US special forces 'inside Iran'
By Justin Webb
BBC News, Washington
The American investigative journalist Seymour Hersh has claimed that US commandos are operating inside Iran selecting sites for future air strikes.
In the latest edition of the New Yorker, Hersh says intelligence officials have revealed that Iran is the US' "next strategic target".
Hersh says that American special forces have conducted reconnaissance missions inside Iran for six months.
Potential targets include nuclear sites and missile installations, he says.
They have been aided by information from the government of Pakistan, Hersh adds.
He reports as well that American special forces units have been authorised to conduct covert operations in as many as 10 nations in the Middle East and South Asia.
'Riddled with inaccuracies'
Hersh bases his claims on anonymous sources, including former intelligence officials and consultants with links to the Pentagon.
One such consultant is quoted as saying that the civilians in the Pentagon wanted to go into Iran and destroy as much of the military infrastructure as possible.
The article has already drawn fire from the White House: the communications director, Dan Bartlett, called it "riddled with inaccuracies".
"I don't believe that some of the conclusions he's drawing are based on fact," Mr Bartlett added.
Hersh could be wrong. But he has a series of scoops to his name, including the details of the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal last year.
His track record suggests that he should be taken seriously
I really hope this shit isnt true..........
Blair cannot support him this time...
By Justin Webb
BBC News, Washington
The American investigative journalist Seymour Hersh has claimed that US commandos are operating inside Iran selecting sites for future air strikes.
In the latest edition of the New Yorker, Hersh says intelligence officials have revealed that Iran is the US' "next strategic target".
Hersh says that American special forces have conducted reconnaissance missions inside Iran for six months.
Potential targets include nuclear sites and missile installations, he says.
They have been aided by information from the government of Pakistan, Hersh adds.
He reports as well that American special forces units have been authorised to conduct covert operations in as many as 10 nations in the Middle East and South Asia.
'Riddled with inaccuracies'
Hersh bases his claims on anonymous sources, including former intelligence officials and consultants with links to the Pentagon.
One such consultant is quoted as saying that the civilians in the Pentagon wanted to go into Iran and destroy as much of the military infrastructure as possible.
The article has already drawn fire from the White House: the communications director, Dan Bartlett, called it "riddled with inaccuracies".
"I don't believe that some of the conclusions he's drawing are based on fact," Mr Bartlett added.
Hersh could be wrong. But he has a series of scoops to his name, including the details of the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal last year.
His track record suggests that he should be taken seriously
I really hope this shit isnt true..........
Blair cannot support him this time...