One of the most fascinating new books to come out is by A Time to Betray by Reza Kahlili (I will be reading it soon myself) — a book written by purported CIA Iranian informant. RealClearWorld’s Kevin Sullivan has an equally fascinating, must-read Q&A with him. Here’s how Sullivan intros it:
RCW recently spoke with Reza Kahlili (a pseudonym), who claims to have served for over a decade as a CIA informant inside Iran’s secretive and powerful Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
In his new book, A Time to Betray, Kahlili details his return to revolutionary Iran, his role in the early days of the IRGC, and his eventual decision to betray that organization – and his government – by becoming a CIA agent. Regarding the current situation in Iran, Kahlili certainly doesn’t mince any words:
And here is a portion of the must-read-in-full Q&A:
RCW: What about Obama’s sanctions plan?
RK: Can you close the black market? Even during Reagan’s embargo, NATO was selling items to Iran. The leadership doesn’t care about the well being of the country, and sanctions will not phase them so long as they can get what they want on the black market. Sanctions are another illusion of the West.
The world must then understand the implications should Iran go nuclear. They will be untouchable. They’ll move arms more freely, and they’ll be able to threaten the world’s energy markets. Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) will not work on a suicidal state.
RCW: I’d like you to clarify that last point, because the activity you describe – moving arms, threatening energy outlets and acting with impunity – does not sound suicidal. What you describe is certainly troubling, but is it really suicidal?
RK: It is my opinion that they are suicidal. What if the Supreme Leader suddenly decided that the “Mahdi” was returning, and the end of days was near? It may all sound crazy to Westerners, but these people believe it deeply.
RCW: But Iran is believed to already possess chemical weapons. If they’re indeed suicidal, why not use those?
RK: Can you wipe Israel off the map with chemical weapons? Can you kill millions? First impact is crucial, because no matter what Iran does, afterward, Iran will be no more. So in that case, would they rather fire ten missiles armed with chemical weapons to kill thousands, or fire nuclear-tipped missiles and shake the world?
GO HERE to read it in its entirety.
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Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.