Officials: U.S. 'outed' Iran's Spies in 1997 (Operation Sapphire)

USA Today ^ | Mar. 29, 2004 | Barbara Slavin

[FreedomPoster]

Modern pantywaist CIA op, if true. "Outed" the Irani intelligence agents? Why didn't we "disappear" them?

[mewzilla]

Because of Toon's EO prohibitting assassination, of course. Convenient, wasn't it?

[nuconvert]

"two other officials spoke about the operation on condition they not be named. Both had knowledge of the operation when it occurred, and both are motivated to speak now at least in part to defend the Clinton administration's anti-terrorism credentials. Separately, CIA officials declined to comment. They said it was standard practice not to give information about covert activities." " former high-level U.S. official"

But it's okay to anonymously give out info on covert activities?

[mewzilla]

Maybe it is when you re-use an operational name. Click here to see what I mean.

[nuconvert]

Exactly. He didn't want to "get involved" in anything bigger.

[mewzilla]

If this Operation Sapphire existed at all :)

[FreedomPoster]

Oh, I know. It was more of a rhetorical question.

And it goes beyond the 'Toon, to Church, and another Dem Congressional committee, as well. Can't recall the second one.

[nuconvert]

"As part of the de-nuclearization process, the U.S. and Kazakhstan executed Operation Sapphire, which removed 600 kilograms of a weapons-grade HEU-non-HEU mix from Kazakhstan in 1994."

That's weird.

[nuconvert]

Maybe the code is wrong or the real one isn't being used.
I can't believe the whole story is made up.

[MindBender26]

These agents would not have been "outed" if we were not positive they were the ones responsible.

Bottom line on Clinton Administration response to terrorism:

They killed 19 Americans.
We made them stay after school.

No wonder they were emboldened to attack on 9/11. Terrorists knew Clinton considered terrorism a "Law Enforcement" problem. They knew that if caught by Clinton Administration holdovers, the worst that would ha pen was an appearance ticket and 50 hours of community service.

Someone might ask the Clintonista sources for this story if they know about:

The Chicago Way
The concept of "all enemies foreign and domestic"
The Golden Rule of dealing with terrorists; Do unto them before they do unto you!

[mewzilla]

After 8 years of Toon's megalomania, I can :)

[nuconvert]

PonG

[Oldeconomybuyer]

...both are motivated to speak now at least in part to defend the Clinton administration's anti-terrorism credentials...

Lemme guess ... Paul Begala and James Carville?

[nuconvert]

Yeah, but is "Operation Sapphire" real? or is it Memorex?

[Oldeconomybuyer]

I don't really care if it's real or Memorex. When the "motivation" to out a covert operation is to twist someone's "legacy", by definition it's political -- which is exactly what our intelligence agencies DO NOT need while we're at war.

[mikegi]

Clinton "outed" some Iranian spies in response to the slaughter of 19 Americans? Wow, that'll teach those thilly thavages a lesson they'll never forget.

I think this whole story is bogus anyway. My guess is that the first name of one official is "Richard" and the last name of the other official is "Clarke".

[Poohbah]

Because of Toon's EO prohibitting assassination, of course. Convenient, wasn't it?

EO 12333 prohibits assassination; it dates back to the Ford administration.

[mewzilla]

I thought Toon signed another one?

[mewzilla]

You're right. Apparently Toon re-issued it. If if was still in force from Ford, wonder why Toon bothered? To make a point?