What's shocking is the US meddling in Iran.

As they should, but I trust Ron Paul a lot more than Romney and Tancredo to do the right job. And I think Ghouliani should wake up and realize what happens when U.S. policy is akin to poking a hornets nest with a short stick(and then he should apologize to Ron Paul!)!!

These two will say anything to grab a vote! We've got two wars going and now the blunderer-in-chief wants to get us into a third one! We have a right to know and these two clowns should keep their opnions to themselves!

Isn't the now not-so-covert action against Iran a declaration of war? This is insane! I think that Ron Paul is right about foreign policy! Sickening...

If it were such sensitive information, and would put the lives of Americans in jeopardy, then the person leaking it should be prosecuted, however, It sounds like the it's part of the propaganda they claim was authorized. It should be interesting to see how this one plays out.

Well, I can't understand why everyone is so up in arms at ABC for playing the traitor once again. They lead the pack in aid and comfort to the enemy. If they had been around when their hero FDR was running the country in 1943 he would have had them all put in prison or shot for their treasonous acts.

"What's shocking is the US meddling in Iran."

THAT'S a laugh! How do you think the Shah came to power?

Where were these two republican concerns about national security when Valarie Plume name was leaked. What hypocrisy!!!

While I don't like Romney and Tancredo, I think they have a point here. When I first read the story today before this artical was on the page I thought to myself that it didn't seem right that ABC is reporting about a covert operation. I don't know of any other country that would post national secrets and give away their plans. Plus it is putting american lives at risk!

I am surprised that such a provocative covert program could be exposed in the media like this. This is considered a wartime policy, so you would think the media would show some discretion. I disagree with Bill though... the old "they will leave us alone if we leave them alone" argument has long been proven to be hogwash. There are too many unresolved animosities (namely, the CIA action that removed Mossadegh and replaced him with the Shah, which we have forgotten about but the Iranians haven't) that continue to fuel current tensions.

Iran already knew what's going on. The whole purpose of this report is part of ABC's ongoing plan to tattle on anything this Republican administration is doing. They want so badly to bring Bush down. Bush could have saved the lives of a family of 6 from a burning home and ABC's headline would be "Bush Allows Home of Family of Six to Burn Down".

Bush is a war criminal and our people deserve to know how evil and how much destruction he is causing.

Is it any wonder so much of the world hate us?

Bush sucks! This is outrageous. We are failing in Iraq with those poor servicement and women losing their lives because W thinks his experience and reasoning is above the generals and experts who he summarily ignores. Now he wants to attack Iran---maybe I am wrong but it smells like an agenda. I really do not think that Bush and company care about the U.S. and the democrats seem to be helping them. I AM voting for Ron Paul--the only honest man out there!

The greatest threat to this country is "the enemy within".
At least we know who they are - all the three letter networks - who don't give a damn about national security. Covert? what's that?

you folks are insane. get over bush and think america first. reports like this undermine the u.s ...i don't care who is president.

I still think this is all part of a master plan. In no way, whatsoever, will the CIA allow this information to be leaked if they didn't want it to. There is a method to their madness, i'm sure. Don't misconstrue my post as one of that of a Bush supporter. I think the Bush family ar all shady bastards with Bush Sr being the shadiest of them all. Remember, he was head of the CIA before becoming president. You don't get to that position without stepping on a few hands.

I'm getting sidetracked here. Anyway, like i was saying, my opinion is that they intended on ABCnews letting this out. Don't worry people. Our gov't isn't THAT stupid!

Whomever leaked this to you guys should be tried for treason! I am sick and tired of the disgruntled people in our government leaking sensitive information to the media and the Justice Department doing nothing about it! You are all traitors to our country. No wonder we can't win the war. You all are going to lose it for us.

My guess is that the CIA has been in Iran since the day the Shah fell. Regardless of who is president, they seem to do their own thing. ABC's probably part of a CIA misinformation campaign to get us gullible people to beleive one thing while they do something completely different.

The demise of American Patriotism will be the demise of America if something doesn't change. Are people getting paid to "leak" information to the press? If so, that's TREASON!! If the CIA can't control their secret "intelligence" information any better than that, what good are they?? Someone needs to go to jail for leaking and someone needs to go to jail for distributing sensitive information to our enemies. And the Press as a whole needs to either become Pro-American or move to Iran and see how much "freedom" they will have!! If the American People want to continue to have a Free Country, they had better wake up and make some changes in the Government "of the people, by the people and for the people". Washington definitely resembles the "Keystone Cops" these days!!!

It becomes clear that this deliberate "leak" came directly from the CIA and/or the Whitehouse. I sense Dick Cheney's hand pulling the strings once again.

The publication of forthcoming covert military operations in a time of war is treason. Mindless, despicable treason. And, had you consciences unblistered by the bitter liberalism which infects your news organization, you would be so very, very ashamed.

Isnt it funny that all this info was "leaked" the same day we send a huge fleet to the gulf.

There is a difference between those things the government is hiding and those it is protecting. If only the media could learn the difference.

At this point in US history, if my government engages in acts that may start another war, I want to know about it! Thanks ABC. It takes guts to shine light where there is a dark shroud of secrecy. It is far too risky and irresponsible to be conducting activities such as these when we might really paint ourselves into a corner if we sparked a war since Iran will make the Strait of Hormuz too dangerous for tanker traffic. This would cut off 40% of the worlds oil supply! We need to stop surrendering to fear and speak the truth loudly!

"Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness." George Washington

Funny that Republicans are using this story for a photo opp.

As if the Iran didn't think we would try to send spies into their country.

It would be incredibly dumb for Iran to think we wouldn't.

I want to know everything a can about what our government is doing, the White House especially.

I know alot of you think that ABC should report all this crap it's only national security, but it was too bad that they didn't have the information back in June of 1944. There was a bit of news that Germany probably would have liked to have. But they are making up for that loss.

I was shocked to hear ABC News report this information yesterday in that the media should NOT be reporting leaked wartime strategies for all of the world to know. It is irresponsible journalism, regardless of whether or not the White House failed to request that it be "kept quiet". Iran (and N. Korea for that fact) is very dangerous threat and should be dealt with sooner rather than later. The US is trying to do so without committing combat forces. The negative ramifications of ABC News's actions will never be known to the average American. This is typical of the left-wing media- anything to destroy the strength and independence of this great country we live in. I can only hope the leak was part of someone in the Administration's well-orchistrated plan.

Look at all these idiots screaming "treason! treason!" because ABC reported a story the government obviously wanted made public. Where were you nitwits when REAL treason was committed by the Bush White House when Valerie Plame, a covert CIA agent's identity was leaked to Robert Novak and reported in the news? You morons need to know what treason actually is, before you accuse ABC of it! Typical right wing, Fox News watching nitwits!

Iran's leadership needs to go. Islamo-Fascism needs to be eliminated. Stand behind our troops or stand in front of them.

I have said it before and I will say it again, the press should just give all our secerts out the the world. this way when we fall as a country they can report on that as well. Idiots.

I do not know why the our nation chose to release the information or why ABC chose to publish that information, but there must be a reason. I believe president Bush is clearly informing the Iranians to return to negotiations before it is to late.

As a citizen I led a citizen group who was a benefiting party to the Fifth Republic of France dismissal of their nuclear weapons testing program at the atolls Fangataufa and Mururoa Tuamotu archipelago, South Pacific which on our part I closed on January 24, 1996. The Mururoa atoll witnessed 163 explosions while Fangataufa, 40 kilometers away, was the site of 12 of those tests. At that time the French representative contact was, Consul General Antoine Frasseto, located at the French Consulate in Honolulu, Hawaii (since closed); New Zealand Consulate, located in Los Angeles, California, Consul General Terry Baker; U.S. FBI; U.S. State Department; U.S. President; State of Hawaii, et al.

Closure statement in part read:
From research reports we know planet Earth has been coated with spent radioactive materials and its fissile, nuclear weapons testing and the inearthsatmospheric breakup of space nuclear power sources;

from all medical findings it is known nuclear  radioactive nucli presents a clear danger to humans;
it is my instinctive belief, that nuclear coating, along with nuclear, waste dumping sites, laboratories, production facilities, power plants, etc., present a "clear and present" danger to our current generation, and collective, all future generations;
therefore, beyond being placed in danger, my tranquilly and its instincts are damaged, and here I do not hold France's government as the sole responsible party.

"Through the release of atomic energy, our generation has brought into the world the most revolutionary force since prehistoric man's discovery of fire. This basic force of the universe cannot be fitted into the outmoded concept of narrow nationalisms. For there is no secret and there is no defense; there is no possibility of control except through the aroused understanding and insistence of the peoples of the world. We scientists recognize our inescapable responsibility to carry to our fellow citizens an understanding of atomic energy and its implication for society. In this lies our only security and our only hope  we believe that an informed citizenry will act for life and not for death." [Sic,A. Einstein, January 22, 1947.]

The Fifth Republic of France did the responsible act and ended their testing early and returned to the negotiations.

Get off your soap box Dems! Both sides in Washington have continued to fail America for some time.

I agree that this is nothing more than misinformation or a possible setup to find a mole.

Don’t pacify yourselves America and stop having a short attention span. The greater threat against us isn’t going away tomorrow, and Iran’s helping to support it.

Treason was not committed with V Plame. She was not covert at the time of the revealing, which was not done by anybody in the Bush administration. No news agency is perfectly balanced, but I choose the one that supports America vs any other that just looks to bring America down due to political beliefs.

Let's see ... when I hear the word 'covert', I think "secret", "kept
under wraps" ... Hmmmm

And if Iran did that the the United States we would call it act of terrorism!

Can't anything be left secret? I was shocked and surprised that of all the news station ABC News said anything. Are they completely insane. That information could kill more of our men in Iraq.What were they thinking or I just they were not thinking. In the old days the public were kept in the dark for a reason. Everything is not to be told. What is wrong with ABC? Are they completely stupid or what?
Now they have told our enemy what we are doing.
THIS COULD BE THE TURNING POINT NOT JUST IN IRAQ BUT EVERY WHERE WE ARE.

The United States already screwed up Iraq, why screw up Iran?

This is ridiculous! Sure the informer broke the law, but how about ABC! The leak was made by ABC! Whether you are for or against the war, citizens of the United States are still Americans, and accelerating a leak, which I'm sure was coaxed along, from one meeting to a worldwide audience is an act of treason and works against our soldiers on the ground. ABC is scoring baskets for the enemy, an enemy developing nuclear weapons, an enemy supplying weapons that kill our soldiers, an enemy that has denied the Holocaust and has knowingly committed genocide. ABC = TERRORISM!

Thank you ABC for updating the American people on this reckless act by Dubya to destory another country.

People should be upset w/ bush who again use war or terror rather than diplomacy to resolve an issue.

What's all this about wartime strategy being given to the enemy? Since when are we at war with Iran? I guess since the Bushies refuse to try diplomacy, the only option they have left is covert operations. This is a direct result of the administration's shoot first, ask questions later approach to international problems.

There has never been an administration in our history that has abused the privelege of keeping something "secret" the way this one has.

Until we get some rational adults in charge in Washington, they have lost the privelege from the public to a right of secrecy.

Keep digging, ABC! It's too little and too late to avert most of the damage these dangerous idealogues have foisted upon this country, but if it keeps these guys on their toes over the last two years they are in office, it will be worth it!

ABC, you and other left minded libs don't seem to understand that sometimes you have to do things that are not very nice in order for the betterment of the country. You should not have every aired this. This is why people are turning away from the drive-by media. We as a people want our interests as a COUNTRY, looked upon first. All you care about is getting ratings,reguardless of who you step on. Im sure that once we get hit by a nuke from a terror cell, you will report that Bush is to blame because of the war in Iraq. The truth is that Islamo-Fascists hate anybody that is not a true muslim. That means that both you and I are going to loose our heads if we don't start standing behind our Pres. and troops. Im tired of the left vs right. What ever happened to the right vs wrong. What you did was very wrong.

Read the book "Blow Back" it will help people understand who convert actions by the CIA have always come back to haunt us years later.

ABC is right on! Ron Paul is right on! All those wannabes who are for this police action, meddling to destabilize, wasting the treasury, and our men and women will with their agenda, continue driving us (US) to perdition. An open minded person.

To "me"...

You're right about looking after the best interests of our country. The question is whether it's in our interest to try to destabilize a perceived enemy (and end up with another Vietnam and Iraq), or work together to resolve problems. Us vs. Them has never worked.

I think it is horrible that this country has people in the media that would leak a story like this. As soon as ABC read in their 'report' that this was a covert action... They should have never released the story. I think this is Treasonist and should be prosecuted.

Wow, how convenient that this happened on the same day as "Navy Stages Show of Force Off Iran Coast" and "US forces find Iranian money in Baghdad raid" headlines. All in the same day. Such irony.

A wise press is one that doesn't report all it knows if it puts our country in danger. Do you really think Iran is our friend? "loose lips sink ships" is one of the WWII slogans we learn in the "40's". President Bush is not the enemy.

We, along with the rest of the world, i.e UN have tried to resolve the problem, i.e sanctions. They are not working. So now we must move to the next step of tactics. Unfortunately ABC has stopped this from occuring, and potentially caused far more bloodshed by this leak. Again I say, ABC, stop trying to destroy Bush and look at what you actually doing to the greatest country in the World.

Mike,

Most Americans do understand our place in the world. Problem is, the guy that the majority of us voted for got shafted.

Well Annis, I guess if not wanting to get into another Iraq somehow equates to the downfall of the US, then yes, you're right. I see it a bit differently. An open government means a good government, one that is of the people, by the people and for the people. But, that's just me. I know, silly.

I was a bit shocked when I first heard the headline. The Republican hopefuls did not, however, get past the headline. If that is how they propose to make judgments upon becoming president we would be faring no better than the current inept administration. The "covert" action was nothing more than propoganda using radio, leaflets, etc. to sow discord among the populace about their Iranian government. This is not covert action in the sense of having feet on the ground in Iran---We've been doing that for years and years. I think we should be careful about upsetting another gevernemtn right now----but-----I don't think lives are endangered by this reporting.

To the policy makers at ABC News

Bravo! You are regaining the confidence of news watcher. Admittedly, you played the capon for quite a while,
sycophants and suckers-up to the Bush agenda.

Now, about Romney and Tancredo, I shouldn't worry. They have spent the past 6 years pandering to the Neo-cons. Where was their righteous indignation during the Plame Scandal. Perhaps the voters will terminate their mandate as well.

Relax, everybody. Iran is (as in was, has been and will always be) the single favourite nation of ours to meddle in. Far from being a surprise, this is historical fact.

to max...

As I have already stated, if you know anything about the "Plame scandal", then you know that it wasn't a scandal at all. She was not in a classified position, she was working at a desk. He husband outed her. All you libs are so quick to jump on the V Plame deal. There was no scandal there, there is here. Somebody from the CIA and ABC should be arrested for treason against their own country. They are also aiding and abeding (not sure if I spelled that right) an enemy. Bush had nothing to do with V Plame. Get all the info first, then start spewing it once you got the facts right.

This stuff started in the 1950s when Iran nationalized their oil and the CIA stepped in and installed the shah. It is the reason they hate us, it is the reason there are terrorists who seek to destroy us, and it is this pigheaded moronic approach to foreign relations that is going to kill more Americans, not ABC News.

I wonder why they weren't upset when a CIA agent was ratted out by someone.

Oh wait that is because it fit their agenda. My fault for thinking that they were concerned about America.

No guys we will not allow you to fool us again. The family value party of god is just a bunch of lies.

wow, very interesting.

All you people comparing this incident to WWII have a slight problem... WWII was, by definition, a war. One that involved a true coalition of nations fighting a common enemy, one who invaded nations and killed innocent civilians. This incident involves a nation that we, as far as I know, are not at war with. We have no business performing covert destabilization actions in Iran. The American people (and indeed, the world) have every right to know what this government is doing abroad in their name.

As they should, but I trust Ron Paul a lot more than Romney and Tancredo to do the right job. And I think Ghouliani should wake up and realize what happens when U.S. policy is akin to poking a hornets nest with a short stick(and then he should apologize to Ron Paul!!!)

=)

I don't know why ABC, NBC, CBS are broadcasting such stories when they should keep their mouths shut. Who are they working for. The other countries. People come on!!! I am so tired of them getting information and broadcasting when they shouldn't all because of the so called story. I have a son in Iraq and I get so mad when they start in about Iraq. The need to remember they live in a great Nation and do have freedom of speech, but I think they carry it a little to far.

Deb

I don't know why ABC, NBC, CBS are broadcasting such stories when they should keep their mouths shut. Who are they working for. The other countries. People come on!!! I am so tired of them getting information and broadcasting when they shouldn't all because of the so called story. I have a son in Iraq and I get so mad when they start in about Iraq. They need to remember they live in a great Nation and do have freedom of speech, but I think they carry it a little to far. And my Son has not been there once but 3 times. He cares so deeply about this country. I wish others did///////

Deb

Two Republican presidential candidates today criticized the ABC News report Tuesday about the CIA's covert plan to destabilize the Iranian regime.

"I was shocked to see the ABC News report regarding covert action in Iran," Mitt Romney said as he opened a session with reporters in Tulsa, Okla.

Congressman Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., called for an investigation into who leaked the information and "condemned" ABC News for "running the story which could jeopardize American lives."

The ABC News story reported that President Bush had given the CIA authorization to conduct a nonlethal covert action against Iran involving propaganda, disinformation and the manipulation of Iran's international banking transactions.

"The reporting has the potential of jeopardizing our national security. To put it quite plainly, it has the potential of affecting human life, we may never know," Romney said.

Romney said he had called ABC News president David Westin to register his concerns.

In a statement ABC News said, "In the six days since we first contacted the CIA and the White House, at no time did they indicate that broadcasting this report would jeopardize lives or operations on the ground. ABC News management gave them the repeated opportunity to make whatever objection they wanted to regarding our report. They chose not to."

ABC News said, "This piece was very carefully reported, and it puts solid facts on the table concerning a crucial foreign policy challenge facing the United States and the world."

Deb,

The question you should be asking is why your son is in Iraq in the first place? This is a war without meaning (except for those able to profit from it) that has no clear goals and no end in sight. Even if we won (and who defines "winning"?), what would that mean?

Of course, many people here are missing the point. Iran is a totalitarian regime, and the dissident cause within its borders will be severely damaged by leaking this information. The dissidents will now lose credibility with the rest of the population, giving the regime more free reign to do whatever they want to the dissidents as "Traitors to the motherland." The regime can now attack ALL opposition as an American CIA plot and be totally believed by fence-sitters within Iran. Shame on ABC for leaking this information and strengthening a totalitarian regime. Ever read 1984???

If Rudy had any guts at all -- or any respect for the American People -- he would take 30 minutes or more and debate Ron Paul.

Apparently he is afraid his ideas will not hold-up if subject to intelligent analysis and debate.

But, wait...is intelligent analysis and debate now considered unpatriotic?

Anything and everything the liberal media (including ABC) can say to make President Bush even remotely look bad WILL be said. Conversely, nothing good will ever be said.

They don't really care if it will hurt the country and certainly don't care at all if it MAY hurt the country. After all, way more important then some minor concern, like national security, is to make Bush look bad, the Republicans look bad, and get a leftist in office.

This "political gain at any cost" behavior is revolting and deserves swift and severe punishment.

It is time the Democrat's get off their lazy butts and impeach Bush and Cheney before they start WWIII.

The acts described constitute acts of provocation if not acts of war against Iran. As the war powers are vested in Congress, Bush has exceeded his authority and it is he who is placing America's national security in jeopardy by this covert action. ABC should be commended for reporting this aggression. It just might save us from being dragged into another war while Bush blames Iran for the belligerence of which he in fact is guilty.

I wonder if this isn't a Rovian political stunt to try to get support for this whitehouse and an attempt to show the Democrats and the media as traitors.

Kinda like what was done with the Texas Nationalguards Letters about GW service records that were retyped with modern printers to discredit any copies of the originals if they ever showed up.

Wasn't that ABC that took the bait on that one also????

"This "political gain at any cost" behavior is revolting and deserves swift and severe punishment."

Great - when is fat-boy Rove going to jail?

I don't believe it is about bringing the US's downfall, if it were, then the current policies and representatives are doing an examplary performance to their own credit.
It is not a democratic thing or a republican thing, the democrats gave W what he wanted. And the Repubicans are its strongest supporters.
Jingoists just like wrong doers always want to keep it going as well does protest exposure and the truth.
Why can't we get along? (rhetorical).
I believe RIGHT MAKES MIGHT, NOT MIGHT-Makes-Right. It is a subtle distinction which many just don't get.
Leaders always start wars to show the people they are their leaders. Did this president say he wanted to be a wartime president?

Totalitarian regime? Hmmm... let's see, a president who wasn't elected and a vice president who is in the pockets of a few greedy corporations and who is willing to protect those corporations at the expense of American servicemen, a government that secretly spies on its citizens, and that detains them on flimsy (if any) evidence, a justice system that turns a blind eye to constitutional law and due process, and a legislature that is more interested in maintaing the status quo than in representing the will of its people. Yup, sounds like a totalitarian regime to me.

My son is in Iraq because he is fighting for our freedom. Have you forgotten about 9-11, guess so. You sound like you have. He joined the Army in 2000, not ready for this but is fighting for you, me and all the other americans out there. Well are you american? Don't come at me because I have a wonderful son that would fight for the country, His wife, his Daughter, His mother, and a whole lot of others out there. Maybe you should join the Armed Services. You sure sound like you need to find out what this country is all about. I won't responed anymore because you do not know what it is like and probably never will. I bet you are not even from our great country.

Deb

Won't be the first time the White House has leaked sensitive material to the press which put lives in danger to gain a couple of points in the polls.

Deb, the issue is not your son's patriotism and willingness to fight for his country. The issue is why his president and government are asking him to risk his life in THIS war, which has no relationship to 911.

And by the way, I am from this country and have served proudly in the Armed Services. That, however, doesn't mean that I should blindly follow a leader who is clearly going down the wrong path.

Let me see if I got this right: "outing" a CIA employee (not an operative--bad, revealing a secret operation--good.

Rosta,

Too late. The covert operations have already begun here. Bush & Co. are already spying on you. I guess the media should have kept their mouths shut about that, too. Might have saved a few lives, or at least a few neo-con jobs.

And let's don't forget the reason WHY Plame was outed... as a vendetta against her husband. Neo-cons can justify their leaking of information when it serves their needs but cry foul when it doesn't. Hmmm...

Who should be responsible for leaking the information? The news that prints it or the people that teel. Answer: Both. Wake up people. If this was going on during WWII we would all be speaking German.

Dave,

How many times do we have to say it? We are not at war with Iran. If Bush & Co. can justify the covert operations, then let them declare a war against Iran. Oh right, I forgot, there's no justification for declaring war on Iran.

rv -- Love your notion about what constitutes a totalitarian regime, e.g., an unelected President.

Here is how I identify a totalitarian regime:

It hangs dissidents from trees.

It executes people who leave Islam and publicly convert to Christianity.

It sentences 17-year-old girls to hanging for defending themselves against rapists.

ETC.