Posted on 12/13/2004 4:43:15 AM PST by paudio
The Bush administration intercepted dozens of Mohamed ElBaradei's phone calls with Iranian diplomats, looking for a cause to oust him as director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, according to a report in the Washington Post. According to the Post report, the intercepted calls have not produced any evidence of outrageous conduct by ElBaradei, according to three officials who have been talking to the paper.
The intercepts reportedly show that ElBaradei tried to help Iran weather a diplomatic crisis over its nuclear programs.
"Some people think he sounds way too soft on the Iranians, but that's about it," said one official to the Post.
The IAEA – the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency – coordinates nuclear safety around the world and monitors materials that could be diverted for weapons use.
The National Security Agency, which is responsible for collecting and decoding electronic communications for the U.S. government, had no information to provide on the ElBaradei intercepts, and the CIA refused to comment.
Many of the countries that sit on the IAEA board have asked ElBaradei to stay for a third term beginning next summer.
To block that third term, Washington would need to convince more than one-third of the IAEA's 35-member board to vote against his reappointment.
Britain and other allies, however, appear to be reluctant to join a fight they believe is motivated by a desire by the Bush administration to pay back ElBaradei for his "October Surprise." Ten days before the presidential election, ElBaradei questioned why hundreds of tons of explosives missing were from the Al Qa'qaa weapons facility in Iraq.
Adding to Washington's problems, there is at present no clear candidate to replaced ElBaradei should he be retired.
Very smart; let's hope we find some dirt on him and quick.
Busted.
Why would somebody leak the news that CIA tapped him?
Geeeesh...should we be "shocked, just shocked"? We better be tapping him- and anyone else who has dealings with Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Syria etc. This is SOP- but we might want to brace ourselves for the self-righteous moral outrage from the MSM:)
To warn the others? Sounds as though Goss might still have a little problem...
Lets see, usually...the CIA leaks to the New York Slimes. The State Department leaks to Wash ComPost. The Pentagon leaks to the Washington Times.
Oh, a not so wild guess - the pukes at State?
"Why...."
The State Department, infested with U.N. lovers, leaked the info to warn their butt buddy El Baradei he is under observation.
My thoughts exactly; however I believe that you might have understated the significance of the situation. This leak was designed to undermine the WOT and a act of defiance against Dirctor Goss. Goss cannot complete his immediate task of cleaning out the CIA soon enough before moving on to his next project.
More CIA leaking?
Rogues at CIA have been playing these games for a few years now.
Imagine if the someone in British Intelligence during WWII leaked to the German Navy that Britain had cracked the Enigma code only because that someone had a new boss he / she didn't like.
Would someone ask him if Israel has a right to exist and what is Islam's role in world history? Just ask him. Muslims should not be placed in UN or any other role determining nuclear safeguards.
Understated? Well, that's what I get for trying to be subtly sarcastic :) I understand what this could mean, and if this was an unauthorized leak, I think whoever's responsible ought to be arrested.
Unlike prior administrations, The GWB admin hasn't been "leaking w/ permission". Most leaks have been damaging to GWB policies.
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