Seeking Iran Intelligence, U.S. Tries Google

The Washington Post ^ | December 11, 2006 | Dafna Linzer

[StilettoRaksha]

When the State Department recently asked the CIA for names of Iranians who could be sanctioned for their involvement in a clandestine nuclear weapons program, the agency refused, citing a large workload and a desire to protect its sources and tradecraft.

Frustrated, the State Department assigned a junior Foreign Service officer to find the names another way -- by using Google. Those with the most hits under search terms such as "Iran and nuclear," three officials said, became targets for international rebuke Friday when a sanctions resolution circulated at the United Nations.

Policymakers and intelligence officials have always struggled when it comes to deciding how and when to disclose secret information, such as names of Iranians with suspected ties to nuclear weapons.

But that argument can also put the U.S. government in the awkward position of relying, in part, on an Internet search to select targets for international sanctions.

None of the 12 Iranians that the State Department eventually singled out for potential bans on international travel and business dealings is believed by the CIA to be directly connected to Iran's most suspicious nuclear activities

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

I'm willing to bet that the Google search probably gave more accurate information than the CIA ever would from its own resources, given how they've systematically destroyed their ability to collect HUMINT.

[CottShop]

Hahahaha- 'seeking Iran intelligence'- Yup, google 'iran intelligence' and you'll come up empty- aint no intelligence in Iran (talking about hteir government- not the good citizens-) http://sacredscoop.com

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://www.cia.gov

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1747324/posts?page=490#490