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:
They're already here. And more are moving in every day.
The left thinks if they just get millions of new voters they will reign again as they did from FDR to Johnson, but that is a delusion. They also think the country is with them on pacifism and appeasement in security issues, when it is just sick of indecisive limited warfare and unwilling to see its sons die for utter ingrates.
But the left is hopeless on security policy, and it will destroy them utterly the next time they have actual responsibility. They have no answers, just denial. Denial will not stop what is coming. When it hits for real, they will be blamed for it, beyond the capacity of spin. The venom you see today from them directed at Bush will be kindergarten, next to what the average American will think of their entire political and intellectual class.
All that is needed is to drop the useless baggage of Bush's continual appeasement of the left, his needy, sick desire to be respected and liked by those who hate him implacably, and to run to the position the left has abandoned, on the issue of security. And then to wait there, screaming "I'm telling you so" until events catch up with the clueless stupidity of the left's idea of security policy.
That will be the day when these power hungry shallow fools get their comeuppance. There is nothing they can do to stop that, now. Their suicide is much deeper than Bush's, and involves every principle of their entire party. His, on the other hand, is the superficial error of a weak leader flailing around for new support or relevance. All we have to do, on the right, is chuck Bush overboard as the worn out and washed up has-been he has become, and wait for the Dems to utterly blow it on security.
That’s exactly what they are doing concerning our Men and Women in uniform dying over there.
What a GREAT word! Much better than "drive-by media".
This justice dept is only tough on persecuting Border Patrol Agents and protecting illegal alien drug smugglers.
The American people are not dumb to be livid with Republicans over the management of the war in Iraq. They demand victory and an end, and the Republicans have failed to deliver either. They will therefore use the Democrats to enforce the latter, if the incentive involved can't get the Republicans to arrange and deliver the former.
No, responsibility on security means appeasing Iran on nukes, it means determined pacifism, it means denial that there is any danger from terrorism, it means withdrawal everywhere and credibility nowhere, and vapid pipe dreams about restoring America's standing by being nicer to rabid packs of notorious goons.
And when I say "when it hits", I do not mean a bad news cycle they can blame on Bush.
Thanks you for your views, but the immigration issue is not minor. It’s the straw that will break this countries back.
More Democrats in State, CIA or NSA hurting America.
You forgot your s/flag. {8^)
BTTT!
This is not the first time this creep Brian Ross has over step but this is the worst!
Can’t recall what it was but I remember the name he reported something at the end of 20006!
Oh ya it was the Mark Foley around the election they saved the story until election time!
http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=112097
Homicide bombers!
I appreciate your positive view that it will pass. Life is short. Hope it passes in my life time.
Brian Ross hates America and even more Bush and Republicans...his track record of reports on the Bush family and Republicans alone is all the proof I need.
I just hope Democrats and the media show as much interest in this as they did over Valerie Plame,”
Tancredo really rocks sometimes.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.