(StraightShooterNews.com) – The arrest of a high-ranking CIA officer charged with leaking classified documents on Israel’s military strategies against Iran has triggered national outrage.
This act of betrayal not only endangers U.S. national security but also threatens the longstanding alliance with Israel, further destabilizing the already volatile Middle East.
CIA official Asif W. Rahman faces charges for allegedly releasing sensitive plans detailing Israel’s potential military actions against Iran.
He is accused of willfully retaining and transmitting national defense information, a serious violation of the Espionage Act.
The incriminating documents, which alarmingly included satellite images and missile details, were publicly exposed on the Telegram messaging app.
Retired Israel Defense Forces Brigadier General Amir Avivi stated:
“I think it’s crucial that Israel knows that when they give information or the transformation, it’s not leaked, and there must be strong trust [that intel is going] to be treated the way it should be treated. It’s a very serious event.”
Meanwhile, the White House expressed being “deeply concerned” about this unauthorized leak, underlining the gravity of the breach and its implications for U.S.-Israel relations.
This leak mirrors a recent case involving Jack Teixeira, who was charged with similar offenses related to the Ukraine conflict.
Moreover, the unauthorized release of these documents untouched by those without proper clearance puts Israel-US trust in jeopardy.
Leaked files from agencies like the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the National Security Agency were revealed to a broader audience than intended.
Retired General Jack Keane emphasized the deterrent effect of Rahman’s apprehension, stating, “Now that they’ve actually caught this guy, it serves as a deterrent.”
Furthermore, prosecutors described this breach as “one of the most significant and consequential violations of the Espionage Act in American history.”
Rahman’s case adds urgency to ongoing discussions about the integrity and oversight of national security, with the FBI investigating the leak’s source, believed to have occurred in Cambodia.
There are more than one million Americans with access to top-secret materials, and continuous monitoring is crucial in preventing such security breaches.
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Mick Mulroy underscored its impact, saying, “It is very troubling to know that a CIA officer may have been involved in leaking this highly classified information.”
“Everyone is entitled to the presumption of innocence, but if true, this is a serious security breach and there is no excuse for it,” he added.
As for now, Rahman was arrested in Cambodia and will face trial in Guam.
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