[mainepatsfan]

This story just keeps getting better.

[Darkwolf377]

Pelosi will call on Bush to make sure the papers are sent back, as a sign of good will.

[ScaniaBoy]

See also:

‘Iranian general defected with classified documents’

Israel behind Iranian general's 'defection,' US official says

Peretz denies Israel involved in Iranian general's disappearance

[ovrtaxt]

The general smuggled documents to where and to whom? It doesn't say.

[David Isaac]

The large question, hanging in the air, is, will the Administration use this information to clobber our enemies, both foreign and domestic, or will we be left wondering AGAIN, about our "conservative" friends in Washington?

[federal]

Looks like Amanutjob is finding out that President Bush plays the game a little differently than the wussies Carter and Clinton.

[mewzilla]

Good news.

And from this link, FWIW....

Missing Iranian Minister is Cooperating with Western Intelligence - Source

... has said that the ministry [Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs] was following the case at Iran’s request and that there was nothing unusual about it. He said, “To us, he is simply a lost regular Iranian person,” and added, “After the [Ministry of Interior] comes up with a solution, we will relay the information to Iran as part of the diplomatic procedures.”

[delacoert]

...three Iranians disappeared in Turkey, following allegations that they attempted to smuggle missiles into Iran.

I guess that means they successfully "smuggled" the missiles into Iran.

[Mr.Unique]

Reportedly, the attempt to export American-made rocket pieces to Iran, was foiled when Turkish customs informed the US authorities of the sale.

I could have told them that you don't mess with Turkish customs. ;)

[angkor]

"I will live in Montana. And I will marry a round American woman and raise rabbits, and she will cook them for me. And I will have a pickup truck... maybe even a "recreational vehicle." And drive from state to state. Do they let you do that?"

[Thrownatbirth]

Iran is furiously trying to debunk and downplay who this General Asghari is. Even though I take Debka with a grain of salt, they do have an interesting report today:

"The missing general has been identified as the officer in charge of Iranian undercover operations in central Iraq, according to DEBKAfile’s intelligence and Iranian sources. He is believed to have been linked to – or participated in - the armed group which stormed the US-Iraqi command center in Karbala south of Baghdad Jan. 20 and snatched five American officers. They were shot outside the Shiite city."

You're right. It just keeps getting better.

[cripplecreek]

If he took "vital papers" it wasn't a kidnapping.

[Past Your Eyes]

I hear he was consulting with Sandy Berger.

[marvlus]

All of a sudden, Ahmadinejad has become quiet!

[NonValueAdded]

Woo Hoo! Haven't we been waiving big rewards all around the region? About time it started paying off.

[SE Mom]

BTTT

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]

----------------------------

[lafroste]

following their attempts to smuggle spare used missile parts to Iran.

How can you have a "used" missile part?

[xzins]

Nuclear control in Iran equals increased scientist and expert death rate.

Mossad?

[LS]

Kenneth Timmerman on Quinn and Rose talking about this now. He noted that ALL of the Iranians who have escaped have done so with PRIVATE help and the CIA has not been involved in helping any of these people get out. He said that under Bush lots of young, patriotic, qualified people have come in, but that the CIA was absolutely shattered by Clinton and Deutsch.