Obama the un-Bush: Ambushed, Bush-whacked, Turned into Bush-medium?………….
“The secret directive, signed in September by Gen. David H. Petraeus, authorizes the sending of American Special Operations troops to both friendly and hostile nations in the Middle East, Central Asia and the Horn of Africa to gather intelligence and build ties with local forces. Officials said the order also permits reconnaissance that could pave the way for possible military strikes in Iran if tensions over its nuclear ambitions escalate. While the Bush administration had approved some clandestine military activities far from designated war zones, the new order is intended to make such efforts more systematic and long term, officials said. Its goals are to build networks that could “penetrate, disrupt, defeat or destroy” Al Qaeda and other militant groups, as well as to “prepare the environment” for future attacks by American or local military forces, the document said. The order, however, does not appear to authorize offensive strikes in any specific countries. In broadening its secret activities, the United States military has also sought in recent years to break its dependence on the Central Intelligence Agency and other spy agencies for information in countries without a significant American troop presence. General Petraeus’s order is meant for small teams of American troops to fill intelligence gaps about terror organizations and other threats in the Middle East and beyond, especially emerging groups plotting attacks against the United States. ……..”
It looks like the Noble-winning un-Bush is being Bush-whacked by the old Washington establishment. He now looks like, oh, not Bush-lite, more like Bush medium-rare right now. But last year when he was un-Bush he did inherit the same old dangerous world that Bush and Cheney further alienated (and made a little bit more dangerous).
FYI: I am still not sure what ‘new’ things are these teams supposed to do exactly, but maybe it is better not to know. Besides, the rapacious media will publicize everything in due time, for the greater glory of television ratings, in due time. But I know that publicizing them will make life a little more difficult for any US civilians who stray across certain unfriendly borders, like the Iranian border.
Cheers
mhg
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