NYT: U.S. said to order secret military action

NYT: U.S. said to order secret military action

www.msnbc.msn.com

The secret directive, signed in September by Gen. David H. Petraeus, authorizes the sending of American Special Operations troops to both friendly and hostile nations in the Middle East, Central Asia and the Horn of Africa to gather intelligence and build ties with local forces. Officials said the order also permits reconnaissance that could pave the way for possible military strikes in Iran if tensions over its nuclear ambitions escalate.

(visit the link for the full news article)


Related News Links:
www.newyorker.com
www.onlinejournal.com
enduringamerica.com
www.military.com

Related AboveTopSecret.com Discussion Threads:
en.wikipedia.org...
www.cato.org...
www.gwu.edu...
www.americanforeignrelations.com...

Clandestine Operations in countries both friendly and hostile in the Middle East? Clandestine Operations, is a nicer term for Black Ops or Covert Operations.

[Covert operation]

Covert operations are employed in situations where openly operating against a target would be disadvantageous. These operations are generally illegal in the target state and are frequently in violation of the laws of the sponsoring country. Operations may be directed at or conducted with allies and friends to secure their support for controversial components of foreign policy throughout the world. Covert operations may include sabotage, assassinations, support for coups d'état, or support for subversion. Tactics include the use of a false flag or front group.

This sounds very similar to what Richard Nixon did during his time as War Chief, when he covertly expanded military operations from Vietnam to Cambodia and Laos? I guess the respect for a nation's sovereignty is second to the interests of the US? To me, this does not seem like a good thing? Now, target nations have an idea that the US may be conducting covert operations in their countries, because of this announcement by General Petraeus.

For instance, a bridge is blown up, or an attack takes place on a civilian area, or a violent explosion goes off in a public square. We all know who the terrorists and the host governments are going to blame, and that is the US, whether they are responsible or not. Any civil unrest will be attributed to alleged US meddling and subversive tactics. What makes things worse, at this time the reputation of the United States among foreign nations is shaky at best. This is only going to make that reputation worse.

Moreover, will this lead to death squads, political assassinations, and other sinister activities from what seems like a bygone era? It sounds very similar to the covert ops of the Vietnam War, and some of those activities were as evil as it gets.

Some of our special operations troops were killed in action or captured, and left behind without any recognition by their government. They would dress these commandos in unmarked uniforms, and with no identification on their persons. If something happens, the US government could deny any association or involvement in the military operation. Some of their stories remain secret to this day.

Even some in the Pentagon are concerned about this recent directive being taking by General Petraeus.

. . . some Pentagon officials worry that the expanded role carries risks. The authorized activities could strain relationships with friendly governments like Saudi Arabia or Yemen, or incite the anger of hostile nations like Iran and Syria. Many in the military are also concerned that as American troops assume roles far from traditional combat, they would be at risk of being treated as spies if captured and denied the Geneva Convention protections afforded military detainees.

www.msnbc.msn.com...

This approach has been used before, it had miserable results, and did more harm than good. It further weakens the image of the United States, it puts Special Operation soldiers in a vulnerable position, and it has the propensity of alienating any friendlies the US may have in the Middle East. Furthermore, Iran is going to be more aggressive in the Middle East with their paramilitary Quds Force. On a side note, this recent directive expands the scope of President Bush's use of covert operations as well. This seems like the wrong play to me, and could very well lead to an international incident?

NYT: U.S. said to order secret military action
(visit the link for the full news article)



[edit on 25-5-2010 by Jakes51]

When will America pull its head in & mind its own ficken business. USA now wonder we in the rest of the world depise your government so much. Please hurry up & have that revolution that so many of you spout on about, but haven't got the balls to start.


[edit on 25-5-2010 by acrux]

And the fact the msnbc - part of the SCM (State Controlled Media not MSM) - is running this article for you to post here shows that the obama administraton has leaked this "secret" news. Guess we'll have reporters waiting on the beaches again when the special ops guys try to land.

Dems and the military - just don't mix.

Originally posted by acrux
When will America pull its head in & mind its own ficken business.

The problem is not with Americans, but rather with the government on a hell bent mission of all out destruction despite what actual Americans want. Many of us have been calling for an end to the war, an end to obscene spending on military weaponry and operations, etc....the problem being it continues to fall on deaf ears.

USA now wonder we in the rest of the world depise your government so much.

Actually, we're waiting for the rest of the world to wake-up.

Americans are catching on to our "Nobel Peace Prize" winning sham of a President, in the rest of the world however, he continues to be popular.

Frankly, I think that the lower the US goes, the higher our President's approval rating in other countries. Perhaps y'all could tell YOUR governments to stop listening to this pecker head! We already stopped listening to him but unfortunately he still finds an audience elsewhere.

Please hurry up & have that revolution that so many of you spout on about, but haven't got the balls to start.

And exactly what are you doing? I can guarantee that no matter where you are you are having similar problems in your own country.

This certainly ties in to the "secret" launch of the X-37B back in April.

the X-37B is designed to stay in space on missions that last up to 270 days long.

www.foxnews.com...

This would seem like something the American people would be against? Just looking over how this stuff was conducted in Vietnam and areas of Latin America, it seems to do more harm than good. Plus, it will not win over the hearts and minds of a hostile nation, but further infuriate them. When their homes are blown up or a family member is arrested during the middle of night by soldiers in ninja suits. Only to be taken to an undisclosed location for an indefinite period of time. This kind of stuff happens when black ops are utilized by the military.

Then what if a mission goes wrong and members of a team captured in a country the US is not official at war with? Imagine the international uproar when it turns out the detainees are of American origin. They could be linked to just about or upheaval going on within a country. This type of military operation is just plain insane. Plus, there is usually no oversight by Congress or the President. With no oversight, these type of activities often lead to atrocities and corruption by those taking part in them. Some examples would be the Contras in Latin America, the Phoenix Project in Vietnam, Air America in Vietnam, and other controversial incidents that have happened in the past that remain unknown or classified.

If the US wants to repair its severely damaged reputation, it ought to refrain from such controversial activities. This type of action, has never worked as the planners have wanted. Then they must contend with the unwanted consequences of the operation, known in the intelligence community as "Blowback."

Blowback

Blowback is the espionage term for the violent, unintended consequences of a covert operation that are suffered by the civil population of the aggressor government. To the civilians suffering it, the blowback typically manifests itself as “random” acts of political violence without a discernible, direct cause; because the public—in whose name the intelligence agency acted—are ignorant of the effected secret attacks that provoked revenge (counter-attack) against them.

This recent announcement by General David Petraeus could not have been made at a more wrong time. The Middle East is about to burn. Now, I am aware black ops go on, but to say where they will be conducted, is like shaking a stick at a hornet's nest. Everyone is aware how volatile that region of the world is, and the US is not thought of very highly by the general populace and governments. All this is going to do is further infuriate the people, and drag down the reputation of the United States.

On a side note, apparently this decree made by the General is practically infringing on the turf held by the CIA, and almost singling them out all together. I am fairly certain that the CIA is not to thrilled about the US military unilaterally taking over intelligence gathering from them. Bureaucratic turf warfare between the Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency? In other words, it is going to make the mission that much more difficult over there, because both departments will never be able to agree on anything.


[edit on 25-5-2010 by Jakes51]

Originally posted by acrux
When will America pull its head in & mind its own ficken business.

You know? We would but history has shown as soon as we mind our own business, the rest of the world start whining as bickering for our help.

When we ignor you, what as bunch of sorry scumbags we Americans are.

When we help you, what a bunch of sorry scumbags we Americans are.

I'd much rather be the sorry scumbag that ignors you.

I'm not surprised one bit.

I'm sure through FOIA at some point, you could find a hundred, perhaps thousands of these orders for clandestine operations in various hostile and friendly nations.

It's not like the CIA ever had rules to follow or anything and neither do Black Ops projects.

In the end, Patreus might do the US a favor with this, so long as they are attempting to build peaceful ties with citizens and agencies in these countries.

I assume he's trying to assert a Western Influence in places like Somalia, or Iran to help the people come to a Demcratic referendum of sorts.

At least if they were doing this for the good of the world, that's what the reasoning would be.

~Keeper

Originally posted by Intelearthling

Originally posted by acrux
When will America pull its head in & mind its own ficken business.

You know? We would but history has shown as soon as we mind our own business, the rest of the world start whining as bickering for our help.

When we ignor you, what as bunch of sorry scumbags we Americans are.

When we help you, what a bunch of sorry scumbags we Americans are.

I'd much rather be the sorry scumbag that ignors you.

You are right the US is expected to be the world police and now the world bully all at once. There's no winning in International politics when it comes the US.

Mostly, it's because America once prided herself in doing all these things, being the "necessary" evil. It just got way out of hand and continues to be that way.

~Keeper

Originally posted by Jakes51


Some of our special operations troops were killed in action or captured, and left behind without any recognition by their government. They would dress these commandos in unmarked uniforms, and with no identification on their persons. If something happens, the US government could deny any association or involvement in the military operation. Some of their stories remain secret to this day.

That's why Iran refuses to release those 'hikers' they captured on the border last year.

Originally posted by kristobal

Originally posted by Jakes51


Some of our special operations troops were killed in action or captured, and left behind without any recognition by their government. They would dress these commandos in unmarked uniforms, and with no identification on their persons. If something happens, the US government could deny any association or involvement in the military operation. Some of their stories remain secret to this day.

That's why Iran refuses to release those 'hikers' they captured on the border last year.

Yeah, the situation involving those hikers is very suspicious. Plus, the silence by the government is also suspicious as well. Moreover, Iraq has not become a general tourist attraction as far as I know? If they wanted to go to a Muslim country that is relatively peaceful, why not the UAE or something? Moreover, why did they not hire a local guide in Kurdistan to assist them. A local would have known were the the two borders met. They seem like spooks to me. If they were legitimately tourists, then I see no reason why they are being detained by Iran indefinitely. Here is the official view of these hikers by Iran.

US hikers in Iran 'are spies'

Tehran - Iran's intelligence minister on Wednesday accused three US hikers in custody for the past 10 months of being spies, just hours before their mothers were expected in Tehran, ISNA news agency reported.

I see no concerted effort by the US State Department through the proxy, Switzerland, to secure their release. We all remember the great lengths taken by the Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama to get those journalists released from North Korea. Why such an effort for them, but nothing for these alleged hikers? That is a question that has crossed my mind since learning of this story. Here are the spooks *ahem!* hikers on video before their fateful day with Iranian boarder guards.



Apparently, they have being living in a bubble, because they should have known that Iran and the US have a frosty disposition toward each other. This whole thing sounds fishy to me? We really have nothing on their past. Moreover, the Iranians have not released any information about what was on their persons when they were arrested and detained. If anything, they ar have to be the biggest morons I have ever heard of, and they ought to pay for their actions. They went hiking in a hostile area, and were hiking near a country with a vile disposition toward their own. Thanks for the reply!