That damn CIA. They're probably in Italy trying out this new high tech submission tool on the innocent Iranian brother.
Posted on 03/06/2007 6:23:02 PM PST by blam
Missing Iranian spy chief 'defected to West'
By Tim Butcher in Jerusalem
Last Updated: 1:53am GMT 07/03/2007
A former Iranian spy chief was suspected last night of defecting to the West, raising the prospect of a timely intelligence bonanza amid tensions with Teheran.
While the speculation was impossible to verify, it is hard to imagine a more tantalising prospect for Western intelligence agencies than the defection of General Ali Reza Azkari, who is known to have served in Lebanon in the 1990s liaising with Hizbollah.
Skilful debriefing could shed important light on Iranian arms smuggling to the Shia militia, although he would also be pressed for secrets of Iran's nuclear programme.
After days of gossip in Middle Eastern internet chat-rooms about the whereabouts of Gen Azkari, who also once served as Iran's deputy defence minister, Teheran was forced to officially confirm his disappearance.
Gen Esmaeil Ahmadi Moghaddam, the chief of Iranian police, told the state news agency that Gen Azkari, 63, had gone missing last month during an official visit to Turkey.
He tried to put the most positive spin on the development by suggesting that Gen Azkari had been kidnapped by foreign agents.
He said that Iran had officially requested Turkey's help in tracking him.
But there was growing speculation that Gen Azkari had requested asylum in the West, most likely America.
Citing "informed sources", the London-based Arabic newspaper Asharq al-Awsat said Gen Azkari had defected to the United States.
Menashe Amir, an Israeli analyst of Iranian affairs, claimed to have information that the Azkari family had left Iran "on holiday" shortly before the general's disappearance - adding weight to the defection theory.
"According to part of the information, his wife and children managed to leave Iran before his disappearance," Mr Amir told Israel's Army Radio, without elaborating on his sources.
Gen Azkari flew to Istanbul from Damascus, the Syrian capital, and checked into a hotel. But after leaving his possessions in the room he never returned.
While it remains possible he was kidnapped by Western agencies, the defection theory appeared to be the most plausible.
He could provide key information about Iran's role in supporting the Shia militias in Iraq.
Washington has grown increasingly angry at Teheran's willingness to supply weapons and know-how to insurgents.
The stand-off over Iran's nuclear programme is underscored by a fundamental lack of good intelligence on exactly what technology Iran possesses and when it might be able to construct a nuclear weapon.
Any intelligence that would help Israel or the West to fill in those important blanks would have direct bearing on whether an armed strike were launched against Iran.
America has said that "all options remain on the table" as regards to stopping Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, which is diplomatic code for a military threat.
As would be expected for any senior spy, little is known about Gen Azkari's career. He served as deputy defence minister under the defence minister Gen Ali Samahani.
Ping
Thanks for the ping. Hopefully he can tell us in more details about the Iranian terrorist regime nuclear program and how they are supporting, financing, and arming the terrorists in Iraq and elsewhere.
After a thorough debriefing, he will be lounging under an assumed name at his new condo on Miami Beach. This guy has got to be a wealth of info.
We shouldn't get our hopes up.A good percentage of western intelligence agencies are pro 9th Century knuckledragger imams and if this defector falls under their "protection" this will not enhance regional and world peace and security one bit.
maybe too hot in the kitchen
If this guy is for real,gives us truly valuable info and Bush tries to use the info to make a case for action,we all know how the RATS will respond.
Can’t blame this guy. He has worked his way up the chain of command and finds that he is working for a thug that could take his head at any moment. Defect to the west were you can beat your head into the floor five times a day without recrimination and collect millions. Would be my choice.
And his info has got to be the key to his wealth.
http://micahhalpern.com/
The disappearance of Ali Reza Azkari is Iran's worst nightmare come to life. He is a living national resource. If Azkari is broken, if he talks, the United States and Israel will know the truth about Iran's arsenal and Iran's objectives. The United States and Israel will know the truth about the threats menacing them. They will know fact from fiction...
I cant wait for the book.....
I cant wait for the book.....
Yeah, like Lebanon, of course. The biggest problem, however, is the Iranians and Syrians already barely conceal the fact that they're stifling democracy there and waging war by proxy on the Lebanese and Israelis. And despite their blatant activity those regimes pay no significant price for their covert wars. Removing plausible denial would matter if the world were not so damned indifferent as it is.
Yes the traitors response will be well known, they will scream "Bush is lying about Iran".
Could be a plant. Before taking his output in "filling the blanks", he is to be cross-checked - and more than once - on what is already known.
Yes, the evil Mossad and CIA and the behest of Libby and coordinated by the crooked Karl Rove, kidnapped the Iranian agent while he was on the playground at the Istanbul McDonalds.
That damn CIA. They're probably in Italy trying out this new high tech submission tool on the innocent Iranian brother.
Thanks for the ping and the post of a juicy one....damn this would be nice.
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