Iran intelligence official said missing, may have defected

[sabra]

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/833410.html


Iran intelligence official said missing, may have defected

A former Iranian deputy defense minister whose reported disappearance in Turkey has sparked allegations of a Mossad and CIA-linked kidnapping, may have defected, Haaretz has learned.

Intelligence official Ali Reza Azkari, 63, served in the senior defense post under former defense minister General Ali Samahani. Israeli media have said that for many years, Azkari was the most senior Iranian intelligence official in Lebanon, with responsibility for Iran's ties with Hezbollah.

Unnamed Arab diplomats have been quoted in Israeli media as charging that the Israeli Mossad and the Central Intelligence Agency kidnapped Azkari, who reportedly disappeared under mysterious circumstances from Istanbul, Turkey a month ago.

...

Iran reportedly sent a delegation of defense officials to Turkey last week to investigate the incident. It has also been reported that Iran has asked Interpol to open an investigation into the disappearance.

[ShortnFiery]

1. Why do I smell a rat? ... some deception being played? n/t

[MidwestTransplant]

2. I wouldn't be surprised if he defected. His info would be worth

a TON of money to the US or Israel. Probably the US though as I wouldn't think he would be too happy living in the Israel.

[ShortnFiery]

4. I doubt it. It's hard to enjoy all that money DEAD.

Unlike Iraq, Iran has agents all over the world.
You cross them in a bad way, they can get cha! :P

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. He defected, and is now living a life of luxury

in an 8x10 cell somewhere in Eastern Europe.

[ShortnFiery]

5. Perhaps being beaten every day for sh*ts and grins.

Eastern Europe can be a very austere place of little to no compassion.
Calling our CIA would snag them tons of cash, and US needed information without having to actually pay a political price for it, i.e., heaven forbid we let the American People know that there are cooperative Persians in that Evil place. ;)

[Kagemusha]

6. I wonder if the info is what the US wants to hear, or the truth?

Probably what the US wants to hear.

[ShortnFiery]

7. It doesn't matter, because we all know that in BushWorld there is a Special Section

in the Pentagon that can be rev'd up to MANUFACTURE the required Intelligence.

Now, don't get me wrong, the true professional operatives and analysts (career types) are seemingly balanced and do not over-extend from the data.

However, it seems like the National Intelligence Field is being driven by political appointees, not sound minded Intelligence Professionals. :(

[maddezmom]

8. Iran: Retired defense minister missing

Iran: Retired defense minister missing By ALI AKBAR DAREINI, Associated Press Writer
4 minutes ago



TEHRAN, Iran - Iran said Tuesday its former deputy defense minister was missing while on a private trip to neighboring Turkey, and its top police chief accused Western intelligence services of possibly kidnapping the official.

Ali Reza Asghari, a retired general in the elite Revolutionary Guards and a former deputy defense minister, had arrived in Turkey on a private visit from Damascus, Syria, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported Tuesday.

Iran's top police chief, Gen. Esmaeil Ahmadi Moghaddam, said Iran was investigating the fate of Asghari through the Turkish police.

"It is likely that Asghari has been abducted by the Western intelligence services," IRNA quoted the Iranian police general as saying. The general did not elaborate.

In Turkey, the Interior Ministry said Tuesday it was investigating the matter, but would not confirm or deny that Asghari had disappeared or been kidnapped.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070306/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_turkey_missing_official

[Scurrilous]

9. Report: Missing Iranian former defense official has 'fled to U.S.'

<snip>

"The Iranian former deputy defense minister who disappeared in neighboring Turkey last month is said to have sought asylum in the United States. Tehran said was Ali Reza Asghari went missing while on a private trip to Turkey.

The pan-Arab newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat on Tuesday quoted high-profile sources as saying that Asghari left for the U.S. shortly after arriving in the Turkish capital.

Earlier Tuesday, Iran's top police chief accused Western intelligence services of possibly abducting Asghari, who is also a retired general in the elite Revolutionary Guards.

Al-Sharq al-Awsat's sources, however, claim the official was not abducted but left for the United States "along with the secrets he carried."

Security was beefed up in Israeli embassies worldwide Tuesday following reports that Iran suspected the CIA and the Mossad of involvement in Asghari's disappearance."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/833799.html

[maddezmom]

10. Missing Iranian official was kidnapped: relatives Mon Mar 12, 11:08 AM ET

Missing Iranian official was kidnapped: relatives Mon Mar 12, 11:08 AM ET



TEHRAN (Reuters) - The relatives of an Iranian ex-deputy defense minister who went missing in Turkey accused Iran's arch enemies the United states and Israel of kidnapping him, state radio reported on Monday.

Iran's police chief has suggested that Ali Reza Asgari, who disappeared after checking into an Istanbul hotel on February 7., was kidnapped by Western intelligence. Israel and the United States have denied any involvement in his disappearance.

"Personally I am sure that Iran's main enemies America and Israel have kidnapped my father," Asgari's daughter Elham told state radio after lodging a complaint at the Turkish embassy in Tehran over Asgari's disappearance.

"As a loyal servant of the (1979 Islamic) revolution my father had many enemies," Elham added.

Turkish newspapers reported Asgari had information on Iran's nuclear program, which the United States and Israel say is aimed to build atomic weapons. Iran insists its atomic plans are peaceful.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070312/wl_nm/iran_missing_dc