NY Times: Bush OK'd Global Secret Raids

Rumsfeld Penned Order Allowing Ground Forces To Invade Any Country To Go After Al Qaeda

(CBS/AP)  The U.S. military has conducted nearly a dozen secret operations against al Qaeda and other terrorist groups in Syria, Pakistan and other countries since 2004, The New York Times reported Sunday night.

Citing anonymous U.S. officials, the Times story said the operations were authorized by a broad classified order that then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld signed and President Bush approved in spring 2004. The order gave the military authority to attack al Qaeda anywhere in the world and to conduct operations in countries that were not at war with the U.S.

One such operation was an Oct. 26 raid inside Syria, the Times reported. Washington has not formally acknowledged the raid, but U.S. officials have said the target was a top al Qaeda in Iraq figure. Syria has asked for proof and said eight civilians were killed in the attack.

Sources told CBS News national security correspondent David Martin the raid targeted and killed Abu Ghadiyah, who was a senior al Qaeda in Iraq operative responsible for funneling foreign fighters and money into Iraq. A U.S. official called his death "very significant," but no proof has been offered to verify the strike's success.

The incursion prompted furious backlash in Syria, where thousands took to the streets in protest, the government demanded the closure of at least one American school, and Syria's military reportedly withdrew some of its own troops from the border with Iraq in retaliation.

In September this year a team of Navy SEALs laid siege to several buildings in a Pakistani village for at least a couple hours in the most recent, known incidence of U.S. ground forces operating inside Pakistan. At least 15 people were killed, including one militant subcommander, but many of them were civilians.

Far more common in Pakistan are the regular missile strikes by American pilotless drones, which have hit numerous suspected militant targets during the last several months, but have also angered the local population and officials who say they leave more innocent civilians dead than Taliban or al Qaeda fighters.

Pakistan's leaders have demanded a halt to the missile strike campaign, and U.S. Central Command chief Gen. David Petraeus has acknowledged the civilian death toll, but would not rule out future strikes.

The ground raids around the world have typically been conducted by U.S. Special Forces, often in conjunction with the Central Intelligence Agency, the Times said. Even though the process has been streamlined, specific missions have to be approved by the defense secretary or, in the cases of Syria and Pakistan, by the president.

A Defense Department spokesman had no comment Sunday night on the Times report.

[smurfcrusher]

Bush''s take on
"How to Win Friends and Influence People"

Not surprising this mental midget would treat the world like his personal toilet. He does the same here,* why not elsewhere?

* Bush on the US Constitution: "a ****** piece of paper"

We need to conduct War Crimes trials as soon as he is out of office.

[evian_ycnan]

Conceived by Ronald Dumbsfeld... need one say more? The stuff Tom Clancy is made of.

[nwihoosier]

Peace and Love
smurfcrusher,baby,this is a war. Haven''t figured that out yet? Dope. Maybe we should only use nerfguns. Ooooooh! your name is so violent. Dope.
Peace and Love

[ajayvee]

Republicans would give an arm and a leg for another 9/11. If no foreign country takes the bait, they will have to manufacture another one themselves.

[tincup356]

I would like to see Bush answer to jury about all his illegal actions ,disregard for any other people or their laws,and the murder for profit of thousands of American soldiers,and just flat lying to the American people for the intent of ruining our country.Bush you are a war criminal and a murderer.

[hunterdon6]

If a foreign country harbors our enemy, and does nothing about it. It is only right to take the war to them. If the terrorist were not cowards and come out and fight like men, instead of hiding in populated areas, then the innocent would not be killed.

[tincup356]

ajavee, BUSH did the 911 attack If Americans cant see through the investigation as it was a clear cover up from the word go.Concrete evidence was never produced to support the government story .coming from an administration who has been proven to have lied about almost everything they have done.Who had the most to gain from a possible attack? George Bush has made billions of personal profit through the Carlyle Group, collecting billions for a war he started,Americans this man is mentally sick, deranged to the point that he will do anything to destroy the world we live in.If any one can believe that a 757 hit the pentagon...where is the video proof? the Pentagon has more security cameras than probably any single building in the world, yet they cannot show from those cameras what hit the building? BUSHSHIT.It has all been an elaborate plot and bush knew every detail and approved.He deserves to be tried for his crimes against America and the world.

[smurfcrusher]

"Peace and Love
smurfcrusher,baby,this is a war. Haven''''t figured that out yet? Dope. Maybe we should only use nerfguns. Ooooooh! your name is so violent. Dope.
Peace and Love"

Posted by nwihoosier

Last I checked - we haven''t declared war on the rest of the world. Fool.

[bigblue1998]

Why should this bother anyone? Had the USA stayed focused on hunting down these terrorists we would have been better off and who cares were we have to go get them? I am only interested in knowing that we did and that we will not see another 9/11.

[smurfcrusher]

It bothers me that Bush''s recklessness pushes countries closer to terrorists and against us.

This has been the pattern of Bush''s actions. His misguided wars have been the most potent recruiting tool the terrorists could hope for. Nothing is more effective than the truth.

This is why after so many billions are spent, Al-Qaida is stronger and more decentralized than ever. This SHOULD concern you, too!

[mikezembill]

Where is tex

[radiob21]

Where is the "war" to change the mentality that creates terrorist? In other words where is any program that changes their minds without force to not become terrorist. There are those because of their fantantism of their "religion" "ideology" (on all sides)that will continue this war regardless what everyone needs to learn is to respect others and not agitate by force those who wish them no harm.

[radiob21]

On the lighter side can my ex wife for continuing to harass me be charged as a terrorist. Seeing her at this point is enough to create a heart attack let alone listen to her loud mouth.

[trutharrows]

Just another law to break and more people to kill for the illustrious Bush Administraion. No wonder at all why the rest of the world hates us and spends its time trying to defeat us. Bush and the Cronies that ran this country into the ground are the absolute WORST administraion ever in Ameican history.

[irmcvet97]

radiob21 - Yea good luck with that.

Posted by guyfrompa49 at 07:53 AM : Nov 10, 2008

Education worked very well in some parts of the South! There needs to be some effort put into keeping young Arabs from joining the Radical Religious Causes. The Religion isn''t important because all of them have done this.

[ajayvee]

I can hardly wait to see the names on Bush''s Presidential Pardon list come January. They will fill in lots of blanks in the history of the last 9 years. We hope that once the names are out the national press has the b*lls to do some serious digging.

[irmcvet97]

President Bush is one of the greatest Presidents of all times...

Posted by mr22587 at 07:40 AM : Nov 10, 2008

Wow! A completely failed war against people who posed NO threat to us nor had any weapons to do so, creating a safe haven for those who DID attack us while driving the nation into bankruptcy! Yeah he has so much success to point too! Whatever you are snorting sparky, stop! It''s destroying what little there is of your mind!

[irmcvet97]

PRESIDENT BUSH HAS KEPT US SAFE FOR OVER 7 YEARS. IF OBAMA REVERSES BUSH''''S POLICIES, WILL OBAMA TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE NEXT ATTACK(S)?

Posted by KristianInAL at 07:48 AM : Nov 10, 2008

Hello! Have you been living in a CAVE? We lost over 4 THOUSAND of our BEST and Brightest in a war started on LIES! We invaded a nation that had NOTHING to do with any attack on us and the Enemy used that to completely rebuild, in addition to killing MORE American''s than they could have Possibly have hoped to kill any other way! I guess you poor losers do not consider all those American''s "Real American''s" or something. Strange bunch, Bushbots! Very strange indeed!

[radiob21]

Posted by guyfrompa49
The courts will decide whether or not she can be charged as a "terrorist" although the police have already confirmed that she is definitely a suspected one.

[impeach__w]

The onle reason Bush has not been charged as a war criminal for starting a war of agression is that the he has some approval from the UN which is set to expire for operation in Iraq. He has no such international protection for any military or CIA operations in any other country that did not invite us. THIS IS ONLY ONE REASON BUSH IS A WAR CRIMINAL! THERE ARE MANY OTHER REASONS TO ADD TO THIS CHARGE.

[thechooch1]

I just wonder what the world would be like now if the current administration went after the people that actually attacked us instead of starting a war in Iraq. The Taliban and and bin Laden were in Afghanistan and we had them cornered in Tora Bora. Instead of killing them, the administration pulled our troops out and sent them to Iraq. Where is bin Laden?

[ajayvee]

thechooch1, I ask a question that preceeds yours; that goes back to the 9/11 incident, in fact. The 9/11 Commission established that the average daily absenteeism at the Twin Towers was around 400. Yet on 9.11 over 3200 did not report for work and the CIA refuses to release the list of names. Why?

[impeach__w]

He''s not in Not in Iraq or Afghanistan. He is in Pakistan where we do even have permission to be. Well done Bush You invaded AND let him get away...

[impeach__w]

ajayvee , Its the same reason the CIA/ NSA won''t release the Radio tranmissions of the Japanese Fleet coming to Attack Pearl Harbor. Only a very small fraction are acknowledged and are in the national Archives. Most of The remainder of the Japanese attack fleet communications from Dec 2 to Dec 9 are still classified. And yet history teaches us we had no prior warning of the attack. And it''s total B.S.

[evian_ycnan]

Republicans would give an arm and a leg for another 9/11. If no foreign country takes the bait, they will have to manufacture another one themselves.

Posted by ajayvee at 06:34 AM : Nov 10, 2008

Ya know, I think Tim McVeigh was a Republican. There`s 10s of thousands of potential Tim McVeighs in angry white people out there.

Maybe you`re right.

[impeach__w]

Don''t worry Isreal will do it for us at the End of This month! Put it on your calenders!

[thechooch1]

tootall1014

Better fix that keyboard, the caps lock is broke.

[impeach__w]

Yes but incursion into Laos and Cambodia was secret and ileagal and if the american population knew about it, It would have been over. Since the North had command post s in the south and The leader was living directly next door to our ambassador and embassy it was too late. Bombing the North was working just fine as would the destruction our secret govenment.

[walt1944-2009]

ONCE AGAIN, it has been revealed that the Great Emperor Bush II has been involved in something illegal!

This time the Great Emperor Bush has approved "secret" military raids into other countries looking for "terrrrrrrrrorrists", real or mostly imaginery, and with full knowledge of that other military "genius", then Secretary of "da fence", Donald "Rummy" Rumsfeld, a now WANTED war criminal in Europe!

There can be no doubt that hidden somewhere in the "lost" papers concerning this, that there is a legal brief giving the Great Emperor Bush full authority to violate other countries borders, written by the great legal mind of the Great Emperor''s court, Alberto "The Great Gonzo" Gonzales!

It''s no wonder that the entire world is mad at us with the Great Emperor of the USSA treating the world as if it belongs to HIM!!!

The last dictator who thought that way destroyed Europe and his country along with it, which, as it turns out, is exactly what the Great Emperor Bush II is doing today!!!

SIG HEIL, THE WORLD IS MINE!!!!, BUSH!!!

[inventagod2]

I still believe Bu$hCo had more to do with 9/11 than al Qaeda...
What better coverup than to blame a band of CIA-supported radicals for the Big Oil Grab?

[thechooch1]

Doesn''t it seem strange that now that w is a lame duck and going down as our worse president, he is supposedly authorizing attacks anywhere in the world where terrorist are? Why didn''t he do that right after we were attacked, and we had the whole world in our corner ready to kill those terrorists? Where is bin Laden Mr. president?

[cpelzar--2008]

Results count and we have not been attacked since 911. This is probably the reason why.

Grow up, black ops have been operating the world over for decades and should continue. We have real enemies and countries that protect these enemies of our state.

I would also bet, that congressional officials on the intelligence committees have been briefed. This is probably the source of the leaks.

[thegoodtexan]

This revelation collaborates the botched attempt by navy seals to assassinate Hugo Chavez. It is obvious that George Bush has no compunction for breaking the law, especially when oil is involved.

[cfin5]

Ahwwww,......Come on now! Liberals love the "end justifies the means" standard. If we whacked AQ, then we''re innocent. So dole out the medals to those guys!

[cpelzar--2008]

Excerpts from the Time article that CBS did not comment about below: Seems there was much thought and discussion regarding these operations and not the attack anyone at will as suggested by some members on this board.

But as many as a dozen additional operations have been canceled in the past four years, often to the dismay of military commanders, senior military officials said. They said senior administration officials had decided in these cases that the missions were too risky, were too diplomatically explosive or relied on insufficient evidence.

Several officials said the negotiations over the 2004 order resulted in closer coordination among the Pentagon, the State Department and the C.I.A., and set a very high standard for the quality of intelligence necessary to gain approval for an attack.

[liberalme]

I still believe Bu$hCo had more to do with 9/11 than al Qaeda...
What better coverup than to blame a band of CIA-supported radicals for the Big Oil Grab?



Posted by inventagod2 at 09:12 AM : Nov 10, 2008

I totally agree---how convenient Cheney was having "mock attack" runs, daddy Bush was having a breakfast meeting with Bin Ladens brother and watched the whole thing---there''s too many unanswered questions--and lots of logical answers in many areas of the internet!

[ajayvee]

Impeach_W wrote: This is a country of law a order
=====
In as much as I would like to agree with you, I must point out that it has become a debatable point over the past few years. One can no longer take it foregranted as one could in previous times.

[thegoodtexan]

We are a country of law and order. Try the accused and hang the guilty.

[rjs1955]

If Bush had caught bin Laden several years ago, it would have been difficult for him to press forward in Iraq and try to pi$$ off Iran, as the whole point of retribution for 9/11 would have been made, and the WMD lie about Iraq wouldn''t have stuck in the murky logic they used about the whole war on terror, but by not getting bin Laden, or not appearing able to... he kept up a foggy justification for war in the Middle East on a variety of fronts.

[ajaxtheleast]

Former prez. G. Bush checking out security detail.

"25 Blackwater people ready?"

"Ready, Mr. Bush!"

"Two helicopters ready?"

"Ready, Mr. Bush!"

"Drone ready?"

"Ready, Mr. Bush!"

"Bomb sniffer dogs?"

"Ready, Mr. Bush!"

"Three snipers?"

"Ready , Mr. Bush!"

"GREAT!,,,,,

,,,LET''S HEAD ON OUT TO MY MAILBOX!!"

[ici2i]

Yet on 9.11 over 3200 did not report for work and the CIA refuses to release the list of names. Why?

Posted by ajayvee

Maybe there''s another explanation. Did you stop to think for just a moment that the people that worked in the twin towers were in the banking industry many of whom routinely show up to work well after 9:00 in the morning? Many of these employees often work into the evening. When you think you''re on to something, we can be blinded and note see other possible explanations.

[briannorwood]

I wonder if Hillary Clinton and John McCain still think this policy is naive?

[thegoodtexan]

Bush is a war criminal and a disgrace to our country.

[cattiej]

I wonder if Bush is the anti-Christ that I read about in the Bible. So many of the happenings are in Revelations. I also wonder how his Dad, Bush Sr. feels about how people hate George Jr. and mistrust him so much. If you have a W on your car windshield, to us that means WORSE Bush and in turn the worse President in our history. Where will this guy go after January 20? We hope back to his ranch and stays there. He certainly isn''t wanted anywhere in the world to give any speech''s except perhaps to his friends in Saudia Arabia...Read the book House of Bush, House of Saud..good historial reading and a great history lession.

[cpelzar--2008]

W August 21 1998 WASHINGTON -- Dozens of U.S. cruise missiles struck targets in Afghanistan and the Sudan on Thursday in what President Clinton described as an act of self-defense against imminent terrorist plots and of retribution for the bombings of U.S. embassies in East Africa two weeks ago.

The strikes were launched from ships in the Arabian and Red Seas at dusk. It was not immediately clear whether the raids were a military success. Pentagon officials said that no Americans died but that they had no immediate estimate of other casualties or damage. Early Friday, an Islamic press agency reported 15 deaths from the bombings in Afghanistan.

The targets were identified by Pentagon officials as an extensive terrorism training complex in Afghanistan, 94 miles south of Kabul, and a factory for the building blocks of chemical weapons near Khartoum, the Sudan.

Clinton and his national security team linked both sites to Osama bin Laden, the exiled Saudi millionaire tied by U.S. intelligence to the twin bombings on Aug. 7 in Kenya and Tanzania. The bombings killed 12 Americans and nearly 300 Africans.

"Let our actions today send this message loud and clear," Clinton said in an address from the Oval Office. "There are no expendable American targets. There will be no sanctuary for terrorists."

The president made no apologies for ordering the strikes without permission from Afghanistan or the Sudan, saying, "Countries that persistently host terrorists have no right to be safe havens."

[cpelzar--2008]

The liberals position is that when Clinton does the same thing and perhaps more dangerous to civilians by launching dozens of Cruise Missiles against sovereign countries, it is OK.

When Bush orders the same actions albeit more surgical with less impact on civilians, he is a liar and war criminal.

Their devote hatred of all things George W,makes their statements weak and without prior reference and or precedent.

[cpelzar--2008]

And by the way, Clinton did the right thing as well as President Bush.

One could say the attacking of Sovereign Nations with permission was the Clinton Doctrine continued more precisely under President Bush.

[ajayvee]

To ici2i (When you think you''re on to something, we can be blinded and not see other possible explanations.) : Such a simple explanation! It makes me wonder even more why the CIA will not release the list. And again, in view of such a simple explanation as yours for the large absenteeism, it amazes me that it never crossed the mind of a single member of the 911 Commission to ask the obvious question.

[cpelzar--2008]

The president made no apologies for ordering the strikes without permission from Afghanistan or the Sudan, saying, "Countries that persistently host terrorists have no right to be safe havens."

Clinton''s stone-faced appearance marked his emergence from two days of shelter from a howling political storm. He returned to the White House on Thursday afternoon from vacation on Martha''s Vineyard, where he was trying to repair family ties damaged by his admission Monday of an intimate relationship with a White House intern.

In Sudan, President Omar el-Bashir called on his people to protest the attack, saying on television, "Sudanese people will defend themselves." Earlier, Information Minister Ghazi Salah-Eddin said the attack on what the Sudanese call a pharmaceutical plant was "a criminal act."

The leader of the Taliban leadership in Afghanistan, Mullah Mohammad Omar, condemned the bombings, saying they showed an "enmity" for the Afghan people.

Clinton presented several reasons for the decision to act swiftly and forcefully, rather than to punish bin Laden through the means of diplomacy and law. Repeatedly he said bin Laden presented an imminent threat, quoting his pledge this week to wage a war in which Americans were "all targets."

Clinton added that "key terrorist leaders" were believed to be gathering on Thursday at the compound in Afghanistan.

Clinton said he had "convincing" intelligence that bin Laden''s terrorist network was behind the embassy bombings.

[hotpaulie]

CPelzar - Yup blame everything on Clinton! Bush is innocent of everything. Are you kidding me???