need to add title here

The Perfect Spy

May 10, 2009 4:35 PM

Steve Kroft examines one of the most mysterious cases in the annals of modern espionage: the life and death of Ashraf Marwan, who was claimed by both Israelis and Egyptians as their greatest spy.

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by andweber May 12, 2009 12:16 PM EDT
A great piece of information that adds the spying dimension to the history of Arab-Israeli conflict, regardless whether he was a spy or a double agent. As always, we'll never know for certain at the end.
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by Bergmann09 May 12, 2009 12:14 PM EDT
I wouldn't expect the Mossad to admit such a massive intelligence failure, even though a few of its own have alluded to being duped in several memoirs and articles. Unfortunately for them, anyone with common sense and the basic facts can see which side benefited from Mr. Marwan's work. Israel should have trusted its initial instinct, that Ashraf Marwan was simply too good to be true.

If he was working for the Israelis, he'd in fact be their worst-ever spy, judging by the results. 1) Egypt successfully launched the surprise attack, one nobody thought was possible, and recouped lost land while simultaneously forcing Israel to the negotiating table, 2) Israel was caught completely off-guard as this piece shows, 3) Israel's Prime Minister Golda Meir, along with top military and intelligence brass were all ousted following the war. They admit to not even believing Jordan's King Hussein when he personally flew to Israel to warn them of impending war.

If it wasn't for Marwan, Israel would be 130% larger today, as it was prior to the '73 war.

Ashraf Marwan; the "perfect" and Egyptian double agent.
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by Mr_Pragmatic May 11, 2009 7:45 PM EDT
Out of the fullness of your ignorance, Linux Rules 2009.
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by linuxrules-2009 May 11, 2009 4:39 PM EDT
This is so boring. I don't want to hear about it anymore. If there is one advice for dealing with countries in the Middle East it can only be "Don't trust anybody. They lie all the time." If you distrust them then that's probably exactly what they want you to do. We have been at this game for decades and there doesn't seem to be an end. From war to peace treaties to breaking them back to war, everybody earns by selling information, weapons, land, oil. Don't we have more interesting things to do right here in the United States?
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by Zbillz1 May 11, 2009 4:33 PM EDT
I don't really care which side he spied for... or both! What's REALLY counts is that Israel & it's people weren't defeated... once again, they were attacked by their Arab neighbors... with no provocation,... heavily outnumbered ...& out gunned yet, through the grace of God, they prevailed & survived. GOD BLESS ISRAEL & IT'S PEOPLE!! Throughout history... just about all countries have expanded their borders at the point of a gun, call it the spoils of war. Why is it that Israel's neighbors refuse to realize & admit that Israel's borders only expanded after they (Israel) successfully defended themselves again from their neighbor's aggression. You'd think these despot leaders of those countries would get it by now.. they haven't!!
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by serafim2-2009 May 11, 2009 11:15 AM EDT
Let me add that, although I do not believe in the legitimacy of the state of Israel, I do not advocate violence against anyone or any sentient being. After the horrors of the Holoucaust, I can understand that the Jewish people deserve and must have a homeland. I abhor and detest violent attacks upon Israelis as much as I do violent attacks upon anyone, no more and no less.
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by serafim2-2009 May 11, 2009 11:10 AM EDT
Great shame upon anyone who is not Jewish spying on anyone for the illegitimate government of Israel.
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by happyone01 May 10, 2009 11:11 PM EDT
An old story. You did not cover antthing new. I do not understand the timing of airing it now.
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