Nexus - 1702 - New Times Magazine-pages

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The article continued, saying that "[t]he US is to operation to destabilize the Iranian government". The increase funds to Iranian non-governmental bodies that — President signed an order that "puts into motion a CIA promote democracy, human rights and trade unionism", __ plan that reportedly includes a coordinated campaign of a practice which was reinstated in 2005 for the first time | propaganda, disinformation and manipulation of Iran's since 1980, and that "the US would seek to help build — currency and international financial transactions". The new dissident networks".” approval of these covert operations marked a temporary n April 2006, the Financial Times reported that "(t]he US — move away from pursuing overt military action.” and UK are working on a strategy to promote democratic As the Telegraph reported in May 2007, "Bush has change in Iran", as "|dJemocracy promotion is arubricto — signed an official document endorsing CIA plans for a get the Europeans behind a more robust policy without propaganda and disinformation campaign intended to calling it regime change". The Christian Science Monitor destabilise, and eventually topple, the theocratic rule of reported that the goal of the strategy was "regime the mullahs". As part of the plan, "the CIA [will have] change from within" in the form of "a pro-democracy _ the right to collect intelligence on home soil, an area revolution".” that is usually the preserve of the FBI, from the many In July 2007, it was reported that the White House had __ Iranian exiles and emigrés within the US", as "Iranians in "shifted back in favour of military America have links with their families action" at the insistence of Cheney.” at home, and they are a good two-way John Bolton, former US Ambassador source of information". Further, it to the United Nations, said in May reported that "[{t|he CIA will also be 2007 that US strategy consisted of In September 2007, allowed to supply communications three options: economic sanctions, it was reported equipment which would enable regime change and military action. opposition groups in Iran to work Bolton elaborated: "If we can't get that the Bush together and bypass internet enough other countries to come along censorship by the clerical regime". with us..., then we've got to go with administration "Soft" power became the favoured regime change by _ bols onne Was pushing the US policy for promoune regime change in opposition groups and the like, . Iran. David Denehy, a senior adviser because that's the circumstance most on the warpath with to the State Department's Bureau of key or an Iranian government to Iran, as Pentagon Near astern Afaits, was ‘charged ecide that it's safer not to with overseeing the distribution pursue nuclear weapons than to planners had of millions of dollars to advance continue fo (o SO. And all else "developed a list he cause of a more democratic ails, if the choice is between a ran". He was responsible for nuclear-capable Iran and the use of up to 2,000 disbursing the $75 million that bombing targets in Iran". of force, then I think we need to Rice asked of the Senate in look at the use of force." That February 2006. The would only be "a ‘last option’ appropriations included "$36.1 after economic sanctions and million [poured] into existing attempts to foment a popular elevision and radio programs revolution had failed".” beaming into Iran" and "S10 In September 2007, it was million...for public diplomacy and reported that the Bush exchange programs, including administration was pushing the elping Iranians who hope to US on the warpath with Iran, as Pentagon planners had study in America"; of that total, "$20 million would "developed a list of up to 2,000 bombing targets in Iran". _ support the efforts of civil-society groups—media, legal It was even reported that Secretary Rice was "prepared and human rights nongovernmental organizations— to settle her differences with Vice-President Dick Cheney both outside and inside Iran". The administration was and sanction military action". Apparently Rice and requesting an additional $75 million for 2008.” Cheney were working together to present a more unified In 2008, award-winning journalist Seymour Hersh front, finding a middle ground between Rice's sof revealed in the New Yorker that, in late 2007, Congress diplomacy and Cheney's preference to use "bunker- ad approved "a request from President Bush to fund a busting tactical nuclear weapons against Iran's nuclear major escalation of covert operations against Iran, sites". according to current and former military, intelligence, That same year, 2007, the United States launched and congressional sources". While the Cheney hard- covert operations against Iran. ABC in America broke iners in the Bush administration were long pushing for the story, reporting that "|t]he CIA has received secre a direct military confrontation with Iran, the military had presidential approval to mount a covert ‘black’ o be reined in from being controlled by the neo- it was reported that the Bush was pushing the US on the warpath with Iran, as Pentagon planners had "developed a list of up to 2,000 bombing targets in Iran". NEXUS ¢ 29 In September 2007, administration FEBRUARY - MARCH 2010 www.nexusmagazine.com