http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/02/16/death-and-espionage-in-the-digital-world/?test=latestnewsDeath and Espionage in the Digital World
February 16, 2010 - 11:57 AM | by: Michael Tobin
The cloak and dagger world of international espionage and assassinations has had its cloak lifted, to some extent, in this modern world monitored by security cameras.
Never before has the lead up to and aftermath of an assassination been documented as it was in Dubai, January 18 of this year when Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh was killed. Mabhouh was a top operative for Hamas connected to the kidnapping and killing of two Israeli soldiers as well as rocket smuggling to Gaza.
Security cameras catch the 10-men and 1 woman on the alleged hit squad, following the intended victim from the airport, through Al Bustan Hotel and right to his room. Two of the alleged members of the hit squad, dressed in tennis gear, ride the elevator with the target to confirm he stayed in room 230.
Cameras catch members changing their appearances, donning wigs and mustaches. Ultimately, after alleged members of the hit squad entered the room, spotters patrolled the hallway in front. Mabhouh is caught on camera headed to room 230 in the final minutes of his life. 26 minutes later, apparent assassins and their spotters casually head for the elevators. Even their departure through Dubai international airport is caught on camera.
Two days later, Mabhouh’s body was found. Cause of death: suffocation.
Alon Ben David, who specializes in security analysis for Israel Channel 10, went to Al Bustan Hotel. “The first thing that struck me was the amount of cameras,” he said. “They had to know they would be videotaped.” That is why you see some of them changing disguises several times. Ben David assumes the operatives don’t look much like the images caught on the video and passport photos Dubai police released to the media. Therefore their cover may not be blown. “I would not consider them burnt already,” says Ben David. “But they probably won’t travel to Dubai soon.”
Although it is widely suspected that Israel is behind the assassination, even the Dubai police cannot make the accusation. Police Chief, Lt. General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, can only say that Israel is not ruled out.
An order for Israel’s Mossad to carry out an assassination would have to come from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself. Predictably, his office is not commenting. In fact his assistants now ask reporters to submit their questions in writing then wait for a response. Therefore, while they sit on the written question, a reporter can not even say the Prime Minister’s office refused to respond.
Ben David says, if indeed Netanyahu is responsible, this reflects an aggressive tactic from his government; keep the radicals in fear for their lives and on the run. That way, they don’t have time to attack.
Topic: Hamas Terrorist Whacked in Dubai - Awesome Job! (Read 764 times)