Secret order prepares new US wars in Middle East and Central Asia

A front-page article in Tuesday’s New York Times reveals the existence of a secret directive signed by Gen. David Petraeus, chief of the US Central Command, ordering the expansion of covert military operations throughout the Middle East, Central Asia and the Horn of Africa. The seven-page document, entitled “Joint Unconventional Warfare Task Force Execute Order,” essentially provides the US military with a blank check to carry out aggressive acts against virtually any country.

Issued in September 2009, the order calls for the creation of a network of covert task forces and intelligence-gathering units which will “penetrate, disrupt, defeat or destroy” any target within any country designated by the US military. These forces will carry out clandestine operations which “cannot or will not be accomplished” through other military means.

Once inside the targeted country, US forces will also “prepare the environment” for full-scale military assaults. In addition to military personnel, the Times reports, Petraeus’s order enlists “foreign business people, academics or others” in “persistent situational awareness” efforts—in other words, in spying.

The US will target countries considered hostile as well as countries with which it has maintained friendly relations. Among the countries cited by the Times as potential targets are Iran, Saudi Arabia and Somalia. The Times also reports that the document “appears to authorize specific operations in Iran, most likely to gather intelligence about the country’s nuclear program or identify dissident groups that might be useful for a future military offensive.”

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/may2010/petr-m26.shtml

I guarantee you, if they didn't want us to be reading about it, the NYT would've never seen it.

"they" aren't a united front on foreign policy -- or anything except keeping the serfs in their place.

leaks = political weapons.

of course, it could be as you say as well -- someone wants the serfs to see it, for whatever reason.

however, unless the story is forged from whole cloth - it existed & has only been revealed recently.

& if this story has been forged from whole cloth, then pretty much anything that can't be seen with your own eyes is suspect as well, which means much of what passes for news.

but this point is only brought up in regard to certain items -- again, as a political weapon. if the leak is supported by the faction one supports -- it's gospel, isn't it?

more here:

The top U.S. military commander in the Middle East signed a secret order last fall that set the stage for increased clandestine and covert operations against militants and other threats across the region, defense officials said Tuesday. Gen. David Petraeus signed an order in September authorizing Special Operations forces to deploy to allied and hostile nations <...>

http://www.alternet.org/rss/breaking_news/199574/petraeus_gave_secret__order_allowing_us_covert_ops_in_n._africa,_across_middle_east/

It's funny how many of these "vast conspiracies" end-up on the net.

Or maybe that all secrets are only revealed by the rich and powerful when they want to? And that anything some journalist or whistle blower says is just a PR game they play?

Maybe you are the easily duped one. Maybe your master class is not all powerful and in control of everything. Think about it. That might imply that you should weigh in, in whatever way you can, against them, rather that praising them as omnipotent.

World Socialist Web Site. Can anyone provide information?

http://socialistworker.org/blog/critical-reading/2010/05/25/secret-ops-defend-american-emp

But it also comes from a international socialist website. But that makes sense, because international socialists tend to closely track imperialist habits. Also links to NY Times.