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Bush Authorizes New Covert Action Against Iran
May 22, 2007 6:29 PM
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.
A National Security Council spokesperson, Gordon Johndroe, said, "The White House does not comment on intelligence matters." A CIA spokesperson said, "As a matter of course, we do not comment on allegations of covert activity."
The sources say the CIA developed the covert plan over the last year and received approval from White House officials and other officials in the intelligence community.
Officials say the covert plan is designed to pressure Iran to stop its nuclear enrichment program and end aid to insurgents in Iraq.
"There are some channels where the United States government may want to do things without its hand showing, and legally, therefore, the administration would, if it's doing that, need an intelligence finding and would need to tell the Congress," said ABC News consultant Richard Clarke, a former White House counterterrorism official.
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.
THE BLOTTER RECOMMENDS
"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."
The covert action plan comes as U.S. officials have confirmed Iran had dramatically increased its ability to produce nuclear weapons material, at a pace that experts said would give them the ability to build a nuclear bomb in two years.
Riedel says economic pressure on Iran may be the most effective tool available to the CIA, particularly in going after secret accounts used to fund the nuclear program.
"The kind of dealings that the Iranian Revolution Guards are going to do, in terms of purchasing nuclear and missile components, are likely to be extremely secret, and you're going to have to work very, very hard to find them, and that's exactly the kind of thing the CIA's nonproliferation center and others would be expert at trying to look into," Riedel said.
Under the law, the CIA needs an official presidential finding to
carry out such covert actions. The CIA is permitted to mount covert
"collection" operations without a presidential finding.
"Presidential
findings" are kept secret but reported to the Senate Select Committee
on Intelligence, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
and other key congressional leaders.
Check out the Brian Ross Webcast: More on CIA's 'Black' Operation in Iran
The "nonlethal" aspect of the presidential finding means CIA officers may not use deadly force in carrying out the secret operations against Iran.
Still, some fear that even a nonlethal covert CIA program carries great risks.
"I think everybody in the region knows that there is a proxy war already afoot with the United States supporting anti-Iranian elements in the region as well as opposition groups within Iran," said Vali Nasr, adjunct senior fellow for Mideast studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.
"And this covert action is now being escalated by the new U.S. directive, and that can very quickly lead to Iranian retaliation and a cycle of escalation can follow," Nasr said.
Other "lethal" findings have authorized CIA covert actions against al Qaeda, terrorism and nuclear proliferation.
Also briefed on the CIA proposal, according to intelligence sources, were National Security Advisor Steve Hadley and Deputy National Security Advisor Elliott Abrams.
"The entire plan has been blessed by Abrams, in particular," said one intelligence source familiar with the plan. "And Hadley had to put his chop on it."
Abrams' last involvement with attempting to destabilize a foreign government led to criminal charges.
He
pleaded guilty in October 1991 to two misdemeanor counts of withholding
information from Congress about the Reagan administration's ill-fated
efforts to destabilize the Nicaraguan Sandinista government in Central
America, known as the Iran-Contra affair. Abrams was later pardoned by
President George H. W. Bush in December 1992.
In June 2001,
Abrams was named by then National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice to
head the National Security Council's office for democracy, human rights
and international operations. On Feb. 2, 2005, National Security
Advisor Hadley appointed Abrams deputy assistant to the president and
deputy national security advisor for global democracy strategy, one of
the nation's most senior national security positions.
As
earlier reported on the Blotter on ABCNews.com, the United States has
supported and encouraged an Iranian militant group, Jundullah, that has
conducted deadly raids inside Iran from bases on the rugged
Iran-Pakistan-Afghanistan "tri-border region."
U.S. officials
deny any "direct funding" of Jundullah groups but say the leader of
Jundullah was in regular contact with U.S. officials.
American
intelligence sources say Jundullah has received money and weapons
through the Afghanistan and Pakistan military and Pakistan's
intelligence service. Pakistan has officially denied any connection.
A
report broadcast on Iranian TV last Sunday said Iranian authorities had
captured 10 men crossing the border with $500,000 in cash along with
"maps of sensitive areas" and "modern spy equipment."
A senior Pakistani official told ABCNews.com the 10 men were members of Jundullah.
The leader of the Jundullah group, according to the Pakistani official, has been recruiting and training "hundreds of men" for "unspecified missions" across the border in Iran.
May 22, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (1652)
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If it was a secret, it isn't any longer. I will turn off ABC News and never watch again.
I consider ABC News Traders to the United States
Posted by: David Reid | May 22, 2007 6:36:30 PM
You should be ashamed of yourselves for
broadcasting the report on the CIA
covert action against IRAN. The key
word here is SECRET. The report should
be considered traitorous.
Posted by: Ron Peterson | May 22, 2007 6:37:52 PM
Why, if it is covert, are you airing it and telling the Iranians what we are doing? Do you want more war and more killings of Americans? Let them do their job's and keep your mouths shut.
Posted by: Dawn Mansfield | May 22, 2007 6:38:01 PM
Why, if it is covert, are you airing it and telling the Iranians what we are doing? Do you want more war and more killings of Americans? Let them do their job's and keep your mouths shut.
Posted by: Dawn Mansfield | May 22, 2007 6:38:30 PM
Do you people believe in some things being important to the security of the United States of America? Do you even care that some of your reporting is putting our troops our citizens in foreign countries and even our way of life in danger? YOu can take care of things you don't like without telling the whole world. Why don't you help our country stay alive.
Posted by: mary twinn | May 22, 2007 6:38:38 PM
Brian Ross:
Seems you & the media will go to any extreme to show you bias
agains the Bush Administration. Revealing classified operations is
consorting with the enemy. I hope you can live with your tresonous
actions!!!!!!
Posted by: Philip R. Cramer | May 22, 2007 6:39:16 PM
I think it is totally irresponsible for ABC News to air such a story. Keep your big mouths shut for once. You don't report news, you are trying to create it. I won't watch ABC News again!
Posted by: Alan Brown | May 22, 2007 6:40:09 PM
Isn't this type of reporting TREASON!!!!Where's the responsibility for the good of the country? This is disgusting! What are you thinking????
Posted by: Robert Lipps | May 22, 2007 6:40:50 PM
What part of secret was so hard to comprehend? In the interest of national security, perhaps someone with a brain should have decided NOT to make this a story. FREEdom of the Press.. LOL.. tell me ABC, how much did Lincoln pay you to advertise on this web page?
Posted by: nicole | May 22, 2007 6:41:20 PM
You guys ever hear the phrase "Loose Lips Sink Ships" ???
Posted by: Louis Twinn | May 22, 2007 6:41:35 PM
The Neocons will be out of office shortly
I pray for that day every morning
They are truly evil on this Earth
Posted by: Chris | May 22, 2007 6:42:04 PM
Not so secret anymore is it? This is why more than half of the stories Brian Ross reports are obsured. If it's so secret how'd did your team get the scoop? Secondly, if it is true, you should be arrested for espionage.
Posted by: concerned | May 22, 2007 6:42:29 PM
What else needs to be said.
ABC was should now be UABC.
UnAmerican Broadcast Company.
Unbelievable.
Posted by: Big Al | May 22, 2007 6:44:19 PM
Does anyone really think that this 'secret' wasn't or wouldn't be known by the Iranians? Come on! You'd have to be born yesterday to not realize this stuff goes on all the time!
Posted by: Monty_4 | May 22, 2007 6:47:07 PM
David Reid: it's spelled T-R-A-I-T-O-R.
Posted by: Monty_4 | May 22, 2007 6:48:20 PM
I cant believe you would report something like this! You should be ashamed of yourselves. Whatever happened to country first? Someone should be thrown in jail. It is irresponsible for news agencies in the time of war to put people's lives in danger! You are for us or against us and ABC has once again taken the other side!! I will not watch ABC news again!
Posted by: michael Octave | May 22, 2007 6:48:51 PM
ABC is unbelievable. Talk about compromising our troops and our intelligence gathering capabilities. Why don't they just join up with the other side.
Posted by: SHR | May 22, 2007 6:49:44 PM
What in the world are we broadcasting this type of information for? Brian I used to read your reports, but given the extremely volitile nature of our relations with Iran, I will no longer be able to read them. How extremely irresponsible of you for reporting on this. Furthermore, we have a missing retired operative over there remeber??? What do you think they will do to him?
I am extremely dissapointed in this action Brian!
Posted by: JERRYDRY2005 | May 22, 2007 6:50:58 PM
How is this relevent to tell me about?
I hope they do destabelize the government of Iran. The stoy would be if you had suggestions for readers to HELP you morons!
Posted by: Tim | May 22, 2007 6:51:32 PM
ABC News: Please stop helping our enemys. I don't understand why you would tell our business to everyone in the world. Mr. President can't we stop this reporting???
Posted by: Margie Davis | May 22, 2007 6:52:36 PM
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