Posted on 03/07/2007 8:33:56 PM PST by bnelson44
A former Iranian deputy defense minister who once commanded the Revolutionary Guard has left his country and is cooperating with Western intelligence agencies, providing information on Hezbollah and Iran's ties to the organization, according to a senior U.S. official.
Ali Rez Asgari disappeared last month during a visit to Turkey. Iranian officials suggested yesterday that he may have been kidnapped by Israel or the United States. The U.S. official said Asgari is willingly cooperating. He did not divulge Asgari's whereabouts or specify who is questioning him, but made clear that the information Asgari is offering is fully available to U.S. intelligence.
Asgari served in the Iranian government until early 2005 under then-President Mohammad Khatami. Asgari's background suggests that he would have deep knowledge of Iran's national security infrastructure, conventional weapons arsenal and ties to Hezbollah in south Lebanon. Iranian officials said he was not involved in the country's nuclear program, and the senior U.S. official said Asgari is not being questioned about it. Former officers with Israel's Mossad spy agency said yesterday that Asgari had been instrumental in the founding of Hezbollah in the 1980s, around the time of the bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
ping
Perhaps the Israelis want to trade him for Pollard
In all seriousness, though, this is straight out of "The Cardinal of The Kremlin". Maybe they have a copy in Tel Aviv. Not quite Jack Ryan getting the KGB director on a State Dept transport while Mr Clark makes off with his family in a sub, but a defection in Istanbul has a "From Russia With Love" feel to it.
This appears to be quite a get.
Of course, the Post puts it on A16 where no one will see it. If the commander of US Special Forces or Paul Wolfowitz(this guy's equivalent) defected to Iran, that would be page 1 news and the worst blow to US intelligence since Ames and Hanssen. When the US and Israel pull off the reverse, the Post puts it on A16. What a lousy operation they're running.
Wasn't there a high level Soviet agent that "defected' only to return to the USSR? I seem to recall it happening in the 80's.
IIRC there was Chinese scientist who developed WMD in the US and then went back to his commie homeland to build weapons.
This doesn't need to be on page 1. Tehran will know we have him now. I bet this weekend's discussions in Baghdad will be quite interesting. ;-)
If what they say is true, he would be worth it. What a huge blow to Iran.
I wonder if this fellow has anything to do with Curt
Weldon's information contact in Iran?....JJ61
Bet Israel has an ear in the door to these conversations....
This rates an "Allahu fubar!"
I'm detecting a trend. :-)
Not for Iran's sake, but as news that the West has gotten such a top guy. If this was 1963 and the head of the KGB in East Germany turned up in Western Hands, that would be A1 news. All I'm saying if that Hillary or Barack was President the NYT and the WaPo would be front page about what a great coup this was and how great the Administration is doing. But since it's W, not a peep.
You guys may have seen this, but just in case....
Hi,Pinz,,,Great News,,,this guy is a big fish,,,
The lil'man from iran has krapped his pants by now,,,LOL;0)
ping
I bet the Russians are panicing as well.
I'll trade them Pollard, and the secret recipes for Coke and KFC. This guy would be well worth it.
The book was called "Escape From The CIA" It was Colonel Vitaly Yurchenko.
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