Posted on 05/03/2006 12:11:30 PM PDT by Taulant
With Iran 's nuclear program in focus, fears arise over Tehran 's willingness to deploy its global network of proxies in retaliation over the United States efforts to halt its nuclear weapons program. United Press International reported that Iran has preemptively started funding 8 radical Islamic groups across the Middle East and installing arguably the most feared terrorist alive, Imad Mughniyeh, in command.
Iran's recent threats to inflict “harm and pain” on US interests globally has been seen as a direct warning to Washington that Iran would use whatever means necessary to accomplish their objectives. While many in the media have interpreted his comments as Tehran's will to use oil as an economic weapon, most in the intelligence community fear that Iran will deploy its highly effective clandestine operatives(ie: Hizbullah) to launch terrorist acts against US and its allies.
With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that the Central Intelligence Agency has recently stepped up its efforts to apprehend or kill Iran 's chief terrorist Imad Mughniyeh.
Mughniyeh, as described by former CIA agent Robert Baer, who hunted him in the Middle East in the 1980s: "He is the most dangerous terrorist we have ever faced. Mughniyeh is probably the most intelligent, most capable operative we have ever run across, including the KGB or anybody else. He enters by one door, exits by another; changes his cars daily; never makes appointments by telephone, he is never predictable... He is the master terrorist, the grail, we have been after since 1983."
A mastermind in terrorism, Mughniyeh was rumored to have fled Lebanon and land in Iran , where he was put in charge of Lebanon 's Hizbullah movement's overseas operations.
Recent requests for his extradition to the US were obviously rejected by Lebanon 's pro-Syrian/Iranian government officials. Wanted for the 1985 hijacking of a TWA jetliner and the murder of a US Navy diver, Mughniyeh has been one step ahead of US agents reportedly having two plastic surgeries and only 3 pictures of him known to exist.
Working with Iran 's intelligence services, Mughniyeh has reportedly escorted Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Syria and even rumored to be seen on national television there. The official visit entailed meetings with regional terrorist group leaders and the promise of funding that has reportedly been honored. This cements the theories that Iran will undoubtedly use violence against the US if its nuclear facilities are attacked, with the alliance it has bought with Mughniyeh at the helm.
While Mughniyeh is a serious concern, more emphasis must also be directed to Iran 's Ministry of Intelligence and Security operatives based throughout the world.
"He is the master terrorist, the grail, we have been after since 1983."
C'mon, it can't be that hard. Just have him speak at Harvard's commencement; they'd love to have him. Or better yet, give him free tuition to Yale.
Soon as he shows, nab him.
I know it's difficult to think of the CIA as involved in intelligence, but that is their claim.
It has to be done. The toothpaste is out of the tube.
Whatever happens, and whomever does it, it's going to get real ugly. Buy more ammo.
And strangely, after the May Day malarky in the cities of America, my feeling is that the general public has had more than enough of the kid glove treatment of our enemies...Time to lay the cards on the table, the hand will be played, better sooner than later...
Agreed, and long overdue. We've got a lot more *enemies* to deal with and the sooner we get started, the better for America.
You know the difficulty tracking a personality within an organization. This time the needle is somewhere outside the haystack.
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