Posted on 11/21/2011 11:06:22 AM PST by lbryce
Video
In a significant failure for the United States in the Mideast, more than a dozen spies working for the CIA in Iran and Lebanon have been caught and the U.S. government fears they will be or have been executed, according to four current and former U.S. officials with connections to the intelligence community.
The spies were paid informants recruited by the CIA for two distinct espionage rings targeting Iran and the Beirut-based Hezbollah organization, considered by the U.S. to be a terror group backed by Iran.
"Espionage is a risky business," a U.S. official briefed on the developments told ABC News, confirming the loss of the unspecified number of spies over the last six months.
"Many risks lead to wins, but some result in occasional setbacks," the official said.
Robert Baer, a former senior CIA officer who worked against Hezbollah while stationed in Beirut in the 1980's, said Hezbollah typically executes individuals suspected of or caught spying.
"If they were genuine spies, spying against Hezbollah, I don't think we'll ever see them again," he said. "These guys are very, very vicious and unforgiving."
Other current and former officials said the discovery of the two U.S. spy rings occurred separately, but amounted to a setback of significant proportions in efforts to track the activities of the Iranian nuclear program and the intentions of Hezbollah against Israel.
"Remember, this group was responsible for killing more Americans than any other terrorist group before 9/11," said a U.S. official. Attacks on the U.S. embassy and Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983 killed more than 300 people, including almost 260 Americans.
The U.S. official, speaking for the record but without attribution, gave grudging credit to the efforts of Iran and Hezbollah to detect and expose U.S. and Israeli espionage.
(Excerpt) Read more at gma.yahoo.com ...
I have a question. Why would this information be revealed in the first place....and, of all places, on Good Morning America? Is this to ‘prepare us’ or to justify a possible US strike on Iran?
Will Bari contemplate a spy for terrorist trade?
My questione is ...who ratted them out? Begs the question on WTF Pannetta and Petraeus are up to.
Why don’t we do what the Israelis do? Let’s give ‘em 1000 prisoners named Mohammed for each of our men? /sarc
I don't think he will give himself up for the spies. :-)
Yep. That, too.
When you apply for life insurance never put down your job as a CIA spy in the Middle East.
“Espionage is a risky business,” a U.S. official briefed on the developments told ABC News, confirming the loss of the unspecified number of spies over the last six months.
“Many risks lead to wins, but some result in occasional setbacks,” the official said.
Especially if you are unlucky enough to have worked for such a hostile naive arrogant irreverent authority-challenged America-hating group such as the obama regime and the incompetent homo-angst dominated Rodham State Department.
I can see these oily bitter weasels saying “Take THAT Petraeus.”
I do believe the only secrets these people have kept is Moochelles weight and vacay budget, Barry’s birf certificate, Reggies real relationship with the pos, and who was aboard Air Force One for the 911- re-created joyride that terrorized Manhattan in fall 2009.
Just remember who is CIC, and rethink that possibility....No phocking way Zer0 would consider this.
[quote]When you apply for life insurance never put down your job as a CIA spy in the Middle East.[/quote]
Haha, and dont let obama or his administration that you work for the cia in one of his peoples places.
While it is true that our “covert friendlies” have been caught from time to time, it is also true that the CIA has been waxing political in recent years, and their competence has been eroded by that unfortunate fact.
Baloney. Occam's Razor says: We have a mole in the CIA or the State Department. Uncovering a "ring" is very difficult. Much more difficult than uncovering a "spy". I don't buy it.
This happened while Pannetta or whatever his name is was in charge. Petraeus was put in to clean up the mess. What worries me is Pannetta is now in charge of our military, God help them even more than they needed it before!
Petraeus took over CIA last January?
If so, this network unraveled on his watch, but due to sloppy oversight by Pannetta (whose own daughter is a communist-dictator hugging idiot)
Pannetta is such a loser. Perfect for the obama team.
I don't. I suspect a mole...or a whole massive series of moles. And who knows how far it goes?
This is not tin foil hat crap. Big time problems...we are going to have to get a government serious about our national security needs.
Exactamundo! Damage to US interests, whether military, intelligence or diplomatic -- inevitably results whenever we decide to trust muslims inside the organization.
We must NEVER, EVER, for any reason, trust a muslim with the lives and assets of our American interests.
This shows we must get rid of our present Obama government.They certainly are not on my side.
We have many Muslim moles in the CIA or the State Department.
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