Top aide to UK commander in Afghanistan accused of spying
posted at 10:34 am on December 21, 2006 by Bryan
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This fellow would be in a position to know quite a bit:
A military aide to the commander of British forces in Afghanistan appeared in court yesterday accused of spying.
Cpl Daniel James, 44, is charged under the 1911 Official Secrets Act with “prejudicing the safety of the state” by passing information “calculated to be directly or indirectly useful to the enemy”.
It was said he had communicated with a “foreign power” in the incident on Nov 2, believed to be Iran.
The story doesn’t detail “the incident” at all. But it does include this:
James is of Iranian descent and speaks fluent Pashtun, the main language in Afghanistan, making him invaluable to the Army which is very short of translators.
Neighbours at his £800,000 house in Brighton, said his mother speaks only Farsi, the main language of Iran.
Sigh. Gen Richards was sent to Afghanistan to command NATO troops, including the Americans fighting there, and crush the Taliban. But he might have had an enemy sympathizer and spy alongside the whole time.
This also raises the possibility that Iran is doing in Afghanistan what is has been doing in Iraq: working with the enemy of its main enemy, us.
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Well at least they got a spy into court, they got one up on us.
bbz123 on December 21, 2006 at 10:47 AM
The court then went into private session for an hour. Afterwards, Judge Timothy Workman said: “I have heard some details which I am satisfied that were they to be published would be prejudicial to national security.”
Do they have the same leaking problem that we do? Will this come out or will this perhaps make them think twice.
bbz123 on December 21, 2006 at 10:50 AM
And this surprises us?
{sigh}
Lawrence on December 21, 2006 at 10:51 AM
TIP of the Iceberg, kids.
WTFU America and the UK, there are many more amongst us.
shooter on December 21, 2006 at 10:52 AM
Do we really need to wonder why a congressman is sideways about muslims in the US Senate?
shooter on December 21, 2006 at 10:54 AM
Are they really putting forth the possibility that Iran has anything less than the sweetest of intentions?
dalewalt on December 21, 2006 at 10:59 AM
It’s good to know we’re not the only country with a John Kerry.
Gregor on December 21, 2006 at 11:01 AM
Of course … if they’re anything like us, this guy will get 100 hours of community service and a three year suspension from handling classified info.
That ought to discourage future traitors.
Gregor on December 21, 2006 at 11:03 AM
I miss the Soviet Union.
spmat on December 21, 2006 at 11:08 AM
Cpl Daniel James, 44, is charged under the 1911 Official Secrets Act with “prejudicing the safety of the state” by passing information “calculated to be directly or indirectly useful to the enemy”.
You mean he freelances for the New York Times?
CrankyNeocon on December 21, 2006 at 11:11 AM
Now who would be stupid enough to bypass a state department and talk to foreign powers, or corroborate with terrorists supporters? Let me see…Kennedy, Kerry, Carter, Jackson,….
right2bright on December 21, 2006 at 11:15 AM
Jeeze Great Britian ****** Here’s a real clue from a dummy in El Paso. Texas ; a corporal living in an 800,000 Pound home??????? WINK WINK. A CORP ? Must be nice to be in the British army.
oldelpasoan
oldelpasoan on December 21, 2006 at 11:18 AM
No sh_t, Sherlock.
SWLiP on December 21, 2006 at 11:21 AM
Translation- a million dollar beach house
KelliD on December 21, 2006 at 11:24 AM
Exactly what I was thinking. Is there anyone who didn’t know this?
Gregor on December 21, 2006 at 11:31 AM
Well, the lefties would have us believe that Iran could never, would never, work with the Taliban.
Bryan on December 21, 2006 at 11:34 AM
not surprising. At least he didn’t roll any grenades under any tents.
geeeeeeeeeez…
One Angry Christian on December 21, 2006 at 11:47 AM
Either ‘ang ‘im from the yardarm or make ‘im walk the plank.
USN6872 on December 21, 2006 at 12:14 PM
kellid, more like over 1.5 million.
Mr. Bingley on December 21, 2006 at 1:45 PM
The Giant sleeps again. Maybe, just maybe after the next big strike we will WTFU!!
maintenanceman on December 21, 2006 at 1:58 PM
There is, I believe, more than meets the eye in all of this. It appears as if some major espionage operation has been busted wide open in Afghanistan.
First we have an Afghan army general arrested, then two days later the arrest of a Pakistani intelligence operative in Afghanistan possessing documents related to al Qaida, and then the next day the announcement of the arrest of this British corporal.
crosspatch on December 21, 2006 at 3:10 PM
You are correct, sir. Keep watch on the Brit media over the next week or so: Sh+t will be hitting several fans, and the spray will be widespread.
American media tool-fools will, of course, be Almost Entirely Clueless…..unless they see an anti-Bush angle,which might wake them up
Janos Hunyadi on December 21, 2006 at 9:36 PM
Actually, the way house prices have been in southern England in the last few years, owning an £800,000 (£1.58M) property is not that suspicious in itself. What I’d really like to know is why a 44 year old language expert is still only a corporal.
jic on December 21, 2006 at 9:57 PM
Whoops, that should read:
£800,000 ($1.58M) property
jic on December 21, 2006 at 10:03 PM
How is a Corporal a commander?
- The Cat
MirCat on December 22, 2006 at 12:01 AM
He’s not.
jic on December 22, 2006 at 1:21 AM