U.S. Working To Sabotage Iran Nuke Program

CBS: Iranian Efforts To Enrich Uranium Are Progressing Despite Covert Efforts To Disrupt Program

(CBS)  This article was written by Sheila MacVicar and Ashley Velie with Amy Guttman.

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CBS News has learned that Iran is continuing to make progress on its expanded efforts to enrich uranium — in spite of covert efforts by U.S. and other allied intelligence agencies to actively sabotage the country's nuclear program.

"Industrial sabotage is a way to stop the program, without military action, without fingerprints on the operation, and really, it is ideal, if it works," says Mark Fitzpatrick, the former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Non-Proliferation and now Senior Fellow in Non-Proliferation at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Sources in several countries involved told CBS News that the intelligence operatives involved include former Russian nuclear scientists and Iranians living abroad. Operatives have sold Iran components with flaws that are difficult to detect, making them unstable or unusable.

"One way to sabotage a program is to make minor modifications in some of the components Iran obtains on the black market, and because it's a black market … you don't know exactly who you are dealing with," Fitzpatrick says.

Senior government representatives, who spoke to CBS News on condition that neither they nor their country be identified, pointed to the case of the exploding power supplies. Installed at the pilot enrichment facility at Natanz in April 2006 as Iran was first attempting to enrich uranium, the power supplies, used to regulate voltaage current, blew up, destroying 50 centrifuges. The head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Agency, Vice-President Gholamreza Aghazadeh said in January of this year that the equipment had been "manipulated."

There is other evidence, CBS News was told, that some of the technical difficulties Iran is having in consistently running its centrifuges are the results of a concerted effort at industrial sabotage.

Sources familiar with the U.S. effort against Iran tell CBS News that U.S. intelligence agencies have run several programs in recent years, employing different techniques, including modifying components in hard-to-detect ways and making subtle changes to technical documents and drawings, rendering them useless.

"Governments [interested in deterring Iran] are investing a lot of effort to disrupt the Iranian trade, or track their purchases," says David Albright, President of the Institute for Science and International Security.

Iran is vulnerable to industrial sabotage because it is prohibited from buying what it wants on the open market. Instead, analysts say, it has turned to the black market, focusing efforts to clandestinely acquire the technology in Western Europe. Intelligence sources tell CBS News that Iranian agents working from the Islamic Republic's consulate in Frankfurt, Germany, have shipped home banned components using the protection and secrecy of diplomatic bags.

Although export controls are stronger in Europe than in many other countries, the Iranians still need European products because of either their quality or reliability, or because they already have European-manufactured products and are looking for spare parts.

But the procurement network is global, and trans-national, analysts say. In Dubai and other neighboring nations, Iran has established a shifting network of front companies.

"These are clandestine efforts. Iran frequently changes its front companies, frequently changes its financial arrangements, and government intelligence agencies have been looking at this," says Fitzpatrick

Albright says Iran has become even more sophisticated in its illicit procurement efforts than the network established by AQ Khan that obtained components and materiel for Pakistan's bomb program.

"They have moved beyond just front companies and are very hard to detect," he said. "The Iranians are very clever."

Iran is described as "highly suspicious" and "almost paranoid," and is believed to be predisposed to believe that any of its many technical problems may be the result of foreign sabotage.

"It’s impossible to say the extent to which Iran has discovered any industrial espionage," Fitzpatrick says. "Any technical problems that Iran experiences in its program, some of which were the result of its own speed-up effort, Iran may attribute to foreign espionage."

According to diplomats, getting the Iranians to believe that components may have been tampered with can be as effective in delaying the program as the real thing. But the diplomats also warn that with enough money and time, Iran's nuclear ambitions cannot be derailed by sabotage alone.

[tjstarfire]

Sabotage is an act of war.
It is not strange at all that the wolves in sheeps clothing are expanding their killing grounds once again

[progressv]

Sapperly and all, you are mistaken. This story was *intentionally planted* with CBS News by U.S. and allied intelligence. Please note:

1. The story was given to CBS by "senior officials" in the administrations of several Western governments.

2. All gave the story under identical conditions of anonymity.

3. "According to diplomats, getting the Iranians to believe that components may have been tampered with can be as effective in delaying the program as the real thing."

CBS isn't divulging sensitive secrets. U.S. and allied governments are planting this story in the media.

Steve of progressiveportal.org/store

[sapperly]

Between you idiots, the New York Times and the rest of you America hating ---holes, giving away our classified secrets really shows me, and I assume may others, of lengths you will go to help the enemy just because you don't like the sitting President. YOu would think that you could disagree with his ideology but would still want to protect you country, but I guess it is more important to hate Bush than it is the terrorist. Don't give us this "journalism" ***. You are traitors in my eyes and should be charged with treason. Ever wonder why your viewership continues to drop like a rock?

[sapperly]

Between you idiots, the New York Times and the rest of you America hating ---holes, giving away our classified secrets really shows me, and I assume may others, of lengths you will go to help the enemy just because you don't like the sitting President. YOu would think that you could disagree with his ideology but would still want to protect you country, but I guess it is more important to hate Bush than it is the terrorist. Don't give us this "journalism" ***. You are traitors in my eyes and should be charged with treason. Ever wonder why your viewership continues to drop like a rock?

[toolmangler-2009]

And you believed the Nights Templar had been put out of business. silly people.....

[rookwetzel]

Thanks for the info on the sabotage of the Iranian Nuke efforts. Excellent reporting job. Now if you would please give us all the details; exactly who are the saboteurs involved, where do they live and where do their kids go to school. I'm certain the Iranians would love to know this information and I'm also certain as soon as you get your hands on this information those dirty rotten sabateurs and their families are toast. Thanks alot. At least now we know for certain exactly whose side you are on.

[rider237]

often the MSM says that it is their job to be objective in reporting. isn't it interesting that they, by default, take the side of the enemy by publishing info to help the enemy.

it may be that it is imposable to keep from taking sides. seems to me that in that case, the MSM would take the side of the country that protects their right to speak freely. with rights come responsibility. just because you know a thing, does not mean you MUST publish it. especially when it is not in the best interest of your country.

it is discouraging that this story is not surprising.

[korpusel]

At the VERY LEAST we should be sabotaging this madman's nuke program. Yay for us!

[pnac1984]

Learn something from Scott Ritter (who had it right about Iraq):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiZrWIVR69s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1sK-2LwMPU

This isen't about nukes or terrorism.

"When you have the Bush administration and the neoconservatives speak about the Middle East, they aren't solely focused on Iraq. They speak of the need to "transform the entire region." This means that regime change is the policy."
- Scott Ritter.

[toolmangler-2009]

If bushy looked as scary(crazy) as Ahmadamnutjob more people would believe him of being the conniving person he is. (don't turn your backs on either of them)

[incog-nito]

Some people on this board seem to be scared out of their wits.

[toolmangler-2009]

I doubt that the US is trying anything like that. I do however think they may want Ahmadamnutjob to think so, If you are looking for spooks maybe you have less time to get into real trouble.
Aint misdirerction wunnerful?

[bezukhov10]

Great, you've learned. Cheers! One question, however: do you have a job?

[bezukhov10]

That shows a bit of progress, though I'd try to avoid so many spaces next time--it tends to be distracting.

[lars008-2009]

what do you call an organization that:

kills you if you don't join it...

http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=82201&ln=eng&txt=islam%20law%20kill%20kaafir

kills you if you leave it...

http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=696&ln=eng&txt=kaafir%20kill

kills you if you don't do what they tell you to do..

http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=6035&ln=eng&txt=kaafir%20kill

kills you if you speak against it%u2026.

http://islamqa.com/index.php?QR=22809&ln=eng

kills anybody that is not a member of it...

http://www.hauns.com/~DCQu4E5g/koran5.html

still practices pagan rituals...

http://answering-islam.org/Silas/pagansources.htm

allows the r a p e of babies and animals...

http://www.homa.org/default.asp?TOCID=2083225445

a. satanic cult???
b. islam???
c. all the above???

Our Prophet commanded us to fight the kaafirs when we are able and to attack them in their homelands and to give them three choices before we enter their lands: either they become Muslim and be like us, sharing our rights and duties; or they pay the jizyah (poll tax) and feel themselves subdued; or they fight, in which case their wealth, women, children and homes become permissible as booty for the Muslims.
http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=13759&ln=eng&txt=before%20islam%20arabia%20pagan

[bezukhov10]

JFarah1: Thanks for presenting an opinion that's not drenched in ignorance. While I'm loth to agree with you about striking Iran, I do agree that Ahmedinejad is one scary dude. God bless you and your bro.

[bezukhov10]

Lars: that is a terribly incoherent message you're providing there. If you're trying to fear-monger, try using grammar and paragraph organization a little more effectively.

[lars008-2009]

NOW CAN WE KILL THEM???
If they can kill us, we can kill them

Hizbullah Deputy Sec-Gen Sheikh Naim Qassem: We Have Jurisprudent Permission to Carry Out 'Martyrdom' Operations, Fire Missiles on Israeli Civilians From Ayatollah Khomeini
http://memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD154907

if it is ok for fascist nazi islamic muslims to kill all non muslims everywhere.... is it ok for the non muslims to kill all fascist nazi islamic muslims???

Switching Sides: Inside The Enemy Camp

But then in 2000, well before his arrest, something happened which would make Abas question everything he believed in: a fatwa, a religious edict, was issued by Osama bin Laden.

"It should be understood that killing Americans and Jews anywhere found are the highest act of worship and the highest form of good deeds in the eyes of Allah," Simon quotes bin Laden.

Abas and his fellow commanders were ordered to read the fatwa to their men and make sure they carried it out. The others obeyed, but Abas refused. It was his moment of truth. He firmly believed that jihad was to be fought only on the battlefield in defense of Islam; he had always been taught that the killing of civilians had nothing to do with holy war and that it was forbidden.

The fatwa justified killing non-Muslim civilians everywhere.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/04/60minutes/main2761108.shtml?source=RSSattr=60Minutes_2761108

[boycottcbs1]

Why are you at CBS who reported this story and your sources not tried for treason? CBS should be ashamed of how it constantly tries to undermine our efforts. "Hey Iran, this is how we are trying to stop you from getting nukes. Please make proper adjustments as to thwart our efforts. Sincerely, CBS." You should be shut down, most of your reporters tried for treason and shot! Oh, I do boycott you and your advertisers, but since this popped up on Drudgereport, I looked. Down with you all!

[jfarah1]

This Aminajihad fella is scary.
Order the decapitation strike. You will have broad international support, as this time there really is a clear threat of WMDs.
The good people of Iran deserve better than this maniac. Don't wait untill its too late. He will strike Isreal, and worse, the green zone as soon as he is able.

I live in Canada and my brother is in FLA, he served 2 Iraq tours with 101st. All of us Canadians support the proactive pursuit of global stability. (We will send all 50 of our soldiers to help.) Diplomacy is futile with this hothead.
Order the decapitation strike.