CENTRAL VIEW for Monday, February 22, 2010

A killing in Dubai: The obvious may not be real

After a year of news-making by the Obamagician, it is a relief to turn our attention to the recent assassination of Hamas military commander, Mahmoud al-Mabhouh. Reports from Stratfor Global Intelligence suggest that Mr. al-Mabhouh became a pawn in the on-going struggle between Iran and Syria over control of the Hamas terror attacks against Israel.

Someone leaked Mr. al-Mabhouh’s itinerary and someone mounted an almost, but not quite, sophisticated operation to take him out. Exactly who was behind the assassination is unclear; however, a possibly intentional failure in tradecraft suggests that someone was running a False Flag Operation.

When it comes to intelligence operations, just like in those John Le Carré espionage novels, what is apparent may not be the truth. For example, al-Mabhouh was thought to favor Iranian control of Hamas. That would suggest that Syria wanted him dead. But wait. What if Iran sacrificed al-Mabhouh in order to blame Syria and/or Israel for his death?

Using closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and immigration records (why can’t we do that?), Dubai police were able to identify 11 of 17 persons thought to be involved in the assassination plot. The 11 flew into Dubai using false passports from England, Ireland, France and Germany. Between two and ten hours after the assassination, 11 of the suspects flew out to: South Africa, Hong Kong, Germany, France and Switzerland.

Within the 17 suspects, four surveillance teams were identified. Seven members set up the actual assassination which took place inside al-Mabhouh’s posh hotel room where a two-person hit team may have been waiting. Apparently, he was killed about 8:30 p.m.; however, the body was not discovered by maid service until 1:30 p.m. the next day. By then, the assassination team was long gone. But what were their true names and nationalities?

Such a complex and well-orchestrated operation using multiple false passports, multiple disguises, false travel stories or legends would suggest that the assassination was the work of Israel’s Mossad. But wait. If Mossad went to all that trouble to rub out al-Mabhouh, it is highly unlikely that Mossad agents would be as clumsy in their tradecraft to be caught on CCTV cameras. The CCTV footage is available via youtube. Google.com can lead you to it. Judge for yourself if those faces that have been circled by Dubai police were trying to get on CCTV or avoid it.

It is inconceivable to this observer that Mossad agents would be that inept. That suggests that the assassination was a False Flag Operation run by Iran. Then again, it could be Mossad using faked ineptitude to point the finger at Iran. Mirrors within mirrors.

The principle of cui bono (who benefits?) suggests that Iran had al-Mabhouh taken out. By making it seem that Israel is the culprit, the so-called Arab Street is further inflamed and Israel is further diminished in the eyes of world public opinion while Iran, undeterred by stern lectures from Mr. Obama, continues the nuclear weapons program whose ultimate aim is the destruction of Israel.

To use a cliché, Iran may have been killing two birds with one stone. According to a “story” making the rounds of the Internet, Mr. Obama understands how to kill two birds with one stone as well: He wanted to offer a conciliatory gesture to former President George W. Bush. And, in an effort to reassure some Christian groups that he is, indeed, a Christian, Mr. Obama wanted to display his sympathy toward their complaints about the continued slurs against St. Andreas due to the geographic happenstance of a 1,100-mile-long, earth-quake-causing junction of two tectonic plates running down the West Coast of America.

In a brilliant move, Mr. Obama seized upon the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. He reached out to the Christians and, at the same time, he gave credit to former President George W. Bush. The San Andreas’ Fault is now Bush’s Fault.

Syndicated columnist, William Hamilton, a retired Army paratrooper, is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO).

© 2010. William Hamilton.

Dr. Hamilton can be contacted at:

Email: william@central-view.com