Posted on 01/20/2005 3:15:25 AM PST by Flavius
PARIS 20 Jan. (IPS) Iranian authorities have launched a massive, but discrete operation aimed at finding and arresting possible American commandos that an American investigative journalist said are now operating inside Iran.
Though officials continued on Wednesday to issue strong, but unconvincing and incoherent warnings against the report, but Iran Press Service has learned from informed sources that the report is taken “very seriously”.
The authorities dismissed the report as a “psychological warfare” and absurdly “baseless”.
The report, signed by prize-winner, investigative journalist Seymon Hirsh and published in the “New Yorker” magazine says US commandos have been operating inside Iran, selecting nuclear and other sensitive military sites for possible air strikes with the help of Pakistan.
The authorities dismissed the report as a “psychological warfare” and absurdly “baseless”.
"American commandos are not able to enter Iran so easily to spy. It would simplistic to accept such an idea", said Ali Aqa Mohammadi, Head of the Foreign Propaganda Department of Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
"We know our borders", he added, ridiculing the report that says the commandos had been operating inside Iran since mid-2004 to search out potential targets for attack -- something the magazine said could come as early as mid-2005.
According to Mr. Hirsh, the journalist who, among other investigative articles since the Vietnam war, revealed the abuses on Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers in the Baghdad’s notorious Abou Qorayeb prison, the operations are part of a world-wide campaign against terrorism waged by the Bush Administration and aimed at eradicating terrorism before his present mandate ends.
“Contrary to Mr. Aqamohammadi’s statement, Iranian borders with all its neighbours, particularly Pakistan and Afghanistan, the two countries where the Americans have huge military presence, are difficult to control, as seen by the flow of smugglers that operates in the region”, the source pointed out on condition of anonymity.
However, while Pakistan has denied any involvement in the reported operations and the Pentagon has said the article was "riddled with errors", President George W. Bush told the NBC that he could not rule out military action against the Islamic Republic if the United States and the Europeans failed to persuade the Iranian ruling ayatollahs to abandon their nuclear energy programme.
For her part, the new US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice confirmed that the Islamic Republic, like Cuba, Zimbabwe, Belarus or North Korea will continue to remain under pressures by the United States and urged united world action to keep Iran from building nuclear weapons.
Reiterating that Washington would continue actions to bring the case of Iranian nuclear activities before the United Nations Security Council to consider possible economic sanctions, she told the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee that if the Iranians “do not show that they're going to live up to their international obligations then we shall refer them to the Security Council".
In a response, Hamid Reza Asefi, the Iranian deputy Foreign Affairs Minister said Iran viewed recent comments by U.S. officials as "a psychological campaign and political pressure" and urged Ms. Rice to “review” Washington's “misguided” foreign policy approach towards Iran and the rest of the world.
"The United States has fallen into an abyss of several crises as a result of the wrong attitude of its hard line neo-conservatives. There is no way out unless it reviews and corrects its past mistakes", he said, adding, "We recommend the new secretary of state reviews the false and failed policies of the United States and avoid making the same mistakes," Asefi said.
"We are not afraid of foreign enemies' threats and sanctions, since they know well that throughout its Islamic and ancient history, Iran has been no place for adventurism”, Head of the influential Expediency Council Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a possible future Iranian president told the state news agency IRNA on Tuesday.
He was immediately echoed by the Defence Minister Admiral Ali Shamkhani, saying that Iran has acquired a strong military capability and will deter any attacks against it.
“Iran did not fear the United States. We can say we have developed a might that no country can attack us because they do not have accurate information about our military capabilities", he added.
We are not afraid of foreign enemies' threats and sanctions.
But military experts say Iranian army’s equipments, including its air force, are aged and lack modern weapons.
“Iran is far less modern military power than it was under the former Monarchy regime or compared to the time of war with Iraq”, wrote Mr. Anthony Cordesman in a long report on the situation of present Iran’s armed forces.
“Most of Iran’s military equipment is old and or second rate and most ot them are worn”, he added.
But while Mr. Aqamohammadi was accusing Washington to wage the anti-Iranian campaign in order to influence forthcoming elections in neighbouring Iraq “to its liking”, Mr. Asefi said Washington was determined "not to help and encourage the constructive nuclear negotiations between Iran and the EU".
On 15 November 2004, Iran and the so-called European troika, namely Britain, France and Germany reached a consensus to provide Tehran with some nuclear technologies for civilian purposes against Iran suspending its nuclear activities, mostly enriching uranium.
The Board of Governors of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency that is investigating Iran’s controversial atomic programmes endorsed the Paris agreement at its last and stormy meeting.
But according to Mr. Hirsh, American hawks are hoping that the talks between Tehran and the Europeans would eventually fail to give positive result and are banking on a reversal of the Troika’s position “soon”.
"I hope we can solve it diplomatically, but I won't ever take any option off the table", Mr. Bush told NBC. ENDS IRAN US NUKE 20105
seems some of this has been kicked around for last few days.
guess not much new... apart it being Iranian based
If we lose so much as 1 resource, (American, Iraqi or friendly Iranian) old seymoron and the publishers of the NYer should be hung out to dry.
< The report, signed by prize-winner, investigative journalist Seymon Hirsh... >
I love the way they like to put "prize winner" on these writers. I think "prize winner" for journalists has become a bit tarnished lately. And then there's Nobel Peace "Prize winner" Yassir Arafat who we all knew and loved...not.
I love a snipe hunt.
My thoughts too. Our spys are probably monitoring what their reaction is.
ping
Most notably, historian Arthur Schlesinger once called Hersh "the most gullible investigative reporter I've ever encountered" — one whose "capacity to exaggerate is unparalleled."
I had to read it twice.
My favorite…
According to Mr. Hirsh, the “journalist” who, among other “investigative” articles since the Vietnam war, revealed the abuses on Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers in the Baghdad’s notorious Abou Qorayeb prison,
Hmm, wonder how many Iranian prisoners would like to be in “notorious” US prison, vs Regular run of the mill Iranian prison… What a joke the world is… Iranian women prison 
Gee...gullible reporters at the NYTimes? How odd.
I seem to remember his reporting on the Afghan battle in 2001-02 was way off the mark.
An old hack who if he actually had any good days of journalism finds those far far in the past.
There are those who choose to only recall his hits..and ignore his misses.
"True or not, this is a shining example of our media, in their self righteous glory, putting our Sons and Daughters in the military in harms way. All for a 'Story'."
I was thinking the same thing as I was reading this.
I wholeheartedly agree with your statement up until the " out to dry" part.
IF there are special forces in Iran and IF any one of them are killed, wounded or captured, Seymon Hirsh should be immediately arrested anc charged with treason.
'Baghdad’s notorious Abou Qorayeb prison,'
That was a fair description. Abu Ghraib was notorious from the Saddam era...a particular detail that made whatever occured there after American forces were running the joint all the more odious.
You need to also go after the publishers that print the NYer. Most of the corporations that permit BS to be printed or transmitted skip out. CBS should be held accountable for Rather's story, as the NYer should be hammered.
"American commandos are not able to enter Iran so easily to spy", said the new Iranian Information minister.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.