Bush's covert game in Iran?

Is the United States conducting clandestine operations within Iran?

The New Yorker's Seymour Hersh thinks so, and reports in this week's issue that Congress agreed to a request from President Bush last year to fund a major escalation of covert activity against Iran -- aimed at destabilizing the country's regime by backing minority groups like the Ahwazi Arab and Baluchi.

The story was knocked down quickly by the administration -- "I can tell you flatly that U.S. forces are not operating across the Iraqi border into Iran." U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker told CNN.
Hersh dismissed the denial, arguing that "when you run secret operations ... sometimes it's better not to have the ambassador know."

Saying that he does not know why the administration would be increasing covert operations in Iran, Hersh told CNN in an interview today that he believes that President Bush and Vice President Cheney "do not want to leave Iran in place with a nuclear program.... They believe that their mission is to make sure that before they get out of offices next year, either Iran is attacked or it stops its weapons program."

The Times' Babylon and Beyond blog, which reports on the Middle East, has more details here.

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: Posters of Iran's late spiritual leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (left) and current supreme leader Ali Khameni (sixth to the left) are included in a row of Hezbollah martyrs lining a street in southern Lebanon. Credit: RAMZI HAIDAR/AFP/Getty Images

Comments

[drkatz]

If this story is indeed true, then we are clearly encroaching on the sovereignty of a nation. Moreover, what if US soldiers are captured by the Iranians? Then either we will get embarrassed by the Iranians or worse, things will escalate to an all out war involving Iran, Syria, Hizbuallah, Hamas, and Israel.

[Aeden]

Maybe... probably.... I wouldn't put it past them.

[RABO]

Haven't we learned yet that attacking other countries only makes them more determined to . . . . now try to wrap your heads around this idea . . . . attack back. in the longer term it encourages the poularity of radical elements that want to lead the people against the US for our transgressions against them.

I am aware that the Reubs are poking fun at the idea of talking to our enemies. I still am willing to give them enough credit for being intelligent enough to realize their warmongering approach to every international problem isn't working. As a matter of fact, it's backfiring terribly.

Time for a new approach!

[Sal Robertson]

Dude. Where's this supposed bill? I went through Thomas.LOC.gov looking for it, and I can't find it... this is shabby journalism at its best. Hang the Bush administration on hearsay!

[Clyde Nugget]

The media, especially you and the NYTimes, should be more proAmerica. You report constantly items which helps our country's enemies. Why should these countries have spies in our mist when they have U.S. newspapers like yours.

[stephane mot]

Bush doesn't act as a President of the US in favor of his country.
Bush doesn't even act as a Republican in favor of his party.
Bush acts as a fundamentalism in favor of fundamentalism.

The Iraq quagmire is a total success from a fundamentalist's point of view (the so called war on terror was actually in favor of it, and the radicalization of politics across the globe even led to the revival of the movement in Europe).

Bush wants a war between Iran and Israel because he truly believes it will lead to the return of the Christ. He would do anything, ignite any false flag to make it happen during his term.

[cliff]

america may very well be on its way to being judged for its many sins. and iran just may be the country used by God to judge this wicked nation we live in.all the strange happenings and events that are taking place in this country and around the world just may no longer be in mans control, but only God can help this nation now. with its many diseseases, massive floods, hurricanes and tornadoes. america may be headed towards its final days. and that my friend is no joke. these end time events are falling in place with biblical prophoceis. if we as a nation do not turn back to God, as he says in his word this nation will be turned into HELL.

[Issam]

Bush made a monster of Iran...time to correct his mistake.

[Mehdi Orandi]

To Mr. hersh with so many predictions about Iran in the past few years.

goft Anvari k dar asar e badhaye sakht viran shavad emarat o kakh e sekandary.
Dar rooz e ahd oo navaziast heech baad. Ya morsel ar riah tow dani va Anvary

[Joe Kenrick]

Someone wrote, "Spies in our mist". Sorry to belittle, but I found it very telling...and funny!

[reply to RABO]

i agree RABo
but the sad thing is-- you would "think" they would realize this or have learned-- but we are not dealing with rationality here-- we are talking about Bush. He went to Iraq and when he announced it i thought-- you have got to be kidding me. i didn't fall for it-- unfortch-- a lot of americans did because they voted him back in office!

[Mehdi Orandi]

To Mr. hersh with so many predictions about Iran in the past few years.

goft Anvari k dar asar e badhaye sakht viran shavad emarat o kakh e sekandary.
Dar rooz e ahd oo navaziast heech baad. Ya morsel ar riah tow dani va Anvary

[Chris]

I am surprised that anyone is surprised. The pattern of the USA, over decades, has been to intervene, interfere and - if deemed convenient - invade, in order to get its own way. Hundreds of thousands are dead (maybe more) due to illegal US actions in recent decades - assassinations, cluster bombings, drone missiles that "miss" (oops), invasions, etc. - yet these things are curiously absent from the US press, except on rare occasions. However, some guy in China tries to hack a US computer and it's front page all over. Americans should consider how they would feel if they had foreign drones over their soil, spies in every network, their politicians bought by foreign interests, and their citizens snatched off Main St. by a foreign government.

[Ima Jebus]

Bad Persians.... we should bomb the whole middle east into submission with 2000lb ham bombs! Bacon bits for everyone!

[aghrab]

It is going to happen, much sooner than you think. There is no way for Iran to back-out now as they are so close to acquire the nuke power and from the West’s point of view, there is no way to let them get their hands on the nuclear capability either.

US didn’t rush into the war this time. I give the US a good credit for that, as they really played their moves very well this time around. A military conflict is unavoidable. Just read Bush’s words impartially now and see what he was saying form the beginning. He said truthfully that all options are on the table but he does prefer a diplomatic solution.

No-one wants a mess and that is including the Bush’s administration. Bush is a politician; he is looking for anything to avoid a war and that is why he has been waiting for so long. If he was a trigger happy mad man he would have gone to war months ago as Iran has already given him enough reason to do so. It is not him forcing the war and rather it is the Mullah’s regime that gives no other choice or alternative apart from a WAR.

You put yourself in Bush’s shoe. If a No Nuke Capability is the bottom line then what else could be done to stop the Mullahs now?

Just sit back and watch it from the comfort of your own home as the WAR wave is coming. I feel sorry for all the soldiers from the both side of the conflict as they (and their families) are the only ones who suffer the most/first. I wish there was other way to sort this mess out.

[Rufus T. Fisch]

Government's one job is to protect the people of this country. Too bad liberals want the government to act as a mother and coddle them (with welfare and other programs that leach off of people that work for a living) rather than a father who protects them.

[Randy]

What remarkable journalistic and investigative skills it took to author such a well researched article. For the first time in my life I can now say that I am proud that Americans have died so that the writers could write such a piece.

Pulitzer, here we come!

[Joseph Kenrick]

Cliff, I've been hearing about the end times for all of my 50 years.

Everythimg there's some small problem, you folks all think the sky is falling.

America struggled for the first 150 years of its existence. Most folks were poor and moved on to greener pastures. Once that option was out of the question, we learned to invent, innovate, create, conceive....now we all throw up our hands in the air and hope A. B. or none of the above will become president and save us.

The government didn't matter that much not so long ago and it doesn't matter that much now, if we take our country back.

We won't. Our homes are stolen, we've been sold big cars when the government knew consumption from chna and inda was overwhelming, on top of that they fed us cheap chinese imports that fired china's consumption of all the world's natural resources.

Burma (laura bush's favorite), Tibet (nobody seems to care that much since the press neutered it due to their chinese sponsors advertisers and investers, and Darfur, a couple or three million dead people and the world doesn't care because michaiel jackson lives in neverland.

America has become hell because of idiots like you. Not hellsfire and brimstione.

Talking about raining fire as you drop your cluster bombs, napalm and daisycutters on people with slingshots.

You're really out of touch with God.

Good luck

[Randy]

What remarkable journalistic and investigative skills it took to author such a well researched article. For the first time in my life I can now say that I am proud that Americans have died so that the writers could write such a piece.

Pulitzer, here we come!

[Dr Thomas]

It's the Jews.

[James McConnell]

So I guess Americans will just brush this off... "covert" illegalities are just accepted here, like they are in Israel. Who cares if it's illegal or if it starts another war, right Americans?

Americans who accept this sort of thing, who brush it off, they are the real war criminals, and they'll answer for it. Any real God would see to that. Sadly our own country is too corrupt to see that Bush answers for it.

[Cryos]

This type of baseless reporting is disgusting. You're right on Clyde. Enemy countries don't need spies in this country they can just refer to left wing media.

However it does fit the "republicans are evil warmonger and fear mongerers" mantra that liberals need to win elections since their other viewpoints and stances on issues represent left wing nutjobs.

[The Nightwatchman]

In the mid 1950's the US had a hand in overthrowing Mossadegh, who was creating a democratic Iran from the ground up. The Brits and US didn't like this because it would jeopardize their oil contracts. So, the CIA helped to overthrow Mossadegh with success. This created fundamentalists leaders like the ayatollahs and mullahs and anti american protesters who slowly began to gain power in Iran, and who eventually overthrew the puppet, the Shah of Iran, leading to the 1979 revolution. This event ruined the lives of millions of Iranians, of whom live in the US today. So, yes, the US has to go to war with Iran and clean the trash that they helped put in power almost 30 years ago.

[Kentucky Thom]

The last writer is correct on one thing, this country may very well be in it's last days. I am not so sure God has anything to do with it although I understand how all of these God fearing Americans are the same bunch who had a lot to do with getting us in the mess we currently find ourselves. I am so tired of everyone thinking it is OK for Israel to have nuclear weapons, to have taken the Palestinains land in 48 and still want more. How did it ever come to the point where we were given the right to judge who can and who cannot have nuclear weapons. Pakistan has given nuclear secrets to virtually every rogue government and group on earth and we give them billions of dollars every year so terrorists can hide in their mountains. China will not allow it's citizens to even surf the web without their watchful eyes, tells it's citizens what is right and wrong and due to our trade policies they have become a wealthy nation. Cuba however is poor because of our trade barriers? What have they done that is worse than what China does everyday? Wall Street & the GREAT investment bankers of America will not be satisfied until they have every dime of the Americans pension funds and savings, who will stop them, not the boys in Washington. The only reason they are still able to financially operate is because they have been bailed out by foreign soverign wealth funds, Chinas, middle east oil money. I guess what I am trying to say is that we very well may be in the last days of this country butt I do not think that God had anything to do with or foreign policy or the greed of Wall street executives and Washington Politicians. By, by middle class your days are gone never to return, you should have been paying closer attention when Bush One, Clinton One and the rest sold you down the river with NAFTA and the deregulation of Wall street while you were watching American Idol or applying for a mortgage you could not afford.

[jefflz]

This war mongering strategy has always been suggested as way the Bushites woiuld hold on to power. It accomplishes at least three major goals: (1) Distracts the electorate from the failed war in Iraq while maintaining an atmosphere of fear (2) Paves the way for a second war monger- John McCain to maintain Republican control of the White House (3) further extends US efforts to own or control foreign oil production

Bush must be dragged kicking and screaming if necessary from his roll as Commander in Chief. He has already abused his power to such an extent that any covert efforts to launch a another preemptive war under false pretenses in the name of national security must be the basis for impeachment in no uncertain terms. Are we gong to let military adventurers continue to rule this nation??

[Tom in California]

A plea to Congress: please please please impeach this scoundrel and remove him from office. Even though there are only a few months left, he is determined to cause more damage. Don't let him start up a new disaster in addition to the chaos he has already caused!

[YN2]

It's no secret that Iranian SF have been operating in Iraq for the last few years. Munitions found being used for IEDs, so the whole idea of soverignty is a mute point.

However, supporting minorities in a similar manor as we did the Kurds, is not really an effort to get a regime destablized and their nuclear program dismantled in a year. I'd atrtibute that comment to a political bias on the part of the reporter.

Further more, having friends of mine who are SF, it is rather irresponsible of this reporter to blow any cover that this operation had. OPSEC is very important, it keeps guys like me and more so my friends alive.

[Allan]

Wouldn't be the first time the US has violated Iran's sovereignty. Remember the Shaw in 1953?

[jefflz]

This war mongering strategy has always been suggested as way the Bushites woiuld hold on to power. It accomplishes at least three major goals: (1) Distracts the electorate from the failed war in Iraq while maintaining an atmosphere of fear (2) Paves the way for a second war monger- John McCain to maintain Republican control of the White House (3) further extends US efforts to own or control foreign oil production

Bush must be dragged kicking and screaming if necessary from his roll as Commander in Chief. He has already abused his power to such an extent that any covert efforts to launch a another preemptive war under false pretenses in the name of national security must be the basis for impeachment in no uncertain terms. Are we gong to let military adventurers continue to rule this nation??

[Hah]

Oh good, now we have the Bible-bashers here. Now we shall be saved by people preaching fire and brimstone. Jeez people, grow up.

[James Huffer]

I hope the republican party is proud of the blithering idiots they selected to run their little terrorist organization. Can we survive the damage they have done to our nation or will we have to resort to an executive sanction within our own government to end the carnage. They ascended by assassinations and they will die by them as well, the question is how many of the rest of us will survive the WMD that now is aimed directly at us. As a people we have become so stupid we repeat history and then we complain about our sad situation. Perhaps a little revolution now and again is a good thing, yes? I wonder what lies limpaugh will conjure up to spin this transgression of Americam morals.

[natife]

woah cliff you are retarded at best. and C.Nugget, couldn't agree with you more.. ProAmerica, is where its at. Iran has been brewing for a major slapdown for more than a quater century now. ProAmerica. God continues to bless this great nation. God bless our soldiers!

[Circles Robinson]

I believe the Bush administration has been laying the groundwork for attacking Iran for several years, just as it did before launching the invasion of Iraq. Now that McCain needs to get people's minds away from Iraq and the US economy to get elected, it's worth listening to what Seymour Hersh has to say.

[JR]

Sal Robertson, "I went through Thomas.LOC.gov looking for the bill and couldn't find it"............what did you search for "400 million to fund war in IRAN" or maybe "covert funding to start another war"? Idiot.

[Dan Williams]

Iran wants to have its cake and eat it. Iran could possibly buy nuclear weapons instead of trying to make one. In either case the only reason anyone could give a care is what Iran has said it will do with such a weapon once in its possession so naturally the rest of the world has said that Iran cannot have one. In response Iran has said, try and stop us, so the options are pretty clear.

[donis georgiou]

I say if Seymour Hersh is correct, Iran sometimes in September or October.

[Rich Hudson]

Bush and Cheney's goal toward Iran -- i.e., the goal of the arms and oil industries -- is to *keep* the mullahs in power through antagonism that will rally Iranians around the regime (that is, allow the mullahs to crack down on all opposition). In fact, The worst case scenario for Bush and Cheney's corporate clients is that the Iranian people would overthrow the theocracy and establish a new regime themselves, without U.S. "help". That would take away their biggest excuse to invade and occupy the country.

[pete]

Iraq was a lone wolf, the only thing real Muslims cared about was the power vacuum that resulted from chopping the head off that beast. Iran is a whole different matter - we go in there and it's WWIII.

Not that W wouldn't just think starting Armageddon was just him being the lord's vessel. It's amazing how that fool can defend being stupid as acting from the gut, and thinking that Jesus guides his hand. Pride is a sin, yes? You too, Falwell.

[JDS]

Bush and Cheney are insane. They will start another war to move more tax dollars from the US Treasury into their own pockets. They do not care about America, Americans, or any one else. They must be impeached NOW!

[dan]

If Bush really believed in the "End Times" nonsense you speak of, he'd know that no man has the power to tell God when Judgment Day should be.

[Retired prosecutor]

Seymour Hersh?? Well, at least it's a pro-American source with lots of credibility --- remember his allegation that US occupation troops were sodomizing young Iraqi boys -- and Hersh's later explanation that he has "different" standards of credibility for his speeches than he does for his articles. But then I guess journalists caught in these things never have to say they are sorry.

[John]

How about a fatwa on Seymour Hersh; oh of course he is the Radicals best buddy. Maybe some patriotic American needs to knock him off.

[Matt]

So the funny thing is this... After any attack on the United State or any other country it is exactly this type of article that gets written to attack and flame the current leadership for not doing enough to stop terrorism etc. etc.. Now the administration is doing something about a state which is openly hostile against the US and our allies and they want the gov't to back down. Sorry you can't sit back and have it both ways.

[df]

what's the problem with covert ops in Iran.....I see some controversy if it
is aimed at preparing the battlefield but if it's just plain old spying and manipulation
well at least this time it's human int and ops against a real enemy...the only
problem is that it's run by nitwit bush ...he has a ruinous touch

[Donna H.]

Clyde Nugget, you wrote:

"The media, especially you and the NYTimes, should be more proAmerica. You report constantly items which helps our country's enemies. Why should these countries have spies in our mist when they have U.S. newspapers like yours."

Actually, I'm sure that the information in the article is no surprise at all to Iranian leaders; it's only a surprise to Americans who want to keep their heads in the sand about what it is our government is doing around the world. This article is in fact pro-American, for anyone who cares about getting this government to act in America's best long-term interests. Go back and read RABO's post, two before yours.

[angoose]

Cliff, you're scaring me, not because I think you are right but because it is that type of fundamentalist nonsense that continues to divide people into fearing everything and everyone that is not like onesself. We live in a world with six billion people with six billion perspectives. Open discussion with people with different beliefs, cultures, lifestyles, ethnic backgrounds, etc. and mutual respect for the right for the same to coexist is the only way any of us (our children and grandchildren... especially will be able to survive. Simply put, the God you fear so much is actually love, and ultimately love is respect for fellow beings and creatures and their right to coexist.

[JM]

Bush's covert game in Iran? That's funny...!

I only have two words to say about Iran: ATOMIC BOMB. Afterwards, there will be far fewer middle eastern problems and we'll have all the oil we need. Win-win if you ask me. And we can do it with no troops on the ground. Yeah, we'll have a $hit-load of liberal whiners back in the states fer sure. But they'll shut their mouths in short order when gas prices come down.

[jay]

You guys think this is just beginning? This has been going on, on and off, for years. Why does anyone need to doubt Mr. Hersh? And why would anyone try to confirm this story with the White House, anyway? We all know what kind of an answer they will give. And this is nothing new to history, either. Anyone remember Mossadegh? And you think Israel hasn't been in on this since the beginning? Jesus, some of these commentors are so freakin' ignorant. Others would put ideology over peace and the lives of our military service members. It makes me sick to think I volunteer to serve a nation of such people.

There has been a quiet war on Iran since their first elected government was undermined by the US and UK back in the 1940s. The current activities are just part of an ongoing story. There is nothing noble in our policies in the region. There never has been and there never will be.

Wake up, knuckleheads. What you think is a War on Terror is just a distraction. Take your side, but God help you and all of us if you think the current course of action in the wider region is the right one.

[Marcos El Malo]

@Sal Robertson: It's part of a Presidential Finding, not a bill. Read the original article in the New Yorker.

[Jim Lukas]

Covert action rumors are true. Look closely at the photo. Someone painted a mustache and beard on Khomeini!

[Fernando F.]

If all the Israel lobbyist push this invasion forward to get rid of Hussein (remember he was paying 25,000 to each suicide bomber?), I wouldn't be surprise if they were pushing Bush to attack Iran before leaving the White House. Bush couldn't be in worst shape, and he is not running for reelection, so what does he cares? I bet he is being told "you will look so cool on TV announcing your 2nd war", and he is believing it.

[Lou]

"america may very well be on its way to being judged for its many sins. and iran just may be the country used by God to judge this wicked nation we live in.all the strange happenings and events that are taking place in this country and around the world just may no longer be in mans control, but only God can help this nation now. with its many diseseases, massive floods, hurricanes and tornadoes. america may be headed towards its final days. and that my friend is no joke. these end time events are falling in place with biblical prophoceis. if we as a nation do not turn back to God, as he says in his word this nation will be turned into HELL. "

Yes, cliff, we are paying for loosing 8 years of Bush-league evil upon the world.

[Brian Richards]

Hasn't George W. Bush lost enough wars? Does he think if he keeps on starting wars that inevitably he'll win one?

Is this the Republican party's strategy for winning another election and pushing oil prices to $1,000 a barrel?

[Kd11]

Does anybody really think that we don't have covert operations in places like Iran? The question is how active are they and how successful are they. In the long run though it really doesn't matter what is actually happening. Bush and company have an agenda and will try accomplish it. Given past performance it will be aggressive and will totally screw the country.

[Brian]

The lack of understanding of global issues and actions expressed here is amazing

A few points to consider

(1) Covert ops do not encroach on sovereignty of nations

(2) No reference to US soldiers being involved

(3) Covet ops are not offensive (attack) operations

(4) Covert ops are typically funded with covert funds (not something you’ll find on Thomas)

(5) The current issue in Iraq is in response to Saadam’s violation of the conditions of UNSCR 687 - April 3, 1991 the result being re-commencement of US offensive operations (albeit 10 years late)

(6) Sin is the base of the human condition

Additional suggested reading

UNSCR involving Iraq

http://www.state.gov/p/nea/rls/01fs/14906.htm

History of Conflict in the Middle East

http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/arabis.html

The Threat from Iran

http://www.brookings.edu/testimony/2005/0929iran_pollack.aspx

Council on Foreign Relation Middle East Section (various)

http://www.cfr.org/region/397/middle_east.html

“The educated mind understands”

[Revelation]

Bush may be trying to bring about the End of Days, and may actually succceed. However - has he considered the possibility that he may in fact be the Anti-Christ?

[Ryan]

In response to clyde's post,
Almost certainly the US has had spies in iran since israel's inception mid last century. That's definitely not news. But an escalation is at stake here, and with the recent tensions we're definitely stepping on thin ice in the midst of the possibility of all-out war.

[c-t-m]

I just can't believe the sheer ignorance and stupidity of most of these posters.

If you think it is a violation of another nations' soverignity, then I suggest you look at the last 33 years of Iranian history. Their meddling in Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Afghanistan and Iraq is tem times worse than anything we can even contemplate doing to them. The fact that your ignorance just channels your "outrage" at your own nation/the US just shows how ignorant you are about just how the region and the world is evolving... I got news for you, Iran and the Mullah regime has been routinely destroying the lives and livelihoods of millions of their neighbors, and despite your self-hating rhetoric, it is not because of US "meddling" in the region. Have you no concept or understanding of history? How about the Muslim Brotherhood? How about the Mahdi Army? How about the Mahdist sect? How about the Caliphate of the 1930s? How about the kidnapping and hostage taking of 1979-1980?

If you are going to be outraged at a concept, then logic and fairness says you should be outraged about any party utilizing those tactics, so where is your criticism of Iran? You don't have any because you fundamentally do not understand what is happening in the region or you don't want to.

If you haven't been paying attention for the last two years, Iran has been BANKING on the civility of the US and the UN while they rather publicly mock the "dialogue". So the comments about Obama's proposed "let's talk to our enemies"... well, that is exactly what has been happening, and what has it gotten? It's gotten an advanced nuclear state, more threats against Israel, more weapons and money sent to Hizbollah and Hamas, more attacks by those same groups USING IRANIAN GOVERNMENT-BUILT ROCKETS, and more inaction by the Iranians. And this is with the French and the Swedish leading the discussions, the Western nations with the closet ties to Iran.

The fact is, the present Iranian regime DOENSN'T WANT TO TALK. They don't want peace, they want a return of the Caliphate, dominion over the region, and Israel destroyed.

And your ignorance and self-hatred will let them do it. Congratulations.

[Jeff]

Along with many other nations, the US has been doing covert operations in many dozens of countries for decades.

Any beginner analysis of world/US history reveals this.

No news here.