I’ve been thinking about Robert Levinson. He is the retired FBI Agent who disappeared in
2007 on the Iranian Island of Kish.
Levinson, who was operating as a private investigator, was initially
described, by government officials and his family, as investigating cigarette
smuggling. He was to meet with a
potential 'source' of information on Kish.
Kish Island is located approximately 12 miles from the
Iranian mainland and falls within the territorial jurisdiction of Iran. It is considered to be a rather attractive
tourist destination. And, is relatively
free-wheeling compared to mainland Iran.
The island is a money maker for Iran – hence the relaxation of the
strict standards that ordinarily apply to Iranian citizens and visitors to
their country. Make no mistake, however,
it is part of Iran - a country that cares little for Americans, particularly
those Americans connected with American intelligence agencies.
As we now know, or at least what has been reported as
accurate, Levinson was working as a contractor for the CIA. Apparently, Levinson had been recruited by
certain CIA Analysts, and was collecting information on the CIA’s behalf. What is concerning is that his actions were
not appropriate under CIA guidelines, and were apparently hidden from higher-ups
in the CIA bureaucracy. I tend not to
believe that, but that is the official story – at least for now. Several CIA employees were fired or
disciplined. All the fired employees
seemed to immediately land on their feet – obtaining other government positions
outside the CIA.
Regarding Levinson, personally, he was from reports within
the Bureau, very well liked, and an outstanding Agent. He had a wife and seven children. Post retirement, he was trying to make extra
money as a PI to help his seven children through college.
The CIA was paying him very well on a
contractual basis. His last contract
with the CIA was worth $120,000.
Interestingly, the CIA gave Levinson’s family a $2.5 million annuity to
keep, early on, Levinson’s actual purpose in going to Kish a secret. So, Levinson’s family will be taken care of
financially. This is, as we all
understand, small comfort to the family.
Should Levinson have gone to Kish? Well, in retrospect, we all know the answer
to that. In this day and age, all any
foreign government needs to do is run a basic Google search on an individual’s
name; and, bingo, they know Levinson was a retired Agent. That would be enough to pick him up and find
out what he was really doing in Iran. Under
questioning, he would quickly reveal his purpose. FBI Agents are not trained to thwart intense
interrogation techniques. Furthermore, the more professional
CIA operatives apparently did not know Levinson was even in the region – and,
of course, he had no backup. He probably
was not even missed for several days.
On a personal note, it’s been many years since I was an
Agent; but I would not accept an assignment or attempt to ‘vacation’ in any
number of present-day countries; particularly Iran and North Korea. To voluntarily go there, as far as I’m
concerned would be fool-hardy, if not downright stupid. I assume that the FBI advises their current
Agents of that; just as I was advised not to have FBI credentials in my
possession if an airplane on which I was traveling was ever hijacked to
Cuba. That was the advice given in the ‘70’s. As a supervisor once told me, “eat your
credentials if you have to.”
I want to be very clear here. I have deep sympathy for Levinson’s
family. In a perfect world, the Iranians
would now have all the information they need; and would return Levinson if and when
the US had admitted their error – which the CIA has done – sort of. My advice to the President is that he has to
stop playing Mr. Nice Guy. Someone in
the CIA high-up needs to be fired.
Perhaps, it should be the Director.
The President’s position should be, ‘I don’t care if you didn’t
know. It’s your job to know. I want your resignation.’
But, as we are all discovering, President Obama couldn’t
really do that. If he had such staunch
principals, he would have to also resign.
And, so it goes.
Robert Levinson may not be alive. Nonetheless, the FBI is offering $1 million for his return. It’s been approximately three years since his family has heard anything. They continue to keep his name before the
public; but hope is dimming. Of course,
the CIA and our government continues to play footsie. It’s their nature.
True Nelson
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