I think we can track the "where it began to get interesting" factor from here...







Bush sanctions 'black ops' against Iran

By Tim Shipman in Washington, Sunday Telegraph
Last Updated: 4:28pm BST 27/05/2007

President George W Bush has given the CIA approval to launch covert "black" operations to achieve regime change in Iran, intelligence sources have revealed.


Iran was sold defective parts on the black market

Mr Bush has signed an official document endorsing CIA plans for a propaganda and disinformation campaign intended to destabilise, and eventually topple, the theocratic rule of the mullahs.

Under the plan, pressure will be brought to bear on the Iranian economy by manipulating the country's currency and international financial transactions.

Details have also emerged of a covert scheme to sabotage the Iranian nuclear programme, which United Nations nuclear watchdogs said last week could lead to a bomb within three years.

Security officials in Washington have disclosed that Teheran has been sold defective parts on the black market in a bid to delay and disrupt its uranium enrichment programme, the precursor to building a nuclear weapon.
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A security source in the US told The Sunday Telegraph that the presidential directive, known as a "non-lethal presidential finding", would give the CIA the right to collect intelligence on home soil, an area that is usually the preserve of the FBI, from the many Iranian exiles and emigrés within the US.

"Iranians in America have links with their families at home, and they are a good two-way source of information," he said.

The CIA will also be allowed to supply communications equipment which would enable opposition groups in Iran to work together and bypass internet censorship by the clerical regime.

The plans, which significantly increase American pressure on Iran, were leaked just days before a meeting in Iraq tomorrow between the US ambassador, Ryan Crocker, and his Iranian counterpart.

Tensions have been raised by Iran's seizure of what the US regards as a series of "hostages" in recent weeks. Three academics who hold dual Iranian-American citizenship are being held, accused of working to undermine the Iranian government or of spying.

An Iranian-American reporter with Radio Free Europe, who was visiting Iran, has had her passport seized. Another Iranian American, businessman Ali Shakeri, was believed to have been detained as he tried to leave Teheran last week.

The US responded with a show of force by the navy, sending nine warships, including two aircraft carriers, into the Persian Gulf.

Authorisation of the new CIA mission, which will not be allowed to use lethal force, appears to suggest that President Bush has, for the time being, ruled out military action against Iran.

Bruce Riedel, until six months ago the senior CIA official who dealt with Iran, said: "Vice-President [Dick] Cheney helped to lead the side favouring a military strike, but I think they have concluded that a military strike has more downsides than upsides."

However, the CIA is giving arms-length support, supplying money and weapons, to an Iranian militant group, Jundullah, which has conducted raids into Iran from bases in Pakistan.

Iranian officials say they captured 10 members of Jundullah last weekend, carrying $500,000 in cash along with "maps of sensitive areas" and "modern spy equipment".

Mark Fitzpatrick, a former senior State Department official now with the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said industrial sabotage was the favoured way to combat Iran's nuclear programme "without military action, without fingerprints on the operation."

He added: "One way to sabotage a programme is to make minor modifications in some of the components Iran obtains on the black market."

Components and blueprints obtained by Iranian intelligence agents in Europe, and shipped home using the diplomatic bag from the Iranian consulate in Frankfurt, have been blamed for an explosion that destroyed 50 nuclear centrifuges at the Natanz nuclear plant last year.

The White House National Security Council and CIA refused to comment on intelligence matters.

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"Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat its mistakes..."

This information is not new and has been a prime directive for many years.

It has even been talked about here,a while ago, in the form of the Possibility of Special Forces/Special Teams having ability to possibly cross into Iran to destabilize the government as well as search for and locate Nuke sites.

With the belief that the majority of the younger populace of Iran wanting to be major players in the modern world,not the stone age,it has been believed for some time that forces inside Iran are there and willing to work to make governmental changes.

This information is nothing new.

Perhaps this so called secret was released to show new members of congress,who have two bills oppossing future war in Iran,that there are other methods of operations that can attain the same objective.
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Destabilization,such a surprise??
2006 Rice asks congress for 75 million dollars for the following:
To increase U.S. government broadcasting into Iran through the establishment of a new 24/7 Farsi-language channel into Iran, as well as upgrades to radio transmission capabilities and investments in satellite broadcasting technology for existing radio and television programming.

-- To promote democratic processes within Iran, specifically, to "foster participation in the political process and support efforts to expand internet access as a tool for civic organization," with the help of groups like the National Endowment for Democracy, the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute.

-- To provide educational opportunities to young Iranians through scholarships and international visitors programs.

-- And to bolster Internet outreach to Iran, as well as provide support to independent Farsi-language television and radio outlets.

The resulting message is crystal clear: while it may still shy away from saying so publicly, Washington has now committed itself to a change of regime in Tehran.

This has been in the papers on web sites and blog sites for years.

"This has been in the papers on web sites and blog sites for years."

Jim,

I never said it was news - I said it now looks like it has legs.

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"Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat its mistakes..."

Now congressmen/congresswomen,Senators and Presidential candidates are saying "how can this be",Bush has signed off on destabilizing a country,which could lead to war.

Everyone plays innocent as if they have never heard this stuff before,yet it has been basic knowledge,so much so that we have even mentioned here,yet these Politicians act as if it is New News,lol.

So many people now are running around asking how can Bush do this and it just shows their head in the sand lifestyles.

I am amazed at the people who seem to know nothing of the world,politics and or the politicians yet they vote as they are told to without thought,amazing and unbelievable,to me anyway.

Man ,we are still running discussions in papers,magazines,radio and TV on new theories that maybe Oswald was not a lone shooter,lol.

Reports today out of Iran ,that they have detained and arrested 3 Iranian Americans for trying to destabilize the government.One a Teacher another a banker and the third a radio personality.
They were arrested approximately 3 months ago.
So the Iranians were well aware of the possible attempts at destabilization,even though US Senators and congress officials were not.