Sy Hersh on CNN right now. 11:05AM CST

[Gabi Hayes]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=389&topic_id=284883&mesg_id=284883

Sy Hersh: Iran-Contra "lesson learned" -Run op out of VP's Office


The Bush Administration’s reliance on clandestine operations that have not been reported to Congress and its dealings with intermediaries with questionable agendas have recalled, for some in Washington, an earlier chapter in history. Two decades ago, the Reagan Administration attempted to fund the Nicaraguan contras illegally, with the help of secret arms sales to Iran. Saudi money was involved in what became known as the Iran-Contra scandal, and a few of the players back then—notably Prince Bandar and Elliott Abrams—are involved in today’s dealings.

Iran-Contra was the subject of an informal “lessons learned” discussion two years ago among veterans of the scandal. Abrams led the discussion. One conclusion was that even though the program was eventually exposed, it had been possible to execute it without telling Congress. As to what the experience taught them, in terms of future covert operations, the participants found: “One, you can’t trust our friends. Two, the C.I.A. has got to be totally out of it. Three, you can’t trust the uniformed military, and four, it’s got to be run out of the Vice-President’s office”—a reference to Cheney’s role, the former senior intelligence official said.

...

The Pentagon consultant added that one difficulty, in terms of oversight, was accounting for covert funds. “There are many, many pots of black money, scattered in many places and used all over the world on a variety of missions,” he said. The budgetary chaos in Iraq, where billions of dollars are unaccounted for, has made it a vehicle for such transactions, according to the former senior intelligence official and the retired four-star general.

“This goes back to Iran-Contra,” a former National Security Council aide told me. “And much of what they’re doing is to keep the agency out of it.” He said that Congress was not being briefed on the full extent of the U.S.-Saudi operations. And, he said, “The C.I.A. is asking, ‘What’s going on?’ They’re concerned, because they think it’s amateur hour.”

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/070305fa_fact_hersh

EDIT: this New Yorker link works now.

[babylonsister]

1. He's scaring me. nt

[Gabi Hayes]

2. thanks to Rose Siding for this....

it was her thread that gave headsup

[Gabi Hayes]

3. talking about Negroponte's clashes with Cheney over covert ops

run out of the VP's office, per the New Yorker article

[seemslikeadream]

4. What is the title of that article

I can't access it, maybe I can google cashed it, thanks

[Emit]

6. Here

http://www.newyorker.com/printables/fact/070305fa_fact_hersh
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/070305fa_fact_hersh?page=1


THE REDIRECTION
by SEYMOUR M. HERSH
Is the Administration’s new policy benefitting our enemies in the war on terrorism?
Issue of 2007-03-05
Posted 2007-02-25

[Gabi Hayes]

5. Jane Harman and Duncan Hunter will be on to discuss the article.

she's sure slipped from view since she lost her ranking seat on her committee. who got the chairmanship instead of her?

I know it was because she was too much of a neo, but will she support Hersh, or side with Hunter?

and WTF is with those other shows, ABC, CBS, NBC, which ignored this story?

will it have any legs?

none of his other ones did, when one looks back. the WH was able to deflect them all, as the M$M failed to pay much attention

what a surprise

[MzNov]

10. Jane Harman is not the congressperson I want to see commenting on this issue!

She seems not to be getting Sy Hersh's points at all, but not exactly agreeing with Hunter, who says exactly what you would expect from a NeoCon of his caliber.

It's getting more and more difficult to understand what's going on.... but here's where the piles and piles of cash come into the picture. We're indirectly funding the "terrorists" to .... eliminate hezbollah?

oy, my head hurts.

:-(

[amandabeech]

7. Please check your links.

Hersh scared the bejesus out of me, too.

[Gabi Hayes]

8. dunno what to tell you...I just linked directly from Rose's link.

the New Yorker article doesn't come up

it might not be online yet

[Gabi Hayes]

9. here. fixed, I think. in the OP, as well

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/070305fa_fact_hersh

[Gabi Hayes]

11. Crazy Duncan Hunter said that we went into Iraq because it was a state

sponsor of terrorism

what? no mention of the mushroom cloud, no WMDs as a reason?

he used that as a reason to go after Iran, though, saying that soon Iran will have the capability to construct three thousand of those things Colin Powell said Iraq was putting together with them aluminum tubes

how's your campaign for President going, Duncan?

and what has your pal Duke been saying about you since he was sent off on government paid vacation?

[in_cog_ni_to]

13. The repukes make shit up as they go along in hopes that people have forgotten

what they actually said in their run up to shock and awe. Now they're doing the same thing for Iran. When we don't find any nukes in Iran, they'll think of another excuse about why we 'needed' to illegally attack them.

[Gabi Hayes]

12. the nut, from havocmom in another Hersh thread, re Plame outing/WMD/Cheney

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x285416

Plame's network monitored weapons materials movement
Edited on Sun Feb-25-07 11:36 AM by havocmom

Destroying that network was part of how Cheney would ensure lots of continued warfare and LOT$ of continued profiteering for his masters.

Sure, he was pissed at Joe, but Valerie's eyes on the real threats to security had to be put out for Cheney to really make a killing.

It was more than outing a NOC agent. It was about the money. It always is with these nation-less traitors.

Gotta make sure all parties have the funds to keep buying the weapons.

bush/cheney: turning blood to gold and billing the US taxpayer for all operating expenses.

[in_cog_ni_to]

14. CALLING HENRY WAXMAN!!!!!! I hope he watched Wolf's show today

and reads the article Sy wrote. My head is spinning trying to keep up with all the CRAP these people are involved in! They just keep on plodding forward with all their destructive covert programs and couldn't care less that they are breaking the freakin' law. Talk about ROGUE! We have a rogue faction of our Government doing whatever the hell it wants and answers to NO ONE.