Officials today have admitted that Gen. David Petraeus signed a secret order months ago to dramatically escalate the number of covert military operations taking place in the Middle East. Special focus was said to have been given to Somalia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.
Though officials spun the operation as aimed primarily at al-Qaeda, some sources have conceded that the Iran operations were aimed at “paving the way” for an eventual US invasion of Iran, should President Obama order one in the near future.
The US has been openly funding opposition figures in Iran in an attempt at forcing “regime change,” and in the past it has also funded terrorist outfit Jundallah, but little is known about its direct on-the-ground operations in the region, except that they are growing at a serious clip.
The overall results of the US escalation have yet to be seen, but the numerous attacks against targets in Yemen in December, including the failed Christmas Eve assassination of US citizen Anwar al-Awlaki, appear to have been at least partially related to the Petraeus order.
But while the attacks are the most visible result of the order, officials report it primarily focuses on spying across the region. Some analysts are expressing concerns that the military’s spying, particularly in allied nations, could do serious harm to US diplomatic goals in the region.
Yeah, bring in the faggot cowardly US military — see how long they last in Iran.
When is an act of war not an act of war?
When the US says it is not.
We are at War Obama says so we are at war; but our support of covert and openly overt support of acts of terrorism and agressions upon another country are not acts of war.
I wonder if and when we invade and destroy Irans lands with our conventional/unconventional forces will we be at war or just batling insurgents in a new land.
For I know that somewhere, wether upon a US univeristy in a professorship or deep within the bowels of State Department employ, there's bound to be a new leader for Iran that we will support.
Maybe our Faith Based charities will say a few more prayers, just to keep In GOD WE TRUST in their collection plates and of course to pay GOD to be on our side.
Imagine for a minute that another country (Pick any one you like) admitted that they have begun a covert operation against the United States to overthrow the government and replace it with a president with that is more favorable to their ambitions and goals?
How would any American citizen react to such a thing?
Would such and act not be considered and act of war against America and the American way of life.
Does such a ploy seem far fetched to the average citizen of the United States, I mean if America is doing this to other countries maybe other countries have the same ideas right?
Well I for one am not really worried so much about what the United States is doing against Iran.
What worries me is that covert infiltration has most likely already occurred within the United Sates government and the people of the United States have yet to recognize that their current and previous elected governments may have been chosen for them by ANOTHER county.
The decisions currently being made in Washington regarding the United States Middle East policy that effect EVERY American citizens life may have already been decided . And these decision may not come from the White house as most Americans think.
I mean, which country has the most to gain from the United State's current military presence in the Middle East?
Which country's name is considered taboo in Washington and to make a mere mention of it in any negative way spells political suicide for any senator or president?
Well thats something to think about isn't it?
But maybe I'm wrong.
Think you've got it pegged.
people can be made to accept and even approve of any indignity, even the infiltration and subversion of their own government by treasonous and foreign elements. All you need is some good propaganda. I mean PR.
Ground_Control / Guest
It is a frightening thought that the government of worlds only superpower, a superpower that controls the worlds largest nuclear arsenal that can destroy the world a thousand times over, is no longer capable of protecting the interests of the people who it is supposed to represent.
Instead it is jeopardizing the prosperity, safety and respect of the once upon a time "Greatest nation on Earth" to serve the interest of an extremist, racist and violent rogue nation.
Goddamn it. Fuck you Obama, just fucking push the red button already, you know your craven, cowardly ass wants to. And to anyone who supports this, may you get what you deserve.
Yup just imagine if Iran had ops teams in the US, the towering indignation we would see.
This is the Israeli method of provocation: Assassinate their gov't officials, commit random terrorism and sabotage. Then when they retaliate, go berserk. Whine that you're the victim.
LMAO, but America certainly has taken on the role of international goon this last decade. Nobody is safe with those fools around, what with their starting wars everywhere, attacking and killing people around the globe.
But they get away with it only because THE AMERICAN PEOPLE approve. Notice the outcry from the US public over American-led terrorism in Iran! Silence if not outright approval – just like with their torture chambers. The root of the problem is that this particular generation of Americans are the biggest bunch of assholes the world has seen since Germany in the 1930's.
God Bless America.
The bad news is "It's the propaganda." People can only "know" what they hear from whatever are their information sources. With govt. and corporate control of the MSM, they get 100% propaganda 100% of the time. This "full spectrum dominance" of the information stream means those folks are totally owned.
The good news is that most regular folks are aware of the fact, and don't approve of being owned. They are waiting for the truth and open to the truth, and the internet is providing it. The internet is now poised to overtake the the MSM, both by shredding its credibility and providing "the other side of the story".
I believe that the internet is radically changing our culture, both social and political. That the internet is the primary cause of local and global political volitility. The world is being democratized by the free exchange of information. Populations ae being EMPOWERED and radicalized by information that is a direct threat to the power elite.
Could be good, could be bad probably will be some of each. Interesting times.
This is totally insane on the part of the U.S. Iran is in compliance with ALL U.N. laws, treaties, and in particular has NEVER failed an IAEA inspection. I can vouch for the IAEA inspection program as it is very intrusive and rigorous. Of course Iraq had fooled the IAEA in the late '80s up until 1991, BUT since then the IAEA has greatly strengthened its inspection program in both the human and technical areas. In fact the IAEAs program for nuclear materials control, accounting, and security is more comprehensive that that of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Dept. of Energy. I can say this with confidence as I was and IAEA inspector for 2.5 years and have been and NRC inspector for almost 20 years.
AND FURTHERMORE the North Koreans have detonated TWO nuke test bombs – one in 2006 and one in 2009. Why aren't we invading North Korea as well, they are clearly a dangerously unstable rogue state, run by a megalomanical dictator, who just recently sank a South Korean warship with no provocation.
SO, I am concerned that the U.S. is setting a very bad example for the rest of the world community as now other states will justify violating the sovreignty of nations they consider to be adversaries or hostile. AND furthermore, the U.S. has not learned its lessons from its meddling in Iran to rescue the hostages which resulted in 8 U.S. soldiers being killed out in the Iranian desert.
IT IS TIME for Americans to rise up and say NO! to this rogue behavior, and to reiterate: if the U.S. goes around the globe acting like a rogue state, then the several other rogue states will just look to our example and the world will only get more dangerous.
IT IS THE height of hypocrisy for the U.S. to sign a nuclear cooperation deal with the UAE to help UAE build FOUR nuclear power plants (which the UAE has nowhere near the technical resources to staff these plants) while telling Iran it cannot build a SINGLE nuclear power plant, the very same plant that the U.S. helped to construct during the Shah's reign.
LASTLY, WHY DID OBOMBA GET A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE, HE'S EVERY BIT THE WARMONGER AS BUSH OR CHENEY, MAYBE WORSE…
I think there may be a Fifth Column in the US, working for a war against Iran. Consider that there were many Shah supporters who fled. There were also people who practiced religions unacceptable to the Shi'ites in power, and I don't mean Judaism, but Bah'ai and Zoroastrianism. But what difference is it between this group and the Cuban exiles? Well, for one thing Iran is not just offshore. The Cubans managed to become involved in a failed coup, but they were managed by the US military and CIA. In this case, the long, long history of the US interfering in the internal affairs of Iran must stand as a warning: there are those who might be used ready at hand, and there is also the officialdom of the US and Israel trying to force another coup, if not trying to reduce a potential rival to rubble (in Israel's case versus Persia).
None of this is of interest or concern to the average American, who has other pressing matters to deal with. This is for the profligate players of the Great Game. People at the top of the shaky Empire, which cannot even stop a devastating oil leak or relieve the victims of a flood- they are playing the game with our future and our funds.
Yes, Bah'ai is seldom mentioned.
All you Iran apologists… how about you go move there? Hopefully they don't accuse you of espionage as soon as they see your U.S. passport at customs.
Yes, there's blowback, but don't root against the home team
Yes, in the land of 'freedom, if you dare to say the wrong thing you will be asked to leave.
How classic.
How about this. How about all the people who support a worldwide military and all these wars and all the spying on Americans and all the taxes that pay for all of this GET THE HECK OUT OF MY AMERICA."
My America is the one where they had figured out that large standing armies are the greatest threat to liberty. With possibly only uncontrolled large banks as the other greatest threat. My America is the one which didn't go around the world searching for monsters to slay.
And my America is the one where I can speak my mind without having some thug get in my face and threaten to throw me out of my home because I don't agree with him.
Sorry to disabuse you of your paradisiacal utopian misconception of america, patrickH but if you really want to ensure that you can speak your mind w/o some z*st thug taking you down, you'd better get used to carrying a 2×4 around with you all the time, or better yet, a .357 ! I can assure you, your chosen namesake would approve !
Actually, my 'misconception' of America was based largely on paraphrasing quotes from the founding fathers. You can tell them they were wrong, because I sure won't.
Besides, me, I'm an old softball player. Nothing like the ring of good ol natural aluminum making solid contact.
I just get tired of these 'freedom-nazis' trying to run me out of my own damn country when they are the ones who oppose everything America is supposed to stand for.
Home team? More like Hymie Team . . . And since you brought up the topic of leaving, Herr Schmuck, there are daily flights to transport YOU to Tel Aviv. We'll gladly take your US passport as you leave, so you can enjoy the wonderful land of your co-religionists permanently.
I suggest the DOJ and DHS register and publish the name of every dual israhell citizen, particularly those that work in defense, treasury, think tanks, and with the state department and deprort them without trial to their fatherland.
One more Nation attacked by USA, and the Americans will not see a happy day for a long long time to come.WAKE UP YOU morons.STOP THIS STUPIDITY or you as a nation are gonig down.and Mr.Schmuck as your name suggest yes if not any I will move to fight against the aggressors…Just NO MORE…………and I hope you Americans understand well all PARTS of NO MORE this time..
Fascinating that the article says that the order was signed by Gen. Petreus.
Does a US regional commander have the authority to order terrorist attacks and spying in countries that the US is not at war with? And to do so without higher approval.
The answer is probably yes of course. Especially given the broad 'anti-terror' wording in the authorization to use force against Afghanistan. I'd imagine there are Executive Orders that Bush and Obama have issued that transfer the authority that Congress gave to the President to start the Afghan war out to the regional military commanders.
Its just striking that our regional pro-counsels have the authority to do this. Wonder what Thomas Jefferson would think of that?
I am shocked, Shocked to find that the American government was looking to invade Iran anyway.
Patrick, Iran is fighting us in a proxy war through funding and training terrorists in Iraq. It has also threatened to exterminate a US ally–Israel (which from the looks of it, most of the antiwar.com folks wouldn't mind).
The US is no saint, but Iran has countless human rights violations, is pursuing nuclear weapons, and funds terrorists.
"The US is no saint, but Iran has countless human rights violations, is pursuing nuclear weapons, and funds terrorists."
Iran is no saint, but the US, Britain and Israel have countless human rights violations, huge nuclear weapons stockpiles and fund(ed) terrorists such as the Taliban, MEK, numerous brutal dictators across the world and committed hundreds of war crimes.
Anything else?
You do realize this is total nonsense don't you.
The Shites have been in charge of the Iraq government for years, and their the natural allies of Iran. So, are you trying to tell us that the Iranian shites are attacking the Iraqi shites in order to put the Sunnis or the Kurds in power?
And of course, everyone knows that the bit about 'exterminating' Israel is a total BS mis-translation of one quote that the President who's name I can't spell says.
You really need to turn off Faux News and start getting some real info.
'Covert actions', that's a codeword for 'criminal activity'. You notice it said 'throughout the Middle East', not just Iran. Feel free to commit crimes anywhere and anytime you like boys. Want to kill some people? Go right ahead. We're the USA, laws don't apply to us. Morals don't apply to us. Everybody and anybody is our enemy. Why do they hate us? It can't possibly be because we kill people and destroy their homes and communities. After all that's our God-given right. We're the heroes of the world.
If it wasn't criminal, it wouldn't be covert.
There's a reason why most everything the Mafia does is a 'covert action'.
Do Spec Ops ever get captured? Or are they detonated by remote control implants if they fall into enemy hands?
Well said MR. Stephan Caudill;
"The root of the problem is that this particular generation of Americans are the biggest bunch of assholes the world has seen since Germany in the 1930's."
Well said indeed!