AP Exclusive: Spies Outed, CIA Suffers in Lebanon

[The Northerner]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Current and former U.S. officials say the CIA’s operations in Lebanon have been badly damaged after Hezbollah identified and captured a number of U.S. spies recently.

The officials tell The Associated Press the intelligence debacle is particularly troubling because the CIA knew its spy network in Lebanon was vulnerable.

In June, Hezbollah’s leader boasted on television he had rooted out at least two CIA spies who had infiltrated the ranks of Hezbollah.

Though the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon officially denied the accusation at the time, current and former officials concede it happened and the damage has spread even further.

Read more: http://www.salon.com/2011/11/21/ap_exclusive_spies_outed_cia_suffers_in_lebanon/

[xchrom]

1. Recommend

[Faux pas]

2. We need to keep our imperial noses out of everybody's

business.

[Kaleko]

3. Everybody to Amrica: Get lost already!!

[Zorro]

4. Are you OK with Iran financially and militarily supporting Hezbollah?

[Faux pas]

6. We need to bring all of our troops back home to take care

of our OWN backyard. Let the middle east destroy itself. We cause most of the (oil rich) third world country problems. We are an ass.

[Zorro]

16. So are you OK with Iran financially and militarily supporting Hezbollah?

The unfortunate fact is that events in the Middle East can have a direct economic effect on the USA.

And we are bringing our troops back from the region.

[Faux pas]

19. I don't care what iran does. I only care about what we do. So

far, in the last 30+ years, we haven't done anything right. Everything we have done has to do with greed.

The troops can't come home soon enough. They never should have been anywhere but here. We are not the world police.

I thought only chicken hawks were so war crazy. You a chicken hawk?

[Zorro]

20. I live in a reality-based world

Isolationism is not the solution; it was the prevailing Republican foreign policy position in the 20's and 30's, and look at those consequences.

It is an unfortunate fact that the US is affected economically by events that transpire in the Middle East, and that it is in our interest to maintain a presence there. Like it or not, oil production is vital to our economy.

Chicken hawk? Not hardly. I actually did some time in the military in that general area. I believe there are very few that have served in the military that are "war crazy"; more than others, they know what war truly means.

I find it curious that you avoid condemning Iran for supporting a declared terrorist organization. You seem to be a "blame America first" Democrat that gives the Republicans so much political fodder. Thanks for nothing.

[Faux pas]

21. Humph.

In my reality based world, America is not perfect. We have spread ourselves so thin that there's nothing left for we the people.

Seems to me, you're the type who just likes to argue for argument's sake. Signing off this thread now. Have a nice life.

[Alamuti Lotus]

24. they are merely defending their interests, just like you claim to

If it is fine in your eyes to support the Saudist status quo under the guise of protecting economic interests, what is your disagreement if Iran defends their interests as well?

[Zorro]

25. Congratulations

You nosed out the somewhat obvious point that condemning the US for foreign engagements without likewise condemning Iran for doing the same thing is hypocritical.

So it wasn’t a principled condemnation at all. Just an opportunity for another “blame America first” whine.

[Alamuti Lotus]

28. Congratulations on undercutting yourself at the same time with the very same argument

Now, can you make just one statement without recycling Jeane Kirkpatrick's talking points and pet phrases? It might help with your growing credibility gap.

[eridani]

13. Is it OK that we are militarily occupying most of the rest of the Middle East? n/t

[Zorro]

17. Where are we "militarily occupying most of the rest of the Middle East?"

What are those country names?

[Alamuti Lotus]

22. direct occupations of Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine

ongoing NATO attacks on Libya, covert aggressive activities in Yemen and Somalia, strong support for every conservative dictator in the area, large military bases propping up oppressive puppet regimes in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the guardian of all counter-revolutionary suppression in the region, Saudi Arabia. In your reality-based world, you're up to a lot of trouble and really haven't a leg to stand on to condemn others.

[Zorro]

26. Quite an exercise in excessive hyperbole

Who knew that Afghanistan is a Middle Eastern country? Or Somalia? Or that the US is “occupying” Palestine?

Are you a Faber College graduate?

[Alamuti Lotus]

27. No, Faber wouldn't accept me

A tragedy, to be sure, but one I have moved beyond after hours and hours of painful--yet fruitful--therapy. I have accepted that "knowledge is good", but it is still a difficult subject and I would appreciate you not to open such wounds so casually.

To reply point-by-side-stepped-point:

The description Middle has also led to some confusion over changing definitions. Before the First World War, "Near East" was used in English to refer to the Balkans and the Ottoman Empire, while "Middle East" referred to Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia, and the Caucasus. In contrast, "Far East" referred to the countries of East Asia (e.g. China, Japan, Formosa, Korea, Hong Kong, etc.) Some critics usually advise using an alternative term, such as "Western Asia", which is the official designation used by the UN.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_East

Somalia is officially a member of the Arab League; it's affairs are closely linked to events in the region; it fit within the paradigm of the point I was making.

Were that I was not so consumed by apathy I might have endeavored to previously explain that I consider Israeli & Saudi affairs to be in practice virtually a direct extension of US policy -- but, alas, the nice part about apathy is the not-caring.

The ironic part is that in the whole condensed spiels above, I neglected to mention altogether the glorious present and past of US meddling in Syria & Lebanon--the original subject of this thread and places I have been to recently, no less. I really have little excuse for such an obvious lapse of mind.. but once again, I must defer to saying that sometimes the nice part is the not-caring and that addition will just have to wait for another time.

[The Stranger]

15. Who are you and why are you asking him or her if he or she is okay with it?

[Zorro]

18. Who am I? Why do you ask?

Well, if you must know...I'm the Dos Equis guy.

Do you object to one asking topically relevant questions?

[Uncle Joe]

5. Has anyone been keeping tabs on Cheney's latest activities?

I wonder if he's tied to this?

To be honest, I'm half kidding and half not.

Thanks for the thread, The Northerner.

[bemildred]

7. Report: Dozens of U.S. spies captured in Lebanon and Iran

Source: AP

Dozens of spies working for the CIA were captured recently in Lebanon and Iran, current and former U.S. officials told The Associated Press and ABC News on Monday.

The CIA’s operations in Lebanon have been badly damaged after Hezbollah identified and captured a number of the U.S. spies, officials told The Associated Press.

Hezbollah’s longtime leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, boasted on television in June that he had rooted out at least two CIA spies who had infiltrated the ranks of Hezbollah, which the U.S. considers a terrorist group closely allied with Iran. Though the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon officially denied the accusation, current and former officials concede that it happened and the damage has spread even further.

According to a report by ABC News, there were two distinct espionage rings targeting Iran and Hezbollah in which spies were recruited by the CIA.

Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/report-dozens-of-u-s-spies-captured-in-lebanon-and-iran-1.396840

[kickysnana]

8. I saw one on Househunters International this week.

Mom had some odd sounding title and would be gone three months at a time in the Middle East. If I figured it out those who are looking for spies sure would.

There is not a lot of intelligence in our Intelligence.

[madrchsod]

10. perfect cover isn`t it..dumb americans paying billions for a horse barn

most of those houses they show would`t pass any inspection in the usa

[bemildred]

9. Oooops, dupe:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x5066424

[JDPriestly]

11. This story cannot be for real.

"Pizza?"

This has to be a joke. Please.

[skyounkin]

12. Did cheney out these ones too?

Check that scumbags phone records.

[No Elephants]

14. Not much info.

[Alamuti Lotus]

23. CIA & State Dept/Embassy proven to be bad liars, again

Though the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon officially denied the accusation at the time, current and former officials concede it happened and the damage has spread even further.

The State Department and CIA will lie and deny anything that looks bad or exposes their criminal activities--can anything these organizations ever say be trusted?