by Charles

A month ago, an Iranian general "disappeared" (perhaps along with his family) while in Turkey, and speculation is rampant. Did Mossad or the CIA kidnap him or did he defect? In either case, he is a high-level intelligence source who could expose Iranian inner workings. The Blotter:

"This is a fatal blow to Iranian intelligence," said the source, explaining that Asgari knows sensitive information about Iran's nuclear and military projects. Iran called tens of its Revolutionary Guard agents working at embassies and cultural centers in Arab and European countries back to Tehran out of fear that Asgari might disclose secret information about their identities, according to the analyst. There are conflicting reports about how and when Asgari disappeared. The general, according to Turkish and Israeli press reports, arrived in Istanbul from Damascus on Feb. 7. Initial reports speculated he may have been kidnapped because he failed to show up at a hotel that had been booked for him by two non-Turkish men. The source, however, believes Asgari's disappearance was prompted by the detention of five Iranians after the raid on their government's liaison office in Irbil, Iraq in January. Asgari, 63, knew and may have worked with some of the detained men, said the analyst. Asgari's years with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the Iranian defense ministry would make him an invaluable source of information. He was reportedly based in Lebanon in the 1990s and was in charge of ties with the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah.

Ha'aretz and the Jerusalem Post have weighed in, and Ynet reported that the Saudi newspaper al-Watan reported on the disappearance a week or so ago. Makes you wonder if Abdullah and Ahmadinejad discussed the general's disappearance during their summit last week. By way of the New York Post, DEBKA adds this wrinkle:

Askari is believed to have taken part - or have links to - the armed group that stormed a U.S.-Iraqi command center in the holy city of Karbala on Jan. 20 and killed five U.S. troops, the Web site said. The attackers wore military uniforms and used vehicles often driven by foreign dignitaries in an attempt to impersonate Americans. A Middle East intelligence source said the United States could not let the outrage stand and had been hunting the general ever since, the Web site said.

Of course, it's always good to take Debka with a vat of salt, but it looks like an interesting mystery nevertheless.