# BushCo outs our al-Qaeda infiltrator?! (Incompetent, malevolent, who gives a flip??) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 8, 2004, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-outs-our-al-qaeda-infiltrator-incompetent-malevolent-who-gives-a-flip/258831 "2004-08-08T01:01:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-outs-our-al-qaeda-infiltrator-incompetent-malevolent-who-gives-a-flip/258831/1 "2004-08-08T01:01:09Z")
> [@](#): > > [LONDON (Reuters)](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&e=8&u=/nm/20040807/ts_nm/security_source_dc) - The revelation that a mole within al Qaeda was exposed after Washington launched its “orange alert” this month has shocked security experts, who say the outing of the source may have set back the war on terror. We’d captured this Khan guy, who was the source of the 3-4 year old info that al-Qaeda was staking out certain financial buildings, and he was helping us track down his former comrades in arms. Then apparently we let his name slip. Oops: > [@](#): > > A day later, Britain hastily rounded up terrorism suspects, some of whom are believed to have been in contact with Khan while he was under cover. Washington has portrayed those arrests as a major success, saying one of the suspects, named Abu Musa al-Hindi or Abu Eissa al-Hindi, was a senior al Qaeda figure. > > But British police have acknowledged the raids were carried out in a rush. Suspects were dragged out of shops in daylight and caught in a high speed car chase, instead of the usual procedure of catching them at home in the early morning while they can offer less resistance. > > Security experts contacted by Reuters said they were shocked by the revelations that the source whose information led to the alert was identified within days, and that U.S. officials had confirmed his name. > > “The whole thing smacks of either incompetence or worse,” said Tim Ripley, a security expert who writes for Jane’s Defense publications. "You have to ask: what are they doing compromising a deep mole within al Qaeda, when it’s so difficult to get these guys in there in the first place? > > “It goes against all the rules of counter-espionage, counter-terrorism, running agents and so forth. It’s not exactly cloak and dagger undercover work if it’s on the front pages every time there’s a development, is it?” > > A source such as Khan – cooperating with the authorities while staying in active contact with trusting al Qaeda agents – would be among the most prized assets imaginable, he said. > > “Running agents within a terrorist organization is the Holy Grail of intelligence agencies. And to have it blown is a major setback which negates months and years of work, which may be difficult to recover.” Aaaaaaacccckkk!!! ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-outs-our-al-qaeda-infiltrator-incompetent-malevolent-who-gives-a-flip/258831/2 "2004-08-08T01:13:10Z")
Is this the guy whose capture was trumpeted by the administration right around the time of the Democratic National Convention? I’m seriously asking. I don’t know. I really don’t want to believe that the administration would throw away an intelligence asset of such incalculable value merely to score a few political points. I really, REALLY don’t want to discover that my tinfoil hat’s CyniSeismograph is THAT accurate. Please, someone, tell me I’m wrong? Please? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-outs-our-al-qaeda-infiltrator-incompetent-malevolent-who-gives-a-flip/258831/3 "2004-08-08T02:26:01Z")
It remains possible that this is nothing more than a perfectly ordinary fuck-up. Of majestic proportions, to be sure. Hope that helps. Best I can do. ---
**Author:** ![furlibusea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@furlibusea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furlibusea)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-outs-our-al-qaeda-infiltrator-incompetent-malevolent-who-gives-a-flip/258831/4 "2004-08-08T02:30:02Z")
I would like to know who the US “official” is and I hope he is looking for a job. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-outs-our-al-qaeda-infiltrator-incompetent-malevolent-who-gives-a-flip/258831/5 "2004-08-08T02:44:29Z")
> [@furlibusea](#): > > I would like to know who the US “official” is and I hope he is looking for a job. I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to take a number behind Valerie Plame. Starting investigations on the outing of our agents is strictly on a first-come first-served basis. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-outs-our-al-qaeda-infiltrator-incompetent-malevolent-who-gives-a-flip/258831/6 "2004-08-08T02:46:14Z")
Looking for a JOB? I hope his wife’s shopping for a funeral home. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-outs-our-al-qaeda-infiltrator-incompetent-malevolent-who-gives-a-flip/258831/7 "2004-08-08T10:55:03Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Is this the guy whose capture was trumpeted by the administration right around the time of the Democratic National Convention? Nope, [different guy](http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=5818158§ion=news). The guy whose capture was announced right before Kerry’s speech was: > [@](#): > > Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, a Tanzanian who is on the FBI’s most wanted “terrorists” list for his alleged role in the 1998 bombings by al Qaeda of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. The guy whose name the US government let slip last Sunday is Mohammad Naeem Noor Khan. By all indications, placing operatives inside al-Qaeda isn’t something we have any skill at. So when we finally have a guy working for us on the inside, revealing his name to the world is a fuckup of massive proportions. I agree with **elucidator** that this revelation could have originated from stupidity rather than the Bush Administration’s continual desire to make the most political hay out of everything they do, regardless of the consequences. But three questions for the Bush Administration: Who revealed Khan’s name to the press? Why aren’t you mad as hell about this leak? Why hasn’t the leaker been fired? I’ll bet the Administration doesn’t fire anyone over this, unless it gets the play in the US papers that it seems to be getting in Britain. PR is everything with these guys, and I think their play right now is, “Maybe nobody on this side of the Atlantic will notice that we’ve fucked up, big time.” ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-outs-our-al-qaeda-infiltrator-incompetent-malevolent-who-gives-a-flip/258831/8 "2004-08-08T13:14:25Z")
I posted a different article about this in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5144022&postcount=128) The link that I posted there now links to a different article. You can tell because I posted the entire original article. To start with, the original article was titled (and subtitled): \*\*Pakistan: U.S. blew undercover operation \*\* Al-Qaida suspect was secretly cooperating with counterrorist sting The one there now, as of this writing, is **Bush offers defense of terrorism alert** Also, Pakistan says U.S. blew an undercover operation And people say the media is liberal. Ha! One of the things mentioned in the [MSNBC article](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5626850) not mentioned in the Reuters article was this tidbit. Thank goodness I quoted the whole article: > [@](#): > > **A senior intelligence official said Khan’s wife was the sister of a “top ranking” leader of the Taliban, the former rulers of Afghanistan.** So, I wonder if the Mrs. was covert too, working to get information about the Taliban, who are almost certainly re-grouping and still helping Osama. This administration is a disaster! How can anyone justify this kind of dangerous sloppiness? Where’s the outrage? I only see liberals in this thread. Where are the conservatives? ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-outs-our-al-qaeda-infiltrator-incompetent-malevolent-who-gives-a-flip/258831/9 "2004-08-08T13:21:06Z")
Thanks, **RTFirefly**. I was genuinely hoping to be wrong. Truly, it would be easier to accept **luci’s** view that it’s merely (merely!) a fuckup. As colossally stupid and damaging as it is. Now, not only have we lost a crucial operative, we’ve made Al Qaeda doubly alert for any other possible infiltrators. Way to go! ---
**Author:** ![Spiny\_Norman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Spiny\_Norman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiny_Norman)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-outs-our-al-qaeda-infiltrator-incompetent-malevolent-who-gives-a-flip/258831/10 "2004-08-08T13:22:11Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > I only see liberals in this thread. Where are the conservatives? Too busy explaining how Kerry didn’t _really_ deserve his medals in Vietnam. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-outs-our-al-qaeda-infiltrator-incompetent-malevolent-who-gives-a-flip/258831/11 "2004-08-08T13:37:29Z")
Sandy Berger got a Blowjob! Compromised the entire war on terror. The man ought to be serving hard time. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-outs-our-al-qaeda-infiltrator-incompetent-malevolent-who-gives-a-flip/258831/12 "2004-08-08T13:54:57Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > So, I wonder if the Mrs. was covert too, working to get information about the Taliban, who are almost certainly re-grouping and still helping Osama. > > This administration is a disaster! How can anyone justify this kind of dangerous sloppiness? Where’s the outrage? I´m wondering about the safety of that mole and his relatives, I don´t think Al Qaeda will just write a letter of complaint on the strongest possible terms to the undercover agent. ---
**Author:** ![laigle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@laigle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laigle)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-outs-our-al-qaeda-infiltrator-incompetent-malevolent-who-gives-a-flip/258831/13 "2004-08-08T14:17:20Z")
Yes, but since Bush has been appointed by the Lord Jeebus Almighty to lead us into the final war against the unbelievers, it’s far more important for him to do anything possible to get re-elected than to protect our intelligence infrastructure. That’s why he had to blow our undercover operation against Al Qaida, and earlier our WMD monitoring program. The loss of those assets are trifles, since Jeebus il be descending with flaming sword to purge the earth of Islamists and homosinuals and evilutionists November 3rd. Excuse me while I research Canada’s immigration policies and job market. ---
**Author:** ![Nightime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Nightime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightime)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-outs-our-al-qaeda-infiltrator-incompetent-malevolent-who-gives-a-flip/258831/14 "2004-08-08T16:41:22Z")
This thread makes me dizzy. If only everyone could realize that this is not about Republican or Democrat, but about saving ourselves from a dangerously incompetent or malevolent leadership. Unfortunately, it is easy to stir up partisan dischord, and our current leadership has intentionally divided the nation in the hopes that their side will ignore things like this in the name of unity. And it is working. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-outs-our-al-qaeda-infiltrator-incompetent-malevolent-who-gives-a-flip/258831/15 "2004-08-08T17:23:20Z")
The linked article says that the operative was outed by the New York Times, and that officials then confirmed it. > [@](#): > > The New York Times obtained Khan’s name independently, and U.S. officials confirmed it when it appeared in the paper the next morning. I mean, if the guy’s name was in the New York Times, there is little point in denying it. It doesn’t seem likely that terrorists with whom he was working would wait for a White House denial before killing him. So, my question is this: how would a denial or a no-comment have been any better? ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-outs-our-al-qaeda-infiltrator-incompetent-malevolent-who-gives-a-flip/258831/16 "2004-08-08T18:47:11Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > I mean, if the guy’s name was in the New York Times, there is little point in denying it. It doesn’t seem likely that terrorists with whom he was working would wait for a White House denial before killing him. So, my question is this: how would a denial or a no-comment have been any better? I think the point is that by releasing the warning and saying it came from someone held secretly by Pakistan, they made it obvious enough whom the information had come from that the NYT was able to figure it out. People aren’t saying that confirming the name was the major error, more the icing on the cake. This may or may not be true of course; just clarifying what I thought the actual accusation was. You’re right, though, the confirmation would make no difference except to compound the original error. ---
**Author:** ![cmason32](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@cmason32](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmason32)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-outs-our-al-qaeda-infiltrator-incompetent-malevolent-who-gives-a-flip/258831/17 "2004-08-08T19:28:01Z")
Apparently, Condoleezza Rice was on Wolf Blitzer’s show today and he asked her about this. The transcript for the show isn’t yet up - does anyone know what she said? ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-outs-our-al-qaeda-infiltrator-incompetent-malevolent-who-gives-a-flip/258831/18 "2004-08-08T21:59:00Z")
Apparently, Rice acknowledged that the administration gave the name to the press “on background.” From [http://www.washingtonmonthly.com](http://www.washingtonmonthly.com) > [@](#): > > WHO OUTED KHAN?..Juan Cole is listening to CNN and says Wolf Blitzer had a report a few minutes ago about the al-Qaeda double agent whose identity was revealed on Monday: > > Blitzer then revealed that he had discussed the Khan case with US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice on background. He reported that she had admitted that the Bush administration had in fact revealed Khan’s name to the press. She said she did not know if Khan was a double agent working for the Pakistani government. (!!!) > > I’m not sure why Blitzer ratted out Rice if she was speaking on background, but who cares? If Blitzer is right, it means that it was indeed the U.S. who blew Khan’s cover, and if Rice is well informed, it means that it was done without even knowing that the Pakistanis were still using him. > > I’m a little surprised that Rice would say something like this, so I think I’ll wait for further confirmation on this story. But it sure looks pretty rank at the moment. > > UPDATE: In comments, Baseballgirl clears up Blitzer’s remarks about Rice: > > She said it on screen. She said that Khan’s name was given to the media ‘on background’ by the Administration. Wolf didn’t “out her”, she outed herself. > > That’s better. I’m still surprised Rice would admit this, though. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-outs-our-al-qaeda-infiltrator-incompetent-malevolent-who-gives-a-flip/258831/19 "2004-08-08T22:27:27Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to take a number behind Valerie Plame. Starting investigations on the outing of our agents is strictly on a first-come first-served basis. Don’t forget the “one of a handful of senior officials” who spilled the “extremely sensitive”, “highly classified” national security information “that could get people [Americans for those in Rio Linda] killed” to a “nefarious figure from the dark side of the [Iranian] regime - an individual with a **direct hand** in covert operations directed **against the United States** ”? There’s an ongoing investigation into this high crime. If Iran were officially an enemy, then it’d have the potential to qualify as _genuine_ treason (opposed to the make-believe Coulter type). Too bad the fellow who did this doesn’t just come forth honorably and save us some tax dollars. I just made a funny. A national politican doing something against his personal interests forthe sake of what’s right. Like that’s gonna happen. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-outs-our-al-qaeda-infiltrator-incompetent-malevolent-who-gives-a-flip/258831/20 "2004-08-08T22:29:25Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > I only see liberals in this thread. Where are the conservatives? I have a RL, you know. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-outs-our-al-qaeda-infiltrator-incompetent-malevolent-who-gives-a-flip/258831.md?page=2)