Sneaky war in Iran - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Botnst · #1 02-17-2009, 10:10 PM

Israel engaged in covert war inside Iran: report
By Luke Baker
Tue Feb 17, 7:07 pm ET

LONDON (Reuters) – Israel is involved in a covert war of sabotage inside Iran to try to delay Tehran's alleged attempts to develop a nuclear weapon, a British newspaper said on Tuesday, quoting a former CIA agent and intelligence experts.

An intelligence source in the Middle East told Reuters last year Israel planned to target Iranian nuclear scientists with letter bombs and poisoned packages and had set off explosions in Iran. Analysts offered similar accounts and said such tactics would be credible, but no confirmation has been available.

Some analysts caution that reports of such a "dirty war" may form part of a psychological warfare campaign to unsettle Iran.

The intelligence source told Reuters that Israeli agents were working with Western governments and firms doing business with Tehran, whose Islamist leadership is a sworn enemy of Israel but denies accusations its nuclear program has a military purpose.

Israel's government, widely assumed to be the only nuclear power in the Middle East, declines all comment on such reports.

"Israel has launched a covert war against Iran as an alternative to direct military strikes against Tehran's nuclear program," Britain's Daily Telegraph said on Tuesday. "It is using hitmen, sabotage, front companies and double agents to disrupt the regime's illicit weapons project, the experts say."

Quoting intelligence experts and an unnamed former CIA agent, the newspaper said Israel's "decapitation" strategy had targeted members of Iran's atomic program, hoping to set back the country's nuclear ambitions without resorting to war.

Meir Javendafar, an Iran expert at Meepas, a Middle East analysis group, told Reuters there were also reports Iran was being sold faulty equipment for its nuclear program, and that there were attempts to disrupt the electricity supply to Natanz, a uranium enrichment facility in central Iran.

"I think there is sabotage going on. It's a logical move and it makes sense in the game that is part of the overall struggle to disrupt Iran's nuclear ambitions," he said.

As evidence of Israel's reported strategy, Iran watchers have pointed to events such as the death of Ardeshire Hassanpour, a nuclear scientist at the Isfahan uranium plant who died at home from apparent gas poisoning in 2007.

The former CIA agent told the Telegraph: "Disruption is designed to slow progress on the program, done in such a way they don't realize what's happening. The goal is delay, delay, delay until you can come up with some other solution.

"It's a good policy, short of taking them out militarily, which probably carries unacceptable risks."

Asked about the newspaper report, Mark Regev, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, told Reuters: "It is not our practice to comment publicly about these sorts of allegations, not in this situation, not in any situation."

New U.S. President Barack Obama has taken a more diplomatic line with Tehran, quietening former Bush administration talk of a possible military strike against Iranian nuclear assets.

Israeli leaders have been careful not to rule out their military options, though analysts question how far a new Israeli government, still to be formed after last week's parliamentary election, will be prepared to act without Washington's backing.

Javendafar said there were indications several states were attempting to infiltrate Iran to disrupt nuclear development but also suggested much of the reported clandestine activity was more part of a psychological war than an actual one of sabotage.

"Numerous intelligence agencies are trying their best to do this. Not just Israel, but the Americans and many European spy agencies," he said. "If it's true, then it's putting pressure on the Iranian program technically.

"Even if there's no truth to it, it's part of what is a massive psychological war against Iran's nuclear program ... It's ... much more affordable than sabotaging equipment."

tankdriver · #2 02-17-2009, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

Israel engaged in covert war inside Iran: report
By Luke Baker
Tue Feb 17, 7:07 pm ET

LONDON (Reuters) – An intelligence source in the Middle East told Reuters last year Israel planned to target Iranian nuclear scientists with letter bombs and poisoned packages and had set off explosions in Iran.

Wow.

tonkovich · #3 02-17-2009, 10:35 PM

this is the same iran to whom israel transported/sold american weapons in the 80's?

tankdriver · #4 02-17-2009, 10:49 PM

No. Totally different Iran. This one is the one that canceled the Shah's American backed nuclear program before restarting a few years ago for the ridiculous reason of providing the country with power since they don't have coal.

cmac2012 · #5 02-17-2009, 11:16 PM

I hope it's not true. Iran has 1,000 years of revenge fervor built up just over the ouster of Mossadeq and subsequent elevation of the vaccuous Shah in '53.

aklim · #6 02-17-2009, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonkovich

this is the same iran to whom israel transported/sold american weapons in the 80's?

What's your point? That if we are friends we become BFF? Sorry, today you are our friend and we help you. Tomorrow, the wind changed directions and you are not our friend any more. Diamonds are forever. Little else is especially in politics.

aklim · #7 02-17-2009, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tankdriver

No. Totally different Iran. This one is the one that canceled the Shah's American backed nuclear program before restarting a few years ago for the ridiculous reason of providing the country with power since they don't have coal.

You really believe it is ONLY for electricity?

aklim · #8 02-17-2009, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmac2012

I hope it's not true. Iran has 1,000 years of revenge fervor built up just over the ouster of Mossadeq and subsequent elevation of the vaccuous Shah in '53.

Why not 500? Why not 2000? Why not 3000? Why not eternal? But lets say 1000. WGAS? That is long after we are recycled by nature. Kinda like a 5 lifetime sentence then. What are they going to do? Increase it to 2000 if we don't toe their line? Guess we can be like a guy with 5 life sentences then. Not much more they can do

Botnst · #9 02-18-2009, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tankdriver

No. Totally different Iran. This one is the one that canceled the Shah's American backed nuclear program before restarting a few years ago for the ridiculous reason of providing the country with power since they don't have coal.

Coal?

Did you leave anything out of that curious equation?

Medmech · #10 02-18-2009, 07:50 AM

I'm no geological superstar but I thought Iran had lots of coal.

mwood · #11 02-18-2009, 09:04 AM

The article sounds somewhat plausible but purely conjecture. Are these the same sources that advised on the WMD's I wonder?

LUVMBDiesels · #12 02-18-2009, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tankdriver

No. Totally different Iran. This one is the one that canceled the Shah's American backed nuclear program before restarting a few years ago for the ridiculous reason of providing the country with power since they don't have coal.

Huh?

QUOTE:http://www.mbendi.com/indy/ming/coal/as/ia/p0005.htm

"
Coal is one of Iran's most abundant but least developed mineral resources. Proven reserves are estimated at some 1,075 Mt, mainly coking and bituminous coal. There are three main operations and processing plants located in Kerman Province and in the Alborz Mountains at Zirab and Shahroud.
Iran maintains annual coal production of 1.5 Mt (est), from relatively small underground mines in the Kerman Coalfield and from even smaller operations in the Alborz coalfields. Most production in the country is from underground, from relatively thin, locally steeply-dipping seams, and is destined for the steel industry. Development of the Tabas Coalfield is the major coal-sector investment aiming to produce 1.5 Mt/y of coking coal from a new longwall operation. Twin inclines are under construction and during 2003 tender awards were announced for four new roadheaders from Dosco, a mine monitoring and control system from Davis Derby of UK and longwall roof supports from Fazos of Poland.
Kerman - Coal Co. owns several coal operations within the country namely :Eshkli coal mine which has proven reserves of 16,887,500 tonnes and produces 360,000 tonnes of coal per annum; Hamkar coal mine which has proven reserves of 6,970,380 tonnes and produces 259,000 tonnes; Hashouni with proven reserves of 25.9 Mt and an annual production of 240 000 t; Hojedk with proven reserves of 817,000 t and annual production of 68,000 t; Kamsar with proven reserves of 874,000 t and an annual production of 120,000 t."

LUVMBDiesels · #13 02-18-2009, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

Israel engaged in covert war inside Iran: report
By Luke Baker
Tue Feb 17, 7:07 pm ET

LONDON (Reuters) – Israel is involved in a covert war of sabotage inside Iran to try to delay Tehran's alleged attempts to develop a nuclear weapon, a British newspaper said on Tuesday, quoting a former CIA agent and intelligence experts...
"

Not covert any longer...

I guess doing it that way is better than using the KC-130's we leased to them to fuel a bomb strike on the plants...

PaulC · #14 02-18-2009, 11:46 AM

Well sure they have coal, but they don't want to contribute to global warming.

DieselAddict · #15 02-18-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

An intelligence source in the Middle East told Reuters last year Israel planned to target Iranian nuclear scientists with letter bombs and poisoned packages and had set off explosions in Iran. Analysts offered similar accounts and said such tactics would be credible, but no confirmation has been available.

Sounds like terrorism to me.