U.S. supporting Sunni extremism?

**Adrian II** · 03-28-2007, 23:55

Seymour Hersh, the man who brought us light divertissements from My Lai (1968) right up to Abu Ghraib, is at it again. He says that a cabal centred around Vice-President Dick Cheney, including two gentlemen formerly involved in the Iran-Contra affair, are plying their old tricks again with yet more illegal funding. 'Redirection' is the name of the game, and it's essentially a ploy to pit U.S. supported and/or financed Sunni extremists against Shia extremists.

I won't vouch for what he says. But if it's true, remember you were notified in the Backroom first.

Seymour M. Hersh, The Redirection, The New Yorker, March 5, 2007

**Fisherking** · 03-29-2007, 08:25

Okay, this is just as clear as Alex Jones. Conspiracies are unlikely but who knows.

**rory_20_uk** · 03-29-2007, 08:29

Considering the CIA and MI6 supplied the Taleban it seems to be credible.

Secular democracy might be the ideal, but better a bloody civil war than all ganged up against us.

**Geoffrey S** · 03-29-2007, 09:35

If the conclusion is drawn that it is best to abandon Iraq it would be in their best interests to leave behind either a stable democracy, or failing that as much of a chaos as possible.

**BDC** · 03-29-2007, 10:20

It's all fun and games until they sort out their differences and use their American-funded training to organise a worldwide terrorist movement that blows up American buildings. We've seen that before somewhere...

**Fragony** · 03-29-2007, 10:21

Wouldn't surprise me really, with so many groups, pick one. Not very nice of course but not nice isn't very new either.

**English assassin** · 03-29-2007, 11:07

What the Sunnis need is a strong leader, someone who can keep all the other factions in check. Particularly the Shias and their Iranian puppet masters. Possibly we might have to provide covert support to aid him in his work.

Hmm, where might we have found such a man?

**Watchman** · 03-29-2007, 11:18

?

**Fragony** · 03-29-2007, 11:21

Originally Posted by Watchman

?

Bad joke, poorly executed

**BDC** · 03-29-2007, 11:42

I was thinking a certain chap named Osama, but yeah, get it now with the head on the gallows.

*feels ashamed*

**Philippus Flavius Homovallumus** · 03-29-2007, 12:27

Well actually they were both our "golden boys" at one point.

That's fashion for you.

**Watchman** · 03-29-2007, 13:08

And jilted lovers can be notoriously ornery down the road.

**KafirChobee** · 03-29-2007, 21:14

The article was a bit winded, and vague in some ponts. But, his conclusion that the adimistrations strategy of redirection or misdirection is based on the handling of Iran-Contra does lend some credence to his proposition - especially since the same players seem to be involved. But, who will play Ollie North this time?

**Adrian II** · 03-29-2007, 21:34

Originally Posted by KafirChobee

But, who will play Ollie North this time?

This year's Ollie would be deputy national-security adviser Elliott Abrams. Bypass Man will carry the Bible and chocolate cake.

Yeah, the piece is very badly written.