Iran - CIA Spy Speaks Out

[Richard]

May be of interest to some...I hope.

Richard's $.02

As A CIA Spy, I Saw In Iran What The West Cannot Ignore
We must defend freedom in Iran soon – or deal with nuclear-armed fanatics later.
CSM, 5 Aug 2009

Today the West must make one of the most important decisions of our era. Will we defend what remains of democracy and freedom in Iran, or will we succumb to Tehran's murderous government?

It's a question that goes to the heart of our own security. Iran is a thugocracy of Islamic mullahs, and it will soon have nuclear arms. Any misconception about the intentions of fanatics with nuclear bombs will have grave consequences.

I know because I spent years alongside them as a CIA spy working under cover in Iran's Revolutionary Guards starting in the 1980s.

The Guards Corps was set up as a check on the regular Army and to serve and secure the Islamic revolution. Thirty years of Western appeasement hasn't stopped them from terrorizing the West – or Iranians. Today, with Tehran's leaders caught in a power struggle over the June 12 election and the legitimacy of the regime, the Guards, led by zealots, are calling the shots.

The Guards – and the hardliner clerics they protect – are vulnerable, however. This summer's grass-roots uprising has put them on the defensive. A strong Western hand now could tip the balance.

We don't have a moment to lose. If we can't upend the Guards now, how can we do so once they have nuclear bombs?

Washington could lead the way by refusing to recognize President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who earlier today took the oath of office for his second, four-year term. Instead, the United States should demand the freedom – and the freedom of speech – for all who've been arrested and tortured in recent weeks. And we should toughen sanctions to include cutting off Iran's gasoline supplies.

The people of Iran are desperate for a show of support from the West. By standing with them, we can uphold our duty to defend democracy and take a stand for the security of the free world.

Such a stand would mark a radical policy change. For the past 30 years, the West has tried very hard to appease Iran's mullahs.

In the 1980s, I helped make known a secret pact between Iranian mullahs and some European governments. Thirsty for Iranian oil, the Europeans gave the go-ahead to Iranian agents to assassinate opposition members abroad without interference, as long as European citizens were not at risk. Hundreds of dissidents were gunned down.

The US has also been guilty of trying to appease the mullahs. Almost every administration after the 1979 Iranian Revolution has tried in vain to create better relations through back channels. Yet those efforts haven't stopped Iran's rulers from arming terrorists, taking hostages, and suppressing their own people.

The brutal killing of Iranians by their leaders that we're seeing today is nothing new. Ruling clerics have been killing political opponents, along with their families and friends, for 30 years – but inside prison walls.

I've been inside those walls and I've seen teenage girls who were raped before execution so they were no longer virgins and therefore, according to their Islamic beliefs, couldn't go to heaven. I've seen hundreds hung on cranes. I've seen women and men lined up in front of firing squads after being severely tortured; their families would be forced to pay for the cost of the bullets. Western officials were quite aware that this was happening, but they let their thirst for oil blind them.

Today, however, the screams of Iranians young and old calling for democracy and freedom cannot be ignored. The post-election uprising has started the countdown of the end of the thugocracy in Iran. This is the desire of the Iranian people. It should be our desire, too.

So far, the West has kept fairly quiet about Iran's unrest. President Obama and others say they don't want to give credence to Tehran's claims of a Western conspiracy behind the protests. And by not ruffling the regime's feathers, they hope to negotiate improved ties and resolve the nuclear impasse.

But how do you negotiate with a government composed of terrorists?

Right now, the Revolutionary Guards have near-complete control of Iran. This terrorist organization is expanding its power throughout the Middle East. Its ultimate goal is to bring the demise of the West.

With the help of North Korea, the Guards are working on long-range ballistic missiles in tests that are concealed by their space project.

The Guards have also accelerated their production of Sejil, solid fuel missiles, and are working nonstop to improve the range of those missiles. Today they can strike Tel Aviv, Riyadh, US bases in Iraq, and the US Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. Their goal is to be able to target all of Europe.

The Guards are also working on their nuclear bomb project in facilities unknown to the West.

Iran's defense minister, Mostafa Najjar, who oversees the development of missile and nuclear technology, was in charge of the Revolutionary Guards forces in Lebanon that facilitated the attack on the Marine Corps barracks in Beirut on Oct. 23, 1983, killing 241 US servicemen.

The current deputy defense minister, Ahmad Vahidi, who oversees the distribution of arms and missiles to terrorist groups such as Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and Hamas, was the commander of the Guards' elite Quds Forces and the chief intelligence officer of the Guards in charge of the terrorist activities outside of Iran.

Mr. Vahidi is currently on Interpol's Most Wanted List for the attack on the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires on July 18, 1994 that killed 85 and injured more than 100.

Many Iranian officials have Interpol arrest warrants, and even supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei has been recognized in courts as one who has ordered such acts.

Fanatic radicals such as these are incompatible with a free Iran. This is the best opportunity in 30 years to change course and stop succumbing to thugs. Will we seize it?

"Reza Kahlili" is a pseudonym for an ex-CIA spy who requires anonymity for safety reasons. He is writing a book about his life and experiences as a CIA agent in Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0805/p09s01-coop.html

Fanatic radicals such as these are incompatible with a free Iran. This is the best opportunity in 30 years to change course and stop succumbing to thugs. Will we seize it?

I wish I knew how to seize the moment. It makes me pessimistic that I cannot.

[longrange1947]

Will we seize it?

There is no WE in Obama.

[21BravoInDaSand]

There's a liberal in office...what do you think "America" is going to do? Probably downsize our military & get extorted by their government.

[Bloodseed]

I purchased his book titled A Time to Betray, a few weeks ago. I saw it once before that a couple of weeks before i gave into temptation and purchased it. I at first resisted not knowing if it was legit, there seemed much room for him to lie in it since he used a fake name. Has anyone read this book yet? From my search results I have not been able to find anyone saying they have read it. This is the first time I have not had successful results with the search function otherwise I would not have posted, this will not become a habit.

[Penn]

A recent thread mentioned that Afghanistan was of little importance; I am uncertain that this is correct, but it would appear that Afghanistan may be a counter weight to Iran. The attached article surprised me.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...LeftCarousel_1

IA comment by Eric Blehm

This entire relationship between the current CIA Chief and Karzai are detailed in my book: The Only Thing Worth Dying For, (HarperCollins, 2010) which was a WSJ bestseller a couple months back. I interviewed the Special Forces Team extensively that was there with Karzai and the station chief (known as "Casper" in my book) back in November and December of 2001. A couple of corrections to the article above. First, the station chief himself would not credit himself as "saving Karzai's life." He threw himself onto Karzai AFTER an errant 2000 pound JDAM bomb hit an observation post, and imploding the windows of the building Karzai was inside, nearby. Karzai was nicked on the face with a piece of glass. The station chief's reaction was spontaneous, and appropriate, but hardly saved Karzai's life. The other correction is your mention of the JDAM bomb hitting the American's and Karzai's afghan rebels position occurring as a result of the "chaos" of the battle. There was no chaos that December 5th morning. In fact, there had not been a bullet fired for almost fourteen hours when an overseeing, and recently arrived "staff" of Special Forces soldiers began directing bombs at a hillside cave that might, or might not have held enemy forces. It was a peaceful morning, and the men of Operational Detachment Alpha (the team that had been fighting with Karzai since November 14th, and were supposed to be executing any combat operations on the ground) were opening their first mail drop from home when their superiors came in and started dropping bombs, while Karzai was waiting for an expected surrender delegation from the Taliban. Three Americans and more than 50 Afghans were killed in a flash, and every member of ODA 574 was either killed or wounded... The truth behind this story, again, is explained fully from the perspective of the men who were there on the ground in The Only Thing Worth Dying For. No second hand reporting, just eye witness accounts. The station chief that day along with his CIA team, and various SF medics saved many American and Afghan lives. Incidentally, General Mattis, who is now the head of CENTCOM was the nearest American Officer in a position to respond to the urgent request for medevac, but he refused, stating that the situation was too precarious to commit his forces to. Meanwhile his Marines were livid and wanted to respond to the situation. Instead, an Air force quick reaction force flew almost two hours, from Pakistan to pull out the dead, dying, and wounded, and dropped them off at Camp Rhino where Mattis eventually agreed to send his men to help, about four hours too late. Mattis now holds one of the highest ranks in the Marine Corps, and the officers in charge of authorizing the bomb that day have all been promoted and decorated. The men of ODA 574, who did the fighting on the ground, and accomplished their mission all had their medal requests downgraded from Silver to Bronze Stars. See www.onlythingworthdyingfor.com for more info on the early days after 9/11 in Afghanistan, and the missions that set the stage for Afghanistan. Good or bad, this is how it went down.

[Richard]

...but it would appear that Afghanistan may be a counter weight to Iran.

Or something...some interesting thoughts on the issue:

Obama Offers Iran An Opening On Engagement
WaPo, 5 Aug 2010
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...080406238.html

The U.S. should Test Iran's Resolve To Stabilize Afghanistan
WaPo, 17 Sep 2010
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...091606067.html

I was listening to the following yesterday while outside working in my yard - an interesting program.

The Taliban in Afghanistan threatens to disrupt parliamentary elections. Iran releases an American hiker. And Palestinian leader Abbas affirms continuing peace talks.
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/20...roundup-hour-2

And one has to wonder just what might theocratic Iran be seeking from such an arrangement?

Richard

[trvlr]

I'm of the mind currently that I don't care about democracy in other places. America is so messed up right now that we need to try to "seize the opportunity" here by paying attention, voting, and helping our own communities. Is now really the time to spend hundreds of millions of dollars we don't have trying to bring Iran back to the 70s when we can't afford to get American kids the education that they deserve? I see a lot of attacks on the POTUS regarding his lack of force with Iran, but as a registered independent this is one of the things I like the most. Why do the same people that "hate his spending" get angry when he doesn't spend money and (more importantly) American lives where they want him to.