Brian Ross of ABC News
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.
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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 probably heard it from Judith Miller LOL
It seems Treason is the in word this year.
And prosecution for treason apparently isn’t.
Boy is that ever the truest statement made on FR!!!
Um... their “madness” is spreading.
They’ll soon be planting nukes in American cities, yet the Bush Administration (says ABC) has no objection to ABC reporting on efforts to overthrow their govt.
Does that make sense?
I’ve given up on making sense of this administration.
I would bet the response by the White House was something akin to “we can neither confirm nor deny” the story....for ABC that was approval to report. ABC should have known better and probably did, but for them....more troop deaths is more ratings, and that is all they want. They could care less about our forces, our country, or our way of life. ABC, CBS, NBC and all the others are rightly called the “enemedia” (a term I think originated at Lucianne.com).
The real show is at the WH with constant denials of any intent to bomb Iran. Meanwhile two carrier battle groups are conducing war exercises within the Persian Gulf.
BUMP
That's my thinking as well. This story coupled with the fleet to Iran's doorstep sends a message.
/sarc
I think you have me confused with some one else. I was talking about the media sitting in their charis and pumping their fists in the air and cheering when American troops get killed.
Don’t read anything else into my statement. I said nothing about the security, American people, etc...
> 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.
Please note ABC’s Clintonesque parsing of words. “The goverment made no objection” - well the standard answer to this type of inquiry - “We do not comment on intelligence matters” - is not an objection. See how ABC has twisted this to make it seem the government gave the OK.
Two points:
The “source” of this might well have been approved by the WH to leak this for whatever reason. Note they didn’t even object to the report. Ever hear of disinformation?
Even if this truly was an unauthorized leak, how many folks here REALLY believe Iran doesn’t think this stuff is already going on? Do you actually think they’re shocked or surprised? I’m certainly not.
If anyone took me as serious, they don’t belong on FreeRepublic! ;^)
The next question is, why won't the DOJ prosecute either the leaker or ABC?
I am sure they will get on it as soon as they finish proving that Karl Rove leaked Valarie Plame’s secret name to the press.
I debated quoting the specific part I was commenting on, but was too lazy. Next time I will ;)
Ditto {8^)
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