U.S. Is Said to Expand Secret Military Acts in Mideast Region (Hello, Iran?)

[Bluebear]

WASHINGTON — The top American commander in the Middle East has ordered a broad expansion of clandestine military activity in an effort to disrupt militant groups or counter threats in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and other countries in the region, according to defense officials and military documents.

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...."



http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/world/25military.html?hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1274761105-koFAQVCL1t6Wh30R08RqQg

[readmoreoften]

1. We're doing all kinds of stuff in the 'Af-Pak-and-Iraq' theatre right now.

K&R

[Bluebear]

2. 'if tensions over its nuclear ambitions escalate'

I don't see them de-escalating. Our next warning may be a mushroom cloud, etc.

[Hardrada]

3. Why does Iran have to be an enemy?

I hate all this propaganda by the neocons. Iran is not my enemy.

[G_j]

4. gotta have at least one enemy in reserve nt

[Bluebear]

5. Must have enemies to continue the war industry. nt

[RandomThoughts]

6. Best to not have enemies.

They don't serve many purposes, it is best when people can consider thought without thinking in terms of enemies, since it is usually not a person at fault but a mind set, and enemies can not change mindsets. So there is not really a reason to have any enemies.

And not treating people as enemies can help people learn from each other.

[Bluebear]

7. Tell that to a nation that spends most of its money on "defense".

[Enthusiast]

9. It's something never mentioned

in the M$M. It is clearly verboten speak by politicians. Without the Soviet Union we were suddenly faced with a new set of problems. How could we justify the size of our military industrial complex?

If we look at it from Iran's perspective, imagine, the world's most powerful military invades two country's on your border. And this powerful invader is constantly ramping up the rhetoric against your country and its leaders. And for eight years this powerful nation is in the hands of what appear to be recklessly insane leaders.

[ShortnFiery]

8. +1

I'm so tired of our nation using military action MERELY to get our hegemonic way. It's transparent to the entire WORLD but not the USA thanks to the corporate whores in our M$M.

We, the mighty USA is both feared and loathed by those who are not paid off and/or our allies.

[unhappycamper]

10. This is Africom at work.

We have Seebeas over there to drill water wells. Yet no country in Africa wants to host Africom.

We have medical teams over there to provide medial care. Yet no country in Africa wants to host Africom.

We have the Coast Guard over there protecting the Straights of Hormuz. Yet no country in Africa wants to host Africom.

I guess they got the memo - beware of foreign entanglements.

[jaxx]

11. Who's leaking classified information?

<snip> Several government officials who described the impetus for the order would speak only on condition of anonymity because the document is classified. Spokesmen for the White House and the Pentagon declined to comment for this article. The Times, responding to concerns about troop safety raised by an official at United States Central Command, the military headquarters run by General Petraeus, withheld some details about how troops could be deployed in certain countries.<<

[Zywiec]

12. "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"

So now the military alone can authorize sending troops into foreign countries? Since when??

:shrug:

[unhappycamper]

13. We're an empire

and we don't need no stinking permission.

[Bluebear]

14. It's a new America.

[Catherina]

16. Per O's address at West Point, it's the new "international order"

This sounds awfully familiar.

[Catherina]

15. Like those three hikers that just accidentally stumbled into Iran?

Is this the change I was supposed to believe in?