11 votes

Iranian officials say seventeen alleged US spies captured, some sentenced to death

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6 comments

  1. [7]
    Comment deleted by author
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    1. [6]
      nacho
      Link Parent
      This is exactly the conclusion authoritarian regimes want us to draw in opposition to the US. They very well could be (CIA-backed) spies. Or they very well could be dissidents or political enemies...

      Given the CIA's history, it's probably likely that these were spies.

      This is exactly the conclusion authoritarian regimes want us to draw in opposition to the US.

      They very well could be (CIA-backed) spies. Or they very well could be dissidents or political enemies Iran wishes to get rid of.

      I'd urge anyone to stay open-minded until we have more evidence. As with claims of hacking, espionage and the like, we won't get to know everything. There's also going to be minsinformation from all parties involved.

      This was Iran's opening move after they said in June they'd taken down an US spy network of independent agents. It's too early to say how this lands.

      10 votes
      1. alyaza
        Link Parent
        it's also the exact sort of thing the US is known for though even now, which is why that's a reasonable conclusion you can draw (especially with iran, where we literally overthrew a regime and...

        This is exactly the conclusion authoritarian regimes want us to draw in opposition to the US.

        They very well could be (CIA-backed) spies. Or they very well could be dissidents or political enemies Iran wishes to get rid of.

        it's also the exact sort of thing the US is known for though even now, which is why that's a reasonable conclusion you can draw (especially with iran, where we literally overthrew a regime and imposed another one, which itself was overthrown by what is today the current government). if the US doesn't want people to assume that sort of thing or foreign governments to claim CIA spies, it should probably stop giving foreign governments that kind of ammunition by using the CIA to help ignite dissent in countries to get favorable results to american interests.

        (it also might help if the person who oversees all of this wasn't a compulsive, chronic liar in his own right who can't be trusted about even the pettiest details and even if he could be would be unable to confirm or deny this without revealing probably top-secret details about american military intelligence, but that's a whole other thing honestly.)

        9 votes
      2. [4]
        ubergeek
        Link Parent
        I'm going to guess that the names of the spies were leaked to Putin, via our POTUS, who then handed the names over to Iran, whom they are allies. It wouldn't be the first time our POTUS has leaked...

        I'm going to guess that the names of the spies were leaked to Putin, via our POTUS, who then handed the names over to Iran, whom they are allies.

        It wouldn't be the first time our POTUS has leaked agent's names, and we know he's very chummy with Putin.

        So, given all of the current evidence, I'd say it's highly likely Iran caught a bunch of our operatives, because of purposefully selling off our nation by our POTUS.

        4 votes
        1. [2]
          KapteinB
          Link Parent
          There is no current evidence. We don't even know if Iran has actually arrested anyone, or if they've just made it all up for their internal propaganda, like they've done several times before.

          given all of the current evidence

          There is no current evidence. We don't even know if Iran has actually arrested anyone, or if they've just made it all up for their internal propaganda, like they've done several times before.

          The Iranian government occasionally makes similar claims and it was not immediately possible to determine whether they are legitimate.

          3 votes
          1. ubergeek
            Link Parent
            The current evidence is that they said they did, and Trump has been known to leak operative's sensitive info to foreign leaders at least once....

            The current evidence is that they said they did, and Trump has been known to leak operative's sensitive info to foreign leaders at least once.

            https://www.vox.com/world/2017/7/25/16025136/trump-syria-cia-twitter-program-end-covert

            http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/05/trump-accidentally-confirms-that-he-leaked-israeli-intel.html?gtm=top

        2. [2]
          Comment deleted by author
          Link Parent
          1. ubergeek
            Link Parent
            If that is the case, then how did Trump already leak operative's names and area of location to Israel? Remember, he already did that, and it was documented....

            If that is the case, then how did Trump already leak operative's names and area of location to Israel?

            Remember, he already did that, and it was documented.

            https://www.vox.com/world/2017/7/25/16025136/trump-syria-cia-twitter-program-end-covert

            http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/05/trump-accidentally-confirms-that-he-leaked-israeli-intel.html?gtm=top

            What would the benefit be? Trump becomes better friends with Putin.