Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.

US Challenges Report on Secret Military Operations in Iran
----------------------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=B070C4:2AB91D3

The New Yorker magazine says  Bush administration sent secret
commando teams into Iran to pick out nuclear, chemical and missile
sites that could be destroyed by airstrikes and commando raids U.S.
officials have strongly challenged a report that the United States is
carrying out secret reconnaissance missions in Iran to identify
targets for possible military strikes.

The U.S. Defense Department, in a statement Monday, said the article
is "so riddled with errors of fundamental fact" that it has no
credibility.

The story in The New Yorker magazine says the Bush administration has
sent secret commando teams into Iran to pick out nuclear, chemical and
missile sites that could be destroyed by airstrikes and commando
raids.

The article was written by veteran journalist Seymour Hersh, who
exposed the abuse of Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib prison last year.
Mr. Hersh cites a former high-level intelligence official and a U.S.
government consultant as sources for the story.

White House Communications Director Dan Bartlett said Mr. Hersh's
story is "riddled with inaccuracies" with some conclusions not based
on fact.


.