Posted on 05/23/2007 7:32:53 PM PDT by ovrtaxt
Brian Ross of ABC News |
ABC News is coming under heavy criticism for its exclusive report revealing a purported CIA covert operation designed to destabilize the government of Iran.
Brian Ross of ABC reported last night:
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.
"Isn't this type of reporting TREASON?!" asks Robert Lipps in an ABC thread receiving hundreds of comments. "Where's the responsibility for the good of the country? This is disgusting! What are you thinking?"
Dawn Mansfield wrote: "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."
(Story continues below)
ABC's report has also caught the attention of at least two Republicans running for president.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said he was "shocked."
"The reporting has the potential of jeopardizing our national security," Romney said. "To put it quite plainly, it has the potential of affecting human life, we may never know."
Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado called it "absolutely irresponsible for any media to publish a story like this."
"When foreign governments and terrorist groups can simply watch the news to find out about potential U.S. intelligence operations, we have a problem on our hands."
Tancredo will ask the attorney general to open a criminal probe into the source of the leak and the network's decision to disclose the information, as well as call for congressional hearings.
"I just hope Democrats and the media show as much interest in this as they did over Valerie Plame," he said.
ABC News has responded to the criticism, saying in a statement:
"In the six days since we first contacted the CIA and the White House, at no time did they indicate that broadcasting this report would jeopardize lives or operations on the ground. ABC News management gave them the repeated opportunity to make whatever objection they wanted to regarding our report. They chose not to."
ABC did receive some supportive comments on its thread, including:
I will be joining you in that celebration.
Is anyone surprised?
According to ABC they asked the Government to give permission before this was all aired. Apparently the U.S. Government made no objection to the report. Go figure.
I hate to repeat what my young daughter has said, but reading emails and what ABC has done reenforces her statement. 60 Percent of Americans are brain dead. There are so many clueless idiots that live in some fantasy land it gets hard to take . This ABC thing, illegal alien immigration give away......
nope, not me. Is somebody (DOJ) going to go after the CIA leakers? Another non-surprise.
Somebody post that great mock NY Times front page showing the headline “One if by land, two if by sea” detailing Revere’s plans for the night ride.
If it were leaked by an illegal immigrant, Bush would give him a medal and make him a citizen.
"This too shall pass".
Tancredo should offer a bill that would impose the removal of the FCC license for the TV media participating in stuff like this and the shuddering of any print media likewise involved.
It’s irrelevant. Physical force will be required to take Iran’s nuclear facilities down in time. If not, the enemy will make himself obvious on our own soil very soon. All else this late in the process is only stage smoke for entertainment-addicted wishful thinkers.
You nailed it - this is what the education system professionals wanted: an uneducated populace. The only reason liberals get so mad about conservative Americans is that we slipped through the cracks!
That's why the same idiots gripe about Haliburton, but not about athletes. Complain that the Fed Government doesn't react to local or state problems, but don't like the Patriot Act. And, finaly, "reward" victims of self inflicted accidents millions of Dollars while persecuting honest businessmen who are just too good at what they do (microsoft). Arrggh.
It is disinformation.
It’s exactly how I’d get disinformation into the media.
No, they didn't. They said they asked for any objections the government might have, which is a lot different. Asking for permission would be an indication they accept the concept of prior restraint, which no liberal organization would ever do, especially during a Republican administration.
They'd just do what NBC did with the Virginia Tech shooter - say they thought about it, and then rush to be first. That's all that matters to the drive-by media.
The country is at a true crossroads now. The amnesty bill is the breaking point.
At least Brian Williams didn’t call anyone a “ho.” That would have gotten him in trouble.
Who would you suggest?
Because we like it?
Seriously, W's decisions and actions are beyond belief.
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