I guess I should be stunned by this, but after witnessing our MSM reveal classified information year after year, I’m just not shocked anymore:
The CIA has received secret presidential approval to mount a covert "black" operation to destabilize the Iranian government, current and former officials in the intelligence community tell the Blotter on ABCNews.com.
The sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the subject, say President Bush has signed a "nonlethal presidential finding" that puts into motion a CIA plan that reportedly includes a coordinated campaign of propaganda, disinformation and manipulation of Iran’s currency and international financial transactions.
"I can’t confirm or deny whether such a program exists or whether the president signed it, but it would be consistent with an overall American approach trying to find ways to put pressure on the regime," said Bruce Riedel, a recently retired CIA senior official who dealt with Iran and other countries in the region.
An effort to destabilize a country causing regime change is a great thing. An honorable thing. Promoting these kind of freedoms, as happened today in Iran, is a GOOD thing:
Especially in light of the fact being that the only other alternative is to go to war. We will not allow a nuclear armed Iran. Just isn’t going to happen. We won’t, Israel won’t, many countries won’t.
So Bush decides, against Cheney’s wishes mind you, to promote regime change in a more covert way:
Current and former intelligence officials say the approval of the covert action means the Bush administration, for the time being, has decided not to pursue a military option against Iran.
"Vice President Cheney helped to lead the side favoring a military strike," said former CIA official Riedel, "but I think they have come to the conclusion that a military strike has more downsides than upsides."
And what happens? Someone leaks to the press, and secrets be damned, the press prints it.
Iran now has an even more airtight "excuse" to put down any protests as being "CIA funded". More Iranians will end up dead, and this operation hasn’t even gotten off the ground.
Somehow I don’t think ole’ Fitz will be investigating this leak from the CIA, because you can bet your sweet ass this is where it came from.
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