Rangerland Forum Information

[SpanishJack]

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07...07fa_fact_hersh

Some posters on this board probably know that I have always disputed the "We Were Lied To' assertion by the opponents of the Iraq war. As you well know, I have always pointed out to an article that appeared in the New Yorker magazine with john Edwards acknowledging and shedding lighta s to how the aforementioned comment came about.
The link above, sheds some information as to the cover ops the current administartion has been running in Iran. The following comment disputes this whole idea that any administartion can just start operations without the knowledge of the opposing party leadership. Furthermore, as is noted, the erspective committee leadership needs to approve re-direction of funds to finance the cover operation that an administration may be trying to pursue.

Under federal law, a Presidential Finding, which is highly classified, must be issued when a covert intelligence operation gets under way and, at a minimum, must be made known to Democratic and Republican leaders in the House and the Senate and to the ranking members of their respective intelligence committees—the so-called Gang of Eight. Money for the operation can then be reprogrammed from previous appropriations, as needed, by the relevant congressional committees, which also can be briefed.

“The Finding was focussed on undermining Iran’s nuclear ambitions and trying to undermine the government through regime change,� a person familiar with its contents said, and involved “working with opposition groups and passing money.� The Finding provided for a whole new range of activities in southern Iran and in the areas, in the east, where Baluchi political opposition is strong, he said.

Although some legislators were troubled by aspects of the Finding, and “there was a significant amount of high-level discussion� about it, according to the source familiar with it, the funding for the escalation was approved. In other words, some members of the Democratic leadership—Congress has been under Democratic control since the 2006 elections—were willing, in secret, to go along with the Administration in expanding covert activities directed at Iran, while the Party’s presumptive candidate for President, Barack Obama, has said that he favors direct talks and diplomacy.

If you read further, it goes into questioning the need to pursue the operation(s) being planned. Yet, the Democratic leadership went along and approved funding for requested cover ops in Iran. Boys and girsl, the lesson here is the next time your favorite politician tells you "We Were Lied To", take a step back and look at the whole picture. It is imperative that we not nly challenge our opposition, but our own side of the aisle. Demand accountability from EVERY elected official. Either your favorite political party is inept at understanding information, or they are just as phonies as the people you loathe.