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.

[radiob-2009]

The cat is out of the bag now! Some clandestine operations, why would a government agent that is involved in this tell the news media? Is the source of this SITE?

[one_american]

The Islamic Supremecist Regime in Iran is rushing to war against its neighbors and Western Civilization...

How well prepared Americans are in response to that impending threat - remains to be seen.

[arthurcl1]

Yes, the Iranians are reading this now and saying "hmmm" we better do things differently! The west is on to us.

[freedom761]

I believe that CBS news is sabotaging the United States by releasing sensitive information to our enemies that only wants to kill all Americans. Shame on you CBS news!!!! Giving aid & comfort to our enemies!!!!

[ramos937]

Normally, I am on CBS News side but releasing this information is plain wrong and very much hurts the USA. Somebody, regardless of the reasons for release, should have stepped back and realized that releasing this information could endanger the covert people working in this area. I do not know if sabotaging the Iranian effort is good or bad but endangering our people is just plain wrong.

[aaabee-2009]

Are you sure that is the case here, freedom761?

And I am not picking on you either. I beleive the escalation is from our side, and the information being presented is to incite the American people into supporting another war.

Bush has already sent ships to the straits. What has Iran done differently in the past few days? Who is reporting on them, anyone that isn't on the American payroll?

We are being pushed straight into another war.

Oh America, fool you once, fool you twice.

[jraf766]

We should join the Isrelis in a air campain for all that *** irans presidents been talking this last year. I dont understand why we are waiting on UN the hell with them corrupted countries, that are on the edge of collapse anyways.

[radiob-2009]

Posted by AaaBee

Perhaps Bush should read the Chathman House report. The US does not to feed our enemies and I am not referring to the Iranian people themselves but confration by the US without provocation will not make more friends and will make more enemies.The world has enough extremist from North to South, East to West and it is time for the world to stand up and say enough.

[jraf766]

For those us think its for oil, well who knows, what I know is that there has been lots of energy inventions through different bright people. Where are those inventions, the gov wont give them a patent, it interferes with black gold

[grazinggoat]

No wonder they captured the NGO guy, Kian Tajbakhsh, who was giving his time and energy to heal people in Iran and most probably spendin the after-hours and week-ends spying on the nukelar sites... intelligent appraoch in disguising the spying personnel into NGO benevolent. It endangers the real NGO workers!

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/23/world/main2842305.shtml

[glidescube]

What are we waiting for? Let's level the Iranian military machine and nuclear research facilities. Let's defang and dewclaw that mad tiger before it's too late.

[dlpracer]

On October 26, 2005 Ahmadinejad gave a speech at a conference in Tehran entitled "World Without Zionism". According to widely published translations, he agreed with a statement he attributed to Ayatollah Khomeini that the "occupying regime" had to be removed, and referred to it as a "disgraceful stain on the Islamic world" that must be "wiped off the map".

On December 12, 2006, Ahmadinejad addressed the International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the Holocaust, and made comments about the future of Israel.

He said, "Israel is about to crash. This is God's promise and the wish of all the world's nations." He continued, "Everyone must know that just as the U.S.S.R. disappeared, this will also be the fate of the Zionist regime, and humanity will be free."

According to Amnesty International, dissidents who oppose the government non-violently face harassment, torture and execution and the election of Ahmadinejad signaled the defeat of "pro-reform" supporters.

According to Human Rights Watch, "respect for basic human rights in Iran, especially freedom of expression and assembly, deteriorated in 2006. The government routinely tortures and mistreats detained dissidents, including through prolonged solitary confinement."

Yup, nothing to worry about here. If I were living in Tel Aviv, I would expect MY allies to assist the ONLY democracy in the region.

Try again.

[fonic8gw]

...this next chapter in the History of Wars book has all the ingredients: the extremists hate the freedom-fighters and vice-versa, racism, religion, ignorance, bad decisions and intelligence (or lack of) have major roles to where this is all headed....mark my words, I give WWIII a starting date in 5-6 years, max. If you don't agree, just take off your rose-colored glasses before you reply.

[aaabee-2009]

Bush has okay'd more ships to the straits already. Our media is full of anti-Iran stuff again. The news is "leaking" strategies that sound more like inciting America to action, and Bush is making the usual terrorist/patriotic speaches again.

Is HE is pushing THEM? You corner an animal and it will strike at you in fear.

After the factual misinformation of the Iraq war, why is NO ONE asking stern hard and deep questions about why this administration is pushing to war with Iran?

Is Iran in the way of something? Is Iranian nukes like the yellow cake that got us into Iraq?

Why can't someone creditable come forward who isn't on Bush's payroll and tell the world violent and irrevocable war is needed on Iran? It would be easier to swallow.

Why aren't any other countries threatening to thump Iran because of nukes? Do nukes not reach anyone else but us or Israel?

Bush has had 7 years to show his true character to the entire globe.

Are we REALLY going to take on Iran under this liars leadership!!!!!!!!!!!!

[radiob-2009]

Does Ahmadinejad represent the people of Iran? Does Bush or any other leadrer represent the whole of the populace? Ahmadinejad words are his words and represent the sentiment of himself and the extremist that believe as he does? Fools rush in where no mortal dares to tread.

[aaabee-2009]

radiob? You ever post on Kevin Drum's Political Animal? Yours is the sort of dialogue that seems to coincide with their rather fun rather serious stuff. I go to read, and absorb the atmosphere. lol.

[grazinggoat]

:)

What else ya gonna do on a lazy Wednesday night when ya run outta beer?
Posted by AaaBee at 08:14 PM : May 23, 2007

-Dont know if he would appreciate it, but invite Ahmadinejad for a glass of wine and chat about all and everything, why not buying a gift: the new Gillette 5-blade shaving thing...

[radiob-2009]

radiob? You ever post on Kevin Drum's Political Animal? Yours is the sort of dialogue that seems to coincide with their rather fun rather serious stuff. I go to read, and absorb the atmosphere. lol.


Posted by AaaBee

Thanks for the previous compliment, no I am not familiar with Kevin Drum's Political Amimal.

[aaabee-2009]

Hummmm, friends don't let friends shave drunk.

[aaabee-2009]

You otta pop over to the Washington Monthly sometime. That is where they hide Kevin. His Political Animal and Josh Marshall's Talking Points Cafe seem to draw the kind of bloggers that make me feel intelligent just because I read what they write. I bet you could weigh in under your own merits, you seem to keep a cool perspective.

No biggy either way, I'm just a fan of rational bloggers. :)

[radiob-2009]

Hummmm, friends don't let friends shave drunk.


Posted by AaaBee


Still laughing,perhaps we can get all of the "world leaders" together for a glass of wine or bourbon whatever they desire and hand out new razors.

[mattcbsmatt]

Iran is continuing to make progress on its efforts to expand ur *** %u2014 in spite of covert efforts by U.S. and France wants to a tighten ***. : )

[ubrew12]

Iran is a 3000 year old people who have in that time been invaded by every country on their borders. Today, every one of those countries is a nuclear power: India, Pakistan, Israel, China, Russia, Europe. Its just a joke that, given that history, the Persian people wouldn't be the least bit paranoid of what tomorrow will bring should they remain non-nuke and the Americans lose their interest in the area. I don't want them to have nukes either right now and accept these covert actions. Remember that Ademinejad barely won election last time and is currently unpopular. A large minority of the population, mostly the young ones, have had a belly full of the mullahs, but deeply unpopular U.S. aggressive action (like an aerial bombing) would boomerang by cementing support around the mullahs. We need to tread carefully, and recognize that the security needs of Iran must include some kind of nuclear deterrent (if only ours by treaty) in their future. That's just the sad truth, given their long, sad, oft-times conquered history.

[incog-nito]

A well-placed low-yield tactical nuclear device should do the trick. If done properly, civilian casualties should limited to less than 50,000.

[flierone]

So you think it newsworthy to report on success of the administration at thwarting Amedinajhad's nuclear progress? I cannot stand George Bush, but you are beneath contempt. Your actions do not just border on treason, you have crossed the line. You have increased the risk to this country by disclosing our successful methods.

Too bad that no one in this Justice Department has the testicular fortitude to charge CBS with treason.

[hungry1968]

I'm honestly more concerned with President Bush having his finger on the nuclear button, than I am about Ahmadinejad.

Ahmadinejad might be a threatening figure on the world political scene, but Bush is proven to lead us into unprovoked hostilities.

[hungry1968]

We've already unleashed the genocide. More people have died in Iraq in the past 4 years, than died in the previous 27 under Saddam Hussein. If Bush wants to run "the world doctrine according to PNAC", then he should be pope - not President.

As far as "Our own news outlets divulging content that would have landed them in the same hot water as the Rosenbergs", ABC gave them the opportunity to kill the report and the government didn't act, or refused to act. Either way, I'm sure Iran was expecting some sort of clandestine actions by our government.

Also, there can be no comparison between World War II and this occupation. Bush wanted to attack Saddam and remove him from power. He looked for a reason, any reason, to take us into war with Iraq. When no "reason" existed, he had "reasons" fabricated. The only comparison between WWII and Iraq is that Bush invaded Iraq in much the same way that Hitler invaded Poland.

[fascistusa]

Next on the Neo-Con Fascist Elitist Agenda??

Iran.

9/11 part 2.

Police State America.

Unready?

[on_alert247]

I wonder how many people will die in Iran over the next few days because this story was published.

[hungry1968]

"Yep, radical Islamic propoganda has successfully fooled you. They hate Bush too. They call him the biggest threat to the world. You liberals share the same views as Islamic terrorists who want to overthrow our government yet you don't even realize it. You liberals are blind."
Posted by singinrick at 11:22 PM : May 23, 2007

I've never listened to any propaganda that anyone has ever thrown at me. I have a brain and I use common sense - not religion - to guide my decisions. There is no doubt that Bush is easily the biggest threat to the world, with the radical muslim fundamentalists right behind him. I don't want to overthrow the government - I just want the most dangerous people removed from power, (Bush, Cheney, etc. Fortunately, Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz have already been removed.)
I think OJ Simpson would make a better leader than Bush - he's definitely killed less people.

[fascistusa]

We live in a FASCIST NATION ruled by the American Elite and AIPAC/Israel.

The Neo-Con Fascist Elitists are planning 9/11 part 2.

They can KILL as many Right-Wing Fascists as they wish...

The rest of you better be ready.

[hungry1968]

try again
Posted by badaxmofo at 11:32 PM : May 23, 2007

Oh okay - I'll try again because you said so. No argument to the truth I posted, so I guess I'm supposed to post against my own post? Do something that makes sense - shut your computer down and watch TV.

[on_alert247]

Hungry1968,
How many people did FDR kill? How many people did HST kill?

[hungry1968]

Hungry1968,
How many people did FDR kill? How many people did HST kill?
Posted by on_alert247 at 11:38 PM : May 23, 2007

I have no idea - I'm talking about right here, right now. The war mongering right always say, "Well, what about Clinton?" or "Well, what about Kerry?" when trying to defend Bush. You're basically saying to me: "Yeah President Bush is guilty of many war crimes, but what about the OTHER guy?" I can't remember the last time someone asked me about something a President did almost 60 years ago!!! But if you notice the thread is about Iran here and now - today.

[on_alert247]

The question was to get a sense of your objectivity. What and why 60years ago DOES matter. It's why we do the things we do today. It why the middle east is the way it is today.

[hungry1968]

More from Rosie O'Donnel later...
Posted by badaxmofo at 11:38 PM : May 23, 2007

That's hilarious!! That's the best argument you can give to my post? Obviously you know that Bush had the lies created - you won't even try to dispute it. The best you can do is compare me to her?!?

Here you go try this, "I'm rubber, you're glue...". It's right in line with the mentality of your thread.

[on_alert247]

Dukakis,

Amen.

[hungry1968]

The question was to get a sense of your objectivity. What and why 60years ago DOES matter. It's why we do the things we do today. It why the middle east is the way it is today.
Posted by on_alert247 at 11:51 PM : May 23, 2007

Oh no, no, no!! The reason the middle east is the way it is today is because of this administration. The entire middle east is de-stabilized, the Taliban is running free in Afghanistan (and now Iraq) without worrying about being caught, Iran is thumbing it's nose at us - knowing our military is stretched too thin to react to anything it does, oil prices are at all time highs, Muslims everywhere hate us, and we've lost all of our credibility world wide - all within the Bush administration's 6 years in office. You don't need to look back 60 years to see why the middle east is the way it is - 6 years is plenty.

[ikez78]

Hey CBS, Ahmadinjead says thanks for the heads up.

It's quite clear who's side you are on and it's certainly not the U.S.A's. Not that this is anything new but you people really are pieces of garbage for throwing away America's secrets for your own profits. Scum. Pure scum.

[xzavierbrown]

hungry1968..when did you start taking interest on middle east issues??when Bush took office?? Middle East is Middle East because you want thier oil, clerics wants the power to control your fiendish need and Carter showed them that terrorism works. Several administration had gone through this middle east crisis.

[on_alert247]

Then you are not objective because you don't understand the history. Difficult to discuss Iran, Iraq or Israel without an understanding of the their histories, culture and interactions with western ideas and culture. BTW, America's first war was against Muslims. We tried to pay our way out of a war but it didn't work: "From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli ..."

[flierone]

So you think it newsworthy to report on success of the administration at thwarting Amedinajhad's nuclear progress? I cannot stand George Bush, but you are beneath contempt. Your actions do not just border on treason, you have crossed the line. You have increased the risk to this country by disclosing our successful methods.

Too bad that no one in this Justice Department has the testicular fortitude to charge CBS with treason.

[hungry1968]

dukakislives:

Funny how you try to tie Carter into this mess.

Did you ever hear of Iran-Contra? That happened during Reagan's administration.

The Iran - Iraq war was from September 1980 to August 1988. From Reagan to Bush.

From Wikipedia: "The initial Soviet deployment of the 40th Army in Afghanistan began on December 25, 1979. The final troop withdrawal began on May 15, 1988, and ended on February 15, 1989. Due to the high cost and ultimate futility of this conflict for this Cold War superpower, the Soviet war in Afghanistan has often been referred to as the equivalent of the United States' Vietnam War. Many observers believe the economic costs and military failure of the war contributed significantly to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991."

This what we can look forward to thanks to the Bush administration? The collapse of our society?

[cburn665]

I am no fan of this administration but, CBS, you were wrong to disclose this kind of information. Unless, unless, this information was purposely leaked to deter the Iranians from shopping the black markets.

Clandestine efforts could have been used to unseat Saddam, if Mr. Bush was so concerned. In fact, none of those clowns in the Middle East should have been allowed to reach nuclear capability.

I am sure we have black operations that could deal with these kinds of threats to us and the world.

[delete91]

Propaganda is one method used by the US to curtail Iran's effort's. This could hardly be sensitive material declassified by CBS news..lol.

[incog-nito]

In order to determine who is ultimately responsible for all this mess, you would have to go further back in history. Thus, logically if you go far back enough, you will find that the real culprit is none other than... Adam!

[duffyn]

The Muslims.... Like they're all one big united nervous system. They are just like the rest of us - some good, some bad. Just like any other race or religion.

[delete91]

"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."

Quote from above for previous comment.

[incog-nito]

dukakislives:

This just goes to show that if you go back far enough, you can always find somebody on the other side to blame. And that makes for silly debates.

[delete91]

No matter what the root of this is, a solution is still needed NOW.