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Iran is usually full of BS and hope this the case. I hope this was not a Mossad agent. From everything I read daily, Mossad is arguably the best intel agency in the region, if not the world. Think what the Iranians may have done to such an operative. Remember what they do to civilians who simply convert to Christianity?

I wonder if Mossad does the same for their NOC's (non-official cover) agents as we do for ours? A star on a wall for our NOC agents and that's it. The term may have changed with all the recent movies using it, but the fact remains that so many are not recognized for their deaths, torture, and sacrifice.

People are so quick to give the CIA and other intel agencies a bad time because they are not perfect. Yes, they can't foresee everything, but such agencies are made up of a lot of patriotic people who spend every day (even through the night) obtaining/researching/analyzing/posturing data - from decoding communications to satellite analysis to human infiltration.

Always remember, they have family and friends who they prefer not to be harmed, also. They do their duty in their TOP SECRET enclaves and know how bad things are and go home to their families. Give some though how you would perform in those facilities, not to mention being a NOC.

Since 9/11, our Intel services have thwarted countless efforts to kill Americans. The latest is the new high-tech under-wear bomber plot. Who do you think stopped that? Bambi on the golf course? Of course not, it was our clandestine services who prevented it and killed some associates via drones. Good!

I once had the opportunity to go under-cover for the Naval Investigative Service (NIS - now NCIS). It was small time, but while working for Shore Patrol and asked for volunteers to bust a heroin ring out of Gibraltar, I volunteered. I had the street experience.

I've told this story before so I will cut to the chase. After negotiations with the heroin dealers, we made the buy. Once I gave the signal, every Gibraltar cop and NIS came out of the woodwork and busted them and disrupted their flow out of Morrocco and Gibraltar. I have nothing in my record to show for it because of being clandestine. However, I was awarded the Gibraltar Police necktie as badge of honor. It hangs amongst my military honors to this day.

The point is that clandestine services work harder than you think, and are at more risk than you think. I've been there in my small way and very much at risk if I gave the particulars. I could say so, then I'd have to kill you...haha!