If the American public only knew in the '80s how terrible the Soviet military was we never would have gotten the defense budget increases we were given, or the forward-leaning covert operations we conducted.
The reasons why the Iranians have outperformed us in Iraq and Afghanistan are the same as why we would outperform them if they were occupying Mexico or Canada. But this doesn't mean their intl capabilities are wanting.
The problems I've identified with an Israeli attack apply regardless of whether the Iranians are very proficient or not. They apply because of the distance, the number of targets, and Israel's limited resources. Even if the Iranians were near idiots these problems would still exist.
btw I never was a government employee. My former government work was as an agent only.
ps I hope it's not true that anyone's assassinating Iranian scientists. That would be a bad precedent.
- theaustinescorts
- 12-10-2010, 07:43 PM
- DRorchia
- 12-10-2010, 10:06 PM
You may want to google "Iranian scientists assassinated". Not sure how the news could get that one wrong since two were hit with bombs, one died (one of their very well known fusion experts), one wound up wounded in the bombing, another was shot and then of course we had one in our custody who's disappearance from an Arab country he was visiting is still being debated. After having him for 6+months we returned him to Iran.
- austin_voy
- 12-11-2010, 09:44 AM
If it's not dis/mis-information, I'm very surprised that Assange hasn't had an accident or disappeared. Originally Posted by Gump42A KGB officer once said "Anyone can murder, many can make it look like an accident but the true professional allows the target to die a natural death."
He's embarrassed many countries and may have diplomatic cables from others. I would suspect that several countries would exchange "untargeted interrogation" techniques. (Don't worry, I won't kill you. No matter how much you beg me to.
- austin_voy
- 12-11-2010, 09:51 AM
Assange is an egotistical megalomaniac. He's threatening to release more through a "timebomb" if anything happens to him or his "staff". That's called extortion. If he thinks the info is worth releasing, do it.
As far as I'm concerned, if he came into the possession of of Secret and Top Secret documents (not these, but the previous ones) he's a spy. I once held some clearances above TS and they used to give us an annual briefing that included the phrase "punishable by a fine of up to $200,000, imprisonment for a term of years. Or life. Or DEATH"
Oh, the guy who gave it too him. The above DOES apply to him. He supposedly has a Secret and a NATO SECRET NOFORN. That's some nasty stuff to be stealing.
As far as I'm concerned, if he came into the possession of of Secret and Top Secret documents (not these, but the previous ones) he's a spy. I once held some clearances above TS and they used to give us an annual briefing that included the phrase "punishable by a fine of up to $200,000, imprisonment for a term of years. Or life. Or DEATH"
Oh, the guy who gave it too him. The above DOES apply to him. He supposedly has a Secret and a NATO SECRET NOFORN. That's some nasty stuff to be stealing.
- theaustinescorts
- 12-13-2010, 10:16 AM
Unfortunately our government's secrets are maintained largely to deceive us, not our enemies. Our government lies to us about what's really happening, and their true motives. The reasons for this are to gain our consent for policies we otherwise would never condone, as well as to conceal their egregious errors and crimes.
If it were not for people like Assange, Danny Ellsberg, and General Smedley Butler we would never know the reality of our government's actions. In my experience with government figures they cannot be trusted, have little moral conscience, and usually do not act in the interests of the American public who foots the bill. Rather government workers act in their own interests.
As far as I can tell no sources or methods of importance have been revealed - only common truths known to government insiders which are hidden from us, THE PEOPLE in whose name they are supposedly acting.
Assange's threat to release more damaging files if harmed would be extortion if he threatened to do so in exchange for compensation, which is not what he's done. Rather, he's threatened to harm certain parties only if they MALICOUSLY harm him. That is deterrence, not extortion.
Regarding the murder of Iranian scientists, this is very troubling because once this has been linked to a particular government the victim's government may retaliate, and that's a game which can easily spin out of control. Mossad is unfortunately prone to reach for assassination as a first step rather than a last, and it's often blownback on Israeli interests. I just hope they're not repeating that mistake again.
If it were not for people like Assange, Danny Ellsberg, and General Smedley Butler we would never know the reality of our government's actions. In my experience with government figures they cannot be trusted, have little moral conscience, and usually do not act in the interests of the American public who foots the bill. Rather government workers act in their own interests.
As far as I can tell no sources or methods of importance have been revealed - only common truths known to government insiders which are hidden from us, THE PEOPLE in whose name they are supposedly acting.
Assange's threat to release more damaging files if harmed would be extortion if he threatened to do so in exchange for compensation, which is not what he's done. Rather, he's threatened to harm certain parties only if they MALICOUSLY harm him. That is deterrence, not extortion.
Regarding the murder of Iranian scientists, this is very troubling because once this has been linked to a particular government the victim's government may retaliate, and that's a game which can easily spin out of control. Mossad is unfortunately prone to reach for assassination as a first step rather than a last, and it's often blownback on Israeli interests. I just hope they're not repeating that mistake again.