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Missing Former Agent in Iran Named

By Jeralyn, Section Foreign Affairs
Posted on Tue Apr 03, 2007 at 11:33:21 PM EST
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The former FBI agent who is missing in Iran has been identified as Robert Levinson. He also worked for the D.E.A.

Retired from the FBI for over a decade, the agency says he was not working for the Government. A U.S. official says it was unlikely he was working on a political project.

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    Missing Former Agent in Iran Named | 7 comments (7 topical)

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    Iran says Levinson isn't missing, just detained (none / 0) (#1)
    by rodgermorrow on Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 12:40:31 AM EST
    A report by Iran's PRESSTV claims Levinson was detained through a misunderstanding and should be released soon. More at: http://writingcompany.blogs.com/this_isnt_writing_its_typ/2007/04/bob_levinson_no.html  And keep scrolling down for more on Levinson's background and what he may have been doing on Kish Island.

    Priorities, eh?? (none / 0) (#2)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 08:11:33 AM EST
    In related news, the Left continues to protest people charged with terrorism being held by the US.

    Parent
    Yes, Jim, held without due process (none / 0) (#3)
    by lilybart on Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 08:36:57 AM EST
    The left believes in the Constitution and Human Rights, and taking the High Road. If America is to be the moral leader of the free world, we need to act like it or we can kiss our real power goodbye.

    lilybart (none / 0) (#5)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 08:56:26 AM EST
    Okay fine. Do you have room on the bus for protesting acts of the terrorists?

    Parent
    Another troll comment at 08:11:33. (none / 0) (#4)
    by Che's Lounge on Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 08:41:13 AM EST
    Better send another donation before you get banned.

    Che - I didn't know you had a blog. (none / 0) (#6)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 08:58:39 AM EST
    Congratulations and...

    Rest assured I won't bother it.

    As for the comment.

    I must have hit the mark, seeing as how it immediately drew howls of protest.

    Parent

    Actually, it seems more likely it was the mob (none / 0) (#8)
    by scribe on Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 10:10:57 AM EST
    As reported in today's NYDN (who actually seem to have sent someone out to interview the missing guy's wife), the missing guy:
    (a) was an expert on the Italian and Russian mafias;
    (b) was in Dubai, not Iran;
    (c) never checked out of his Dubai hotel;
    (d) was supposedly trying to help a journalist set up an interview on an Iranian resort island, but apparently never crossed the border.

    He also had something of a dual reputation at the FBI - mob expert and nutcase, viz. (from the article):

    A decade ago, Levinson left the FBI, where he was known by some agents as a "meticulous" workaholic with an encyclopedic knowledge of mobsters. While colleagues were stumped over identifying a mobster in a surveillance photo, "he always knew who it was," said Lewis Schiliro, ex-director of the FBI's New York office.

    Former top FBI mob investigator Jim Moody said Levinson worked for him in New York over 25 years ago, but wouldn't say whether he was a competent investigator.

    Another former FBI supervisor said many agents regarded Levinson as a "total nutcase" who left the bureau in a huff over being assigned to Moscow.

    "His sources never panned out. His grandiose schemes never panned out," said the top agent. "His cases always went to hell."

    I'm betting it's the Russian mob.

    Missing Former Agent in Iran Named | 7 comments (7 topical)

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