Public Eye
May 24, 2007 12:45 PM

MacVicar Discusses Iran Sabotage Report

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
CBS News Issues
On last night's "Evening News," correspondent Sheila MacVicar reported that "Iran is continuing to make progress on its expanded efforts to enrich uranium — in spite of covert efforts by U.S. and other allied intelligence agencies to actively sabotage the country's nuclear program." You can watch the report by clicking on the video box.

Because the exclusive story discussed "covert" tactics against Iran's nuclear program, I asked MacVicar if she had concerns that airing it could have national security implications. As I noted yesterday, ABC News came under fire this week for its report on a covert operation to destabilize Iran's government.

"It was made very clear to me that the Iranians are extremely aware of foreign sabotage," MacVicar told Public Eye. "All of the players involved know what's happening, including Iran. Under the circumstances, the Iranians would be very foolish not to. Iran is very sophisticated and has very highly developed intelligence systems. Because of their reliance on the black market, they're aware that they are vulnerable and likely targets."

MacVicar said that she chose to feature the particular example that she did – a 2006 incident involving exploding power supplies – because the Iranian Atomic Energy Agency had already publicly acknowledged it and suggested that the equipment involved had been "manipulated." She said that Iranian officials believe that any and all technical problems could potentially be traced to this type of manipulation, legitimately or otherwise.

"It is the view of many observers that the Iranians are in state of heightened suspiciousness – almost paranoia, as someone said to me," she said.

MacVicar also said that there was information that she kept out of the report "because it wasn't clear to me that the Iranians had reached conclusions." She said she was not convinced that this information met the burden of proof and was reticent to use it because the impact of the operations in question was not clear.

Add a Comment
by evelyn7221 May 24, 2007 7:13 PM EDT
Antillo99 - what kind of rock are you living under?

Tehran hides behind the claim that they want nuclear power for energy purposes, but in reality all they want to do is to scare the U.S. into bilateral talks in hopes of elevating their status around the world the the level our own status.

Besides, America has no appreciation for its availability of nuclear powered energy, and that's exactly what Tehran wants. Remember which region of the globe supplies most of our oil?

They may not have any plans to actually drop the bomb, but the threat of that possibility would be enough to make the U.S. sit down and shut up like a scared little puppy, and that's exactly what they're hoping for.

Idiots like you are the kind of Americans that Al Queda members beat off to at night. Blindly following a president who ignores the voice of the UN, while still believing the propaganda that Iran dumps onto the world media.

Go read a real newspaper, dude. Seriously.
Reply to this comment
by memekiller May 24, 2007 3:58 PM EDT
Yeah, as I said, the whole "violating national security" card is a tried and true one when it comes to badgering the media into providing the coverage you want. Quite a scam they got going. The White House leaks it, and then beats you up for running with it. Watching you slapped around is about as much fun as watching the Democrats acting like they have a weak hand when they're holding all the cards.

Your poll on the front page shows you face little fallout for reporting the Whitehouse leak here, and would face little resistance to going full bore on the scandal of your choice. Everyone keeps acting like an abused wife who's afraid to venture out after he husband gets hauled off to jail.

You're free!
Reply to this comment
.

Follow Public Eye

Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
CBS News on Facebook
  • Building You a Better Morning

  • CBS This Morning

    "CBS This Morning," anchored by Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Erica Hill, airs weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m. ET and at the same time in other time zones.
    Learn more...