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CIA Has Recruited Iranians to Defect

[Los Angeles Times] Greg Miller - The CIA launched a secret program in 2005 designed to degrade Iran's nuclear weapons program by persuading key officials to defect, an effort that has prompted a "handful" of significant departures, current and former U.S. intelligence officials familiar with the operation say. The previously undisclosed program, which CIA officials dubbed "the Brain Drain," is part of a major intelligence push against Iran ordered by the White House two years ago. Officials said fewer than six well-placed Iranians have defected, and that none has been in a position to provide comprehensive information on Tehran's nuclear program. The rewards for defectors can be substantial, including relocation to another country and lifetime financial support. During a briefing last week, a senior U.S. intelligence official said that Iran was "the hardest intelligence target there is." "I mean, by comparison, North Korea is an open and transparent society," the official said.
2007-12-11 01:00:00
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