Syria in Bush's Crosshairs - Time/CNN

[applegrove]

Syria in Bush's Crosshairs
Exclusive: A classified document suggests the Administration is considering a plan to fund political opposition to the Damascus government. Some critics say it would be an unwarranted covert action
By ADAM ZAGORIN/WASHINGTON
Posted Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2006
Time/CNN

"The Bush Administration has been quietly nurturing individuals and parties opposed to the Syrian government in an effort to undermine the regime of President Bashar Assad. Parts of the scheme are outlined in a classified, two-page document which says that the U.S. already is "supporting regular meetings of internal and diaspora Syrian activists" in Europe. The document bluntly expresses the hope that "these meetings will facilitate a more coherent strategy and plan of actions for all anti-Assad activists."

The document says that Syria's legislative elections, scheduled for March 2007, "provide a potentially galvanizing issue for... critics of the Assad regime." To capitalize on that opportunity, the document proposes a secret "election monitoring" scheme, in which "internet accessible materials will be available for printing and dissemination by activists inside the country and neighboring countries." The proposal also calls for surreptitiously giving money to at least one Syrian politician who, according to the document, intends to run in the election. The effort would also include "voter education campaigns" and public opinion polling, with the first poll "tentatively scheduled in early 2007."

American officials say the U.S. government has had extensive contacts with a range of anti-Assad groups in Washington, Europe and inside Syria. To give momemtum to that opposition, the U.S. is giving serious consideration to the election- monitoring scheme proposed in the document, according to several officials. The proposal has not yet been approved, in part because of questions over whether the Syrian elections will be delayed or even cancelled. But one U.S. official familiar with the proposal said: "You are forced to wonder whether we are now trying to destabilize the Syrian government."

Some critics in Congress and the Administration say that such a plan, meant to secretly influence a foreign government, should be legally deemed a "covert action," which by law would then require that the White House inform the intelligence committees on Capitol Hill. Some in Congress would undoubtedly raise objections to this secret use of publicly appropriated funds to promote democracy.

.........SNIP"

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1571751,00.html

[aquart]

1. STOP HIM.

Syria is also governed by a minority sect. It could split wide open just like Iraq.

Jesus H. Christ. Is George a foreign agent? He is actively working to destroy us.

[bianca2001]

3. It makes one wonder,

doesn't it?

I have also been mulling in my mind why the so-called 'sectarian atro-
cities' have excalated so much since Negroponte got to be in charge.

Is anyone else having 'deja-vu' about this?

[Jackpine Radical]

4. Nicaragua-Vu.

[applegrove]

5. Like they want to agitate every country in the middle east..drawing out

the radical Islamists and elites...and then make each country choose: either black or white. Like each country will have to have a fight for democracy on the WH timeline. The radical Islamists will all call each other. The entrenched elites will either have to disown the radical islamists or fight the "West". Seems today like the War in Iraq has just gotten bigger all of a sudden. And by exhausting each country with war and sectarian violence...the neocons want the next generation of middle east kids..the generation that is so huge in numbers..to be peaceniks. Like how two world wars ended the idea of War in Europe for once and for all because for once the wars were fought on top of civilian heads instead of in some proxy state like European wars were fought in the 19th Century.

[rocktivity]

2. Him and what army?

:eyes:
rocknation

[seafan]

6. Is this Karl Rove's "election monitoring scheme"? Must be, it worked for him before.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1571751,00.html">Syria in Bush's Crosshairs

Exclusive: A classified document suggests the Administration is considering a plan to fund political opposition to the Damascus government. Some critics say it would be an unwarranted covert action

Dec. 19, 2006

The document says that Syria's legislative elections, scheduled for March 2007, "provide a potentially galvanizing issue for... critics of the Assad regime." To capitalize on that opportunity, the document proposes a secret "election monitoring" scheme, in which "internet accessible materials will be available for printing and dissemination by activists inside the country and neighboring countries."

(emphasis mine)


It's time for the federal marshals to storm the White House.