Seymour Hersh: US is funding Al-Qaeda to counter Iran - 3

Investigative reporter Seymour Hersh talks to Democracy Now about his explosive new article in the New Yorker Magazine. Hersh reports that John Negroponte's decision to resign as National Intelligence Director was made in part because of the Bush administration's covert actions including the funding of radical Sunni groups - some with strong ideological ties to al-Qaeda - to counter Shiite groups backed by Iran. Hersh also reports the Pentagon has established a special planning group to plan a bombing attack on Iran and U.S. military and special-operations teams have already crossed the border into Iran in pursuit of Iranian operatives.

The funding of Wahhabi/Salafi groups, often labeled Islamic fundamentalists in the media, is reminiscient of US policy in the Middle East especially through the mid-70s and early-80s which eventually gave rise to groups such as the Taliban. During this period US administrations, alongside Israel, promoted "fundamentalist" groups to create suitable conditions for their own interests in the region. In the case of the Israelis, their support of such groups was primarily with the aim to evade a settlement plan over Palestine.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• seymour
• hersh
• iran
• ahmadinejad
• usa
• bush
• cheney
• qaeda
• osama
• laden
• lebanon
• hezbollah
• nasrallah
• israel
• democracy
• now
• amy

[voiyour]

For chrissake, hasn't the neocon chickenhawk theory of 'decapitating' a regime and setting up a secular, pro-american democracy been completely discredited after the Iraqi experience?

[mingoi313]

It appears not. In the view of the administration, an Iraq like the wild west, that's probably an understatement, is not enough; they'd rather have it export Wahhabi extremism into Iran and destablise the entire region. Sometimes, I wonder if these guys take decisions whilst on drugs!

[bapyou]

You can't refute a single thing I said.

You're sorry about Howard Zinn passing?

Tell you what, asshat: Tell me some more how you're a real American & no one else is. Your fascism suits you well.

[TuskAmerica]

Sorry to hear your Buddy Zinn kicked the bucket this month....pppphhhhtttt!

[bapyou]

@ TuskAmerica:

Give it up, you fucking moron. Go tell everyone how your a REAL American and everyone else isn't. Is it possible for you right wing morons to get any more self-centered and arrogant?

ANSWER: No. It isn't possible.

You brainless fucks don't realize what fascists you are.

"We're the REAL Americans! Liberals AREN'T real Americans!"

Don't you see the simplistic moronic idiocy you represent?

Go read some Michael Savage. He suits your level of intellectual curiosity.

[SusieYeah33]

what?? you like freemasons the destroyers of america? the ones who kiss islamic ass? ok go ahead...

[TuskAmerica]

Are you semi-retarded ?

[SusieYeah33]

yeah sure AmeriCANS are great but not freemasons.

[knowitx]

The Koran states Israel belongs to the Jews. Establish a board of Zionist Muslim scholars,Abdul Hadi Palazzi, to issue by fatwah the only peace plan consistent with Islam: all Muslims must let Jews live in peace in their land of Israel. Israel is the fulfillment of Islamic prophecy. Islamic law Israel says Jews keep Judea and Samaria and it is un-Islamic for Arabs to be Israeli citizens. Arabs west of the Jordan become permanent residents of Israel, with citizenship of a Hashemite Commonwealth.

[knowitx]

I disagree. Palestine as the Jewish State per 1920 League of Nations, yes. An Arab/Muslim State. No way. Jordan, is part of Jewish Palestine. However, it should be a Hashemite Commonwealth.

However, I believe over time, once Rome is expelled from the region, Arabs-Muslims- Jews will get along very well together.

[ChrisF116]

The state of Palestine is as legitimate as the state of Israel.