Juan Cole explains the whole neocon conspiracy re:Franklin

[Nancy Waterman]

If the media pushes this, we will have a big explosion for sure. The neocons (Franklin, et al) purposely sabotaged improved relations with Iran, planning for eventual war with Iran, so that Iran would not be able to retaliate or attack Israel when the Palestinians are expelled. This is just an incredible connecting of the dots and should be sent to all media outlets.

http://www.juancole.com/

So it transpires that the Iranians were willing to give up 5 key al-Qaeda operatives, whom they had captured, in return for MEK members.

Franklin, Rhode and Ledeen conspired with Ghorbanifar and SISMI to stop that trade. It would have led to better US-Iran relations, which they wanted to forestall, and it would have damaged their proteges, the MEK.

Since high al-Qaeda operatives like Saif al-Adil and possibly even Saad Bin Laden might know about future operations, or the whereabouts of Bin Laden, for Franklin and Rhode to stop the trade grossly endangered the United States.

The FBI has evidence that Franklin passed a draft presidential directive on Iran to AIPAC, which then passed it to the Israelis. The FBI is construing these actions as espionage or something close to it. But that is like getting Al Capone on tax evasion. Franklin was not giving the directive to AIPAC in order to provide them with information. He was almost certainly seeking feedback from them on elements of it. He was asking, "Do you like this? Should it be changed in any way?" And, he might also have been prepping AIPAC for the lobbying campaign scheduled for early in 2005, when Congress will have to be convinced to authorize military action, or at least covert special operations, against Iran. AIPAC probably passed the directive over to Israel for the same reason--not to inform, but to seek input. That is, AIPAC and Israel were helping write US policy toward Iran, just as they had played a key role in fomenting the Iraq war.

With both Iraq and Iran in flames, the Likud Party could do as it pleased in the Middle East without fear of reprisal. This means it could expel the Palestinians from the West Bank to Jordan, and perhaps just give Gaza back to Egypt to keep Cairo quiet. Annexing southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, the waters of which Israel has long coveted, could also be undertaken with no consequences, they probably think, once Hizbullah in Lebanon could no longer count on Iranian support. The closed character of the economies of Iraq and Iran, moreover, would end, allowing American, Italian and British companies to make a killing after the wars (so they thought).

Franklin's movements reveal the contours of a rightwing conspiracy of warmongering and aggression, an orgy of destruction, for the benefit of the Likud Party, of Silvio Berlusconi's business in the Middle East, and of the Neoconservative Right in the United States. It isn't about spying. It is about conspiring to conscript the US government on behalf of a foreign power or powers.

[Nancy Waterman]

1. Bump

This is a huge, huge story!!

[acmavm]

2. So, another right-wing conspiracy goes unpunished? Undermining the

government of this country to press forward the interests of Israel, Berlusconi, and the already discredited neo-con agenda to the detriment of the American people gets a pass? I sincerely hope not, but I don't know who will bring them to justice.

Stupid stupid people in this country. They're 'cutting their noses off to spite their faces' as my great-grandmother used to say. And then, when they find themselves wallowing in poverty fighting eternal wars for these horrible excuses for human beings, who will they blame? Because they're just too damn ignorant to know that it's the fault of the supporters (themselves) of this administration, and it's cowardly leaders.

[jimshoes]

3. This could make Watergate look like

a third rate burglary! :evilgrin: This is beyond big.

[enough]

4. Glad to see this posted again.

There was a thread on this article posted by elfin earlier today, but it died out too soon in all the excitement of the protest.

This is a very important article, and you have highlighted one of the most explosive excerpts.

I hope everyone will read the whole article. We are going to have to be vigilant to keep the focus on this subject during the next weeks.

Nominating for home page.

[Nancy Waterman]

5. Bump!!

Cole has connected the dots for us and the story needs to be spread.

Here is the Josh Marshall part:

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0410.marshall.html

His focus is more on a rogue element in the DoD, running without the consent of CIA, WH or even top DoD.

[enough]

6. Kick for the evening crowd.

Gotta read this. NOW.

[Classical_Liberal]

7. Very interesting. This Juan Cole is somethin! n/t

n/t