Iranian Intelligence Intrigue

by Charles

A month ago, an Iranian general "disappeared" (perhaps along with his family) while in Turkey, and speculation is rampant.  Did Mossad or the CIA kidnap him or did he defect?  In either case, he is a high-level intelligence source who could expose Iranian inner workings.  The Blotter:

"This is a fatal blow to Iranian intelligence," said the source, explaining that Asgari knows sensitive information about Iran's nuclear and military projects. Iran called tens of its Revolutionary Guard agents working at embassies and cultural centers in Arab and European countries back to Tehran out of fear that Asgari might disclose secret information about their identities, according to the analyst.

There are conflicting reports about how and when Asgari disappeared.  The general, according to Turkish and Israeli press reports, arrived in Istanbul from Damascus on Feb. 7.  Initial reports speculated he may have been kidnapped because he failed to show up at a hotel that had been booked for him by two non-Turkish men.

The source, however, believes Asgari's disappearance was prompted by the detention of five Iranians after the raid on their government's liaison office in Irbil, Iraq in January. Asgari, 63, knew and may have worked with some of the detained men, said the analyst.

Asgari's years with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the Iranian defense ministry would make him an invaluable source of information. He was reportedly based in Lebanon in the 1990s and was in charge of ties with the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah.

Ha'aretz and the Jerusalem Post have weighed in, and Ynet reported that the Saudi newspaper al-Watan reported on the disappearance a week or so ago.  Makes you wonder if Abdullah and Ahmadinejad discussed the general's disappearance during their summit last week.  By way of the New York Post, DEBKA adds this wrinkle:

Askari is believed to have taken part - or have links to - the armed group that stormed a U.S.-Iraqi command center in the holy city of Karbala on Jan. 20 and killed five U.S. troops, the Web site said.

The attackers wore military uniforms and used vehicles often driven by foreign dignitaries in an attempt to impersonate Americans.

A Middle East intelligence source said the United States could not let the outrage stand and had been hunting the general ever since, the Web site said.

Of course, it's always good to take Debka with a vat of salt, but it looks like an interesting mystery nevertheless.

Comments

[spartikus]

Just remember, the code name "Curveball" has already been taken.

[Frank]

The incredible provocation of kidnapping a field grade officer and torturing him for information, may not succeed in provoking the war the Bush administration is seeking, but it should certainly be condemned by all civilized people.

[Hartmut]

The two posts above obviously mark the two possible extremes in interpreting the insufficient data.

[Donald Clarke]

Minor quibble. A general is not a field grade officer. Officers in the US military are normally divided into three categories, company grade (2nd Lieutenant through Captain), field grade (Major through Colonel) and general officer (naval = flag officer).

Clearly we need more information. Was he kidnapped, or did he defect? I can imagine scenarios for both.

[Kilo]

Grain of salt you say ?
For a publication willing to suggest that a high ranking Iranian general may have taken part in a raid on a US command centre inside Iraq for no apparent necessity, reason or benefit ?

Could someone please coin the phrase "a nugget of bullshit" so it can be used as freely as this measurement of salt. Clearly the latter isn't appropriate for all circumstances.

[BC]

99% probability this is what happens:
1. They ask him about the Iranian nuclear program.
2. He says that it's nowhere near building a workable bomb, let alone two. The authorities' bluster about it and their refusal to cooperate with IAEA etc is all a way to boost the regime's domestic image.
3. His answer is leaked to the press, scoffingly denied by "senior administration officials", and ignored and belittled by the Bush white house.
3. We don't hear the real story for another 10, 15, 20 years.

[Charles Bird]

Grain of salt you say ??

Grain of salt I didn't say. Perhaps I should have said kilo instead of vat.

[ScottM]

It is an interesting thing I hadn't heard anything about-- thanks for pointing out his going missing Charles.

[spartikus]

The two posts above obviously mark the two possible extremes in interpreting the insufficient data.

Thank goodness for the sober, detached analysis of the denizens of the internets....

[Extradite Rumsfeld]

My guess is that he'll later emerge as a upper-level staffer at Exxon-Mobil. After the war with Iran, he'll "win" the election for President.

[trilobite]

Not CIA. "Them guys could screw up a beach party." Army Intelligence, maybe. Or just plain ol' Green Berets.