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Title: CIA Attacker Driven in from Pakistan (by CIA)
Source:
ABC News
URL Source: http://abcnews.go.com/WN/cia-attack ... iven-pakistan/story?id=9463880
Published: Jan 3, 2010
Author: ALEEM AGHA and NICK SCHIFRIN
Post Date: 2010-01-03 01:25:49 by AGAviator
Keywords: None
Views: 269
Comments: 22
Exclusive: CIA Attacker Driven in From Pakistan Suicide Bomber Was a Regular CIA Informant, Had Been to Chapman Base Multiple Times By ALEEM AGHA and NICK SCHIFRIN KABUL, Afghanistan, Jan. 2, 2010 The suicide bomber who killed at least six Central Intelligence Agency officers in a base along the Afghan-Pakistan border on Wednesday was a regular CIA informant who had visited the same base multiple times in the past, according to someone close to the base's security director. The informant was a Pakistani and a member of the Wazir tribe from the Pakistani tribal area North Waziristan, according to the same source. The base security director, an Afghan named Arghawan, would pick up the informant at the Ghulam Khan border crossing and drive him about two hours into Forward Operating Base Chapman, from where the CIA operates. Because he was with Arghawan, the informant was not searched, the source says. Arghawan also died in the attack. The story seems to corroborate a claim by the Taliban on the Pakistani side of the border that they had turned a CIA asset into a double agent and sent him to kill the officers in the base, located in the eastern Afghan province of Khost. The infiltration into the heart of the CIA's operation in eastern Afghanistan deals a strong blow to the agency's ability to fight Taliban and al Qaeda, former intelligence officials say, and will make the agency reconsider how it recruits Pakistani and Afghan informants. The officers who were killed in the attack were at the heart of the United States' effort against senior members of al Qaeda and the Taliban, former intelligence officials say. They collected intelligence on the militant commanders living on both sides of the border and helped run paramilitary campaigns that tired to kill those commanders, including the drone program that has killed a dozen senior al Qaeda with missiles fired from unpiloted aircraft. The former intelligence officials all say the CIA will be able to replace those who were killed, but the officials acknowledge the attack killed decades of knowledge held by some of the agency's most informed experts on the region, the Taliban and al Qaeda. It also killed at least one officer who had been part of the agency's initial hunt for Osama bin Laden in the mid-1990s. "This is a tremendous loss for the agency," says Michael Scheuer, a former CIA analyst who led the bin Laden unit. "The agency is a relatively small organization, and its expertise in al Qaeda is even a smaller subset of that overall group." At least 13 officers gathered in the base's gym to talk with the informant, suggesting he was highly valued. His prior visits to the base and his ability to get so close to so many officers also suggests that he had already provided the agency with valuable intelligence that had proven successful, former intelligence officials say. That information was most likely linked with the CIA's drone program on the Pakistani side of the border. The Taliban in Pakistan claimed in a call to The Associated Press that the informant had called them and offered to become a turncoat. They said the attack was revenge for the drone attacks that have killed multiple senior Taliban leaders. "The war that is going on between the CIA and the bad guys in this part of the world is a real war," says Tim Weiner, author of "Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA." "The CIA is targeting them with missiles fired by drone aircraft and they are taking their revenge in the way they know best -- which is to kill the people who are trying to kill them. ... This attack is one of the consequences of using targeted killing as a weapon of war." The drone program relies on informants who can cross the border easily, in parts CIA officers cannot. The CIA is wary of making major trips into Pakistan for fear of the repercussions if officers were caught or killed there. Informants -- especially Pakistani informants from the Waziri or Mehsud tribe -- are the most valuable assets for the CIA in finding senior al Qaeda and Taliban militants who are targeted by the drone program. "To go after the Taliban and the Haqqani network on the Pakistani side of the border, the United States relies almost exclusively on its predator drones. But those predator drones require agents on the ground to direct them, to say, 'this is where you should be looking,'" says Richard Clarke, the Bush administration's counter-terrorism czar until 2003 and an ABC News consultant. "The CIA does that in support of the military, and without their intelligence, we really have very little way of affecting what's going on on the Pakistani side of the border." The most likely Taliban group to have perpetrated the attack is the one led by Sirajuddin Haqqani, the son of Jalaluddin Haqqani, one of the CIA's most important assets when the agency was helping fund the Afghan mujahedeen fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan. The Haqqanis have been running militant operations for 30 years and have recently become perhaps the most lethal commanders targeting U.S. troops in Afghanistan. They are based in North Waziristan but control large parts of Khost and other provinces in eastern Afghanistan as well. The Haqqanis have also kidnapped the only known American soldier in enemy custody -- PFC Bowe Bergdahl -- according to a senior NATO official. Since Bergdahl was kidnapped in late June, the official says the Haqqanis "have been getting pounded" and a "great many of their mid to senior leaders have been captured and/or killed." The infiltration into the CIA base suggests an extremely high level of sophistication, even for a network that has a huge reach across the area. "The Soviet Union during the Cold War, the Cubans during the Cold War were able to run double agents against the CIA very successfully," says Clarke. "But for a non-nation state to be able to do this -- for the Haqqani network of the Taliban to be able to do this -- represents a huge increase in the sophistication of the enemy." Clarke and other former intelligence officials predict the CIA in Afghanistan will be forced to question who they can trust and change their methods in how they find informants. "Because of this attack, the CIA will be very, very careful about who it trusts, how it vets its agents, how it searches its agents," Clarke says. "And this will mean that in the future, it will be much more difficult for CIA to operate in the field because of probably new security roles affecting what they do." The only victim of the attack who has been publicly identified is 37-year-old Harold Brown Jr., a father of three. The base chief, a woman in her 30s, was also killed, according to current and former intelligence officials. She is believed to have been focused on al Qaeda since before 9/11. A former U.S. official says a second woman was also killed in the attack, and that both women had "considerable counterintelligence experience." The ability for the CIA to replace the officers and institutional knowledge taken away by the attack will help decide the war in Afghanistan, former intelligence officials argue. CIA historian Tim Wiener says, "The war we are in is going to be won or lost by the quality of intelligence the CIA can gather in the field." ABC News' Kirit Radia and Nadine Shubailat contributed to this report.
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#1. To: AGAviator (#0)
The CIA base attack, took place after the Failed Christmas Attack. One could say that because of the thwarted attack, the CIA was given a black eye by their masters for FAILING.
It's never to early to stop a tyrant, nor is it ever to late to stand against Tyranny.
With respect to what I was saying on the other thread, the more unpopular you get, the harder it is to recruit turncoats, and the more likely it is they will one day decide to turn against you. I suspect one factor turning this guy was the large number of civilian casualties the drone strikes have caused, possibly some of them being his extended family. This is just my belief, I could probably make a couple phone calls and find out for sure har har. Anyway as the article notes without the "humint" you can't direct the Predators effectively, and at this time it's claimed to be too risky to send teams into Pak, though I suspect they do it all the same. But they do need reliable locals to help them out, and these are going to be in very short supply the longer this drags on.
"The Soviet Union during the Cold War, the Cubans during the Cold War were able to run double agents against the CIA very successfully," says Clarke. "But for a non-nation state to be able to do this -- for the Haqqani network of the Taliban to be able to do this -- represents a huge increase in the sophistication of the enemy." As we've discussed on the other thread, these people have a tradition of independence, honor, and revenge that's thousands of years old. The Americans can continue their chest thumping about ragheads and their beliefs in the omnipotence of US technology and money at their own peril.
Any that they successfully recruit are likely to be better than 50-50 a double agent and any that are not are likely to wind up with a second mouth or an air conditioned cranium.
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
This is the same problem Ivan had. Then as now there were 2 factions based on ethnic and linguistic lines: Pashtun and everybody else. The 2 factions fought against each other, and then there was the 3rd group which was the mujihadeen. So the chances of somebody being loyal to the foreign occupier, and not one of the 3 local groups, was always very remote indeed.
Which is fine with me. I don't think we should be there in the first place, these people are defending their homes and seeking revenge for "collateral damage" such as killing women and children, and they have every right to stand up against the foreign invader. In any event I despise that traitor infested criminal operation with a government patina called the Cocaine Importation Agency. As far as I am concerned the Afghani's are doing us a service with every one they kill.
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
Live by the sword - die by the sword - Jesus Christ It time to leave the Middle East - period! Jewish is a bad word!
I think it's exactly why they weren't involved, and that it was the CIA that did it to their own. Makes much more sense to me. Doesn't it make more sense to you?
It's never to early to stop a tyrant, nor is it ever to late to stand against Tyranny.
Yeah,but the important thing to remember here is that a woman with zero experience on the ground running agents was allowed to be the one in charge and making all the decisions. So what if all those experienced men had to die in order to advance Whymen's Rights? It was a sacrifice that was worth it,right?
That doesn't apply in Pakistan,where none of the tribal chiefs has ever been loyal to anybody but themselves and the highest bidder of the day. I suspect one factor turning this guy was the large number of civilian casualties the drone strikes have caused, possibly some of them being his extended family. I suspect it is more likely the Muslim fundies told him that if he didn't do it,they would kill him anyhow after killing his entire family while making him watch their murderers. They are nothing,if not traditionalists. This is just my belief, I could probably make a couple phone calls and find out for sure har har. Glad you got a good laugh out of it. Call your raghead buddies to get the real lowdown on this. After all,if you can't count on a Muslim to not lie to you,who CAN you trust?
BullBarack! Honor is a obscure concept for the majority of these retards.
Not to say she was the best possible choice, but the woman had over 14 years experience in the region and most likely knew the language(s). Michael Scheurer knew her personally. She was part of a small team that was looking for OBL during the 1990's. That said, it is kind of stupid to promote a female to any position of authority in such a male-dominated country. But that doesn't matter since they're at war and it's not important if they respect you, right?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So why hasn't $25 million brought in OBL and Mullah Omar or even their grave sites? How'd the dumb ragheads find out it was him and not 42 million other people? I can trust the USG to say "We're not in quagmire....We're not! We're not! We're not!"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Again, what has $25 million bought America in the way of information about Mullah Omar and OBL, and why was a single alleged defector able to command an audience of 13 high-level CIA agents in one room? If they had all these people who could be bought, the real or imagined informants would have to wait in line and take numbers..... BTW, "honor" does have a slighly different meaning in that part of the world. Basically, to them it means "Fuck with me or my family and I'll kill you."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Which is my point But that doesn't matter since they're at war and it's not important if they respect you, right? Uhhhhh,the agents you have working for you are not supposed to be your enemies.
Because OBL is buried under a mountain,and Omar is in Pakistan if he is still alive. How'd the dumb ragheads find out it was him and not 42 million other people? Gee,maybe they got all sophisticated and stuff,and noticed he was spending money he shouldn't have,and they started having him followed? Or that one of his relatives or friends was jealous of his new-found wealth and informed on him? I realize such methods are considered highly advanced in the Arab world,but it is possible a few of them could have learned it.
So why hasn't $25 million brought in OBL and Mullah Omar or even their grave sites? Because OBL is buried under a mountain, and Omar is in Pakistan if he is still alive. Last I heard, there are plenty of takers in Pakistan for $25 million American dollars. The buzz is Omar's in Quetta. Wherever. That $25 million has been sitting around for 8 years, no one's been able to collect it. There's also a $5 million reward offered for Haqqani No takers for that one either.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pashtuns aren't Arabs, FWIW. Ethnically, liguistically, culturally different.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pashtuns aren't Arabs, FWIW. Ethnically, liguistically, culturally different. My apologies. I should have written "Muslim world".
Two comments (2) Presuming for the sake of argument the bomber's lifestyle got noticed by somebody jealous, what prevented the jealous person from getting even more money by ratting out Mullah Omar or the Haqqanis? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Him not knowing where they are.
Protest rally against CIA use of drones in Af-Pak war is scheduled for January 16, 1 - 4 -pm at CIA HQ at Langley, Virginia. Speakers include Cindy Sheehan and Cynthia McKinney. Other anti-torture-war protests:
#2. To: sneakypete (#0)
#3. To: TommyTheMadArtist (#1)
The infiltration into the CIA base suggests an extremely high level of sophistication, even for a network that has a huge reach across the area.
#4. To: AGAviator (#2)
But they do need reliable locals to help them out, and these are going to be in very short supply the longer this drags on.
#5. To: Original_Intent (#4)
#6. To: AGAviator (#5)
#7. To: AGAviator (#0)
The story seems to corroborate a claim by the Taliban on the Pakistani side of the border that they had turned a CIA asset into a double agent and sent him to kill the officers in the base, located in the eastern Afghan province of Khost.
#8. To: AGAviator (#3)
#9. To: AGAviator (#0)
"This is a tremendous loss for the agency," says Michael Scheuer, a former CIA analyst who led the bin Laden unit. "The agency is a relatively small organization, and its expertise in al Qaeda is even a smaller subset of that overall group."
#10. To: AGAviator (#2)
With respect to what I was saying on the other thread, the more unpopular you get, the harder it is to recruit turncoats, and the more likely it is they will one day decide to turn against you.
#11. To: AGAviator (#3)
As we've discussed on the other thread, these people have a tradition of independence, honor, and revenge that's thousands of years old.
#12. To: sneakypete (#9)
(Edited)
Yeah,but the important thing to remember here is that a woman with zero experience on the ground running agents was allowed to be the one in charge and making all the decisions. So what if all those experienced men had to die in order to advance Whymen's Rights
"For us, Afghanistan is destroyed. It is turning to poison, and not only for us but for all others in the world. If you are a terrorist, you can have shelter here, no matter who you are. Day by day, there is the increase of drugs. Maybe one day they will have to send hundreds of thousands of troops to deal with that. And if they step in, they will be stuck. We have a British grave in Afghanistan. We have a Soviet grave. And then we will have an American grave." Abdul Haq, 1994
#13. To: sneakypete (#10)
(Edited)
That doesn't apply in Pakistan,where none of the tribal chiefs has ever been loyal to anybody but themselves and the highest bidder of the day.
I suspect it is more likely the Muslim fundies told him that if he didn't do it,they would kill him anyhow after killing his entire family while making him watch their murderers. They are nothing, if not traditionalists.
Glad you got a good laugh out of it. Call your raghead buddies to get the real lowdown on this. After all, if you can't count on a Muslim to not lie to you, who CAN you trust?
"For us, Afghanistan is destroyed. It is turning to poison, and not only for us but for all others in the world. If you are a terrorist, you can have shelter here, no matter who you are. Day by day, there is the increase of drugs. Maybe one day they will have to send hundreds of thousands of troops to deal with that. And if they step in, they will be stuck. We have a British grave in Afghanistan. We have a Soviet grave. And then we will have an American grave." Abdul Haq, 1994
#14. To: sneakypete (#11)
(Edited)
BullBarack! Honor is a obscure concept for the majority of these retards.
"For us, Afghanistan is destroyed. It is turning to poison, and not only for us but for all others in the world. If you are a terrorist, you can have shelter here, no matter who you are. Day by day, there is the increase of drugs. Maybe one day they will have to send hundreds of thousands of troops to deal with that. And if they step in, they will be stuck. We have a British grave in Afghanistan. We have a Soviet grave. And then we will have an American grave." Abdul Haq, 1994
#15. To: AGAviator (#12)
That said, it is kind of stupid to promote a female to any position of authority in such a male-dominated country.
#16. To: AGAviator (#13)
So why hasn't $25 million brought in OBL and Mullah Omar or even their grave sites?
#17. To: sneakypete (#16)
"For us, Afghanistan is destroyed. It is turning to poison, and not only for us but for all others in the world. If you are a terrorist, you can have shelter here, no matter who you are. Day by day, there is the increase of drugs. Maybe one day they will have to send hundreds of thousands of troops to deal with that. And if they step in, they will be stuck. We have a British grave in Afghanistan. We have a Soviet grave. And then we will have an American grave." Abdul Haq, 1994
#18. To: sneakypete (#16)
I realize such methods are considered highly advanced in the Arab world
"For us, Afghanistan is destroyed. It is turning to poison, and not only for us but for all others in the world. If you are a terrorist, you can have shelter here, no matter who you are. Day by day, there is the increase of drugs. Maybe one day they will have to send hundreds of thousands of troops to deal with that. And if they step in, they will be stuck. We have a British grave in Afghanistan. We have a Soviet grave. And then we will have an American grave." Abdul Haq, 1994
#19. To: AGAviator (#18)
I realize such methods are considered highly advanced in the Arab world
#20. To: sneakypete (#19)
(1) As long as American people have a "one size fits all," "they all look alike" attitude about the people over there, they aren't going to be able to take advantages of any differences that do exist, and
If those beliefs about how the other side's motives are guiding policy decisions, there will not be any light at the end of the tunnel any time soon.
"For us, Afghanistan is destroyed. It is turning to poison, and not only for us but for all others in the world. If you are a terrorist, you can have shelter here, no matter who you are. Day by day, there is the increase of drugs. Maybe one day they will have to send hundreds of thousands of troops to deal with that. And if they step in, they will be stuck. We have a British grave in Afghanistan. We have a Soviet grave. And then we will have an American grave." Abdul Haq, 1994
#21. To: AGAviator (#20)
(2) Presuming for the sake of argument the bomber's lifestyle got noticed by somebody jealous, what prevented the jealous person from getting even more money by ratting out Mullah Omar or the Haqqanis?
#22. To: Original_Intent (#6)
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