance of going nuclear. Not as we know it, but maybe a dirty bomb. Everyone sits glassy-eyed at network news watching electoral polls while we have a brand-new Sept. 11th. Then the American public gets angry, the flag-waving starts anew, and a large portion of the 40% who sit at home vote Republican.
Welcome to the setup for 4 more years of misery.
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Quoting Tony1031:
Exactly.
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Proxy war on the way? US recently placed an agreement with the UAE over the development of a nuclear program for the above mentioned alliance of states. This means that - hypothetically - with the help of the US these countries might develop ready-for-use nuclear weapons within only a few years. This wouldn’t be the first time a scenario like this escalated into a war inflicted by super powers but actually fought out by others.
http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Government/10207361.html
I highly doubt the alledged solely peaceful intentions of that agreement.