(RightIsRight.co) – In a shocking breach of national security, a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) official has been arrested for leaking classified information about Israel’s plans against Iran.
This disloyal act not only jeopardizes America’s relationship with its closest Middle East ally but also exposes the ongoing infiltration of the intelligence agencies by individuals who seem determined to undermine our nation’s interests.
Asif W. Rahman, a CIA employee with top-secret security clearance, was arrested in Cambodia and charged with two counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information.
This arrest comes as a reminder of the vulnerabilities within the intelligence community, echoing the recent case of Jack Teixeira, an air national guard member sentenced to 15 years for leaking classified documents about the Ukraine war.
The leaked documents were published on the Telegram messaging app and detailed Israel’s military planning for a retaliatory strike against Iran.
These highly sensitive files included satellite imagery and information about missiles, potentially compromising Israel’s strategic advantage in the volatile Middle East region.
Retired Israel Defense Forces Brigadier General Amir Avivi emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating:
“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.”
In the wake of his arrest, Mick Mulroy — the former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East — stressed that safeguarding such materials should be the “highest priority” for an intelligence agency or employee.
“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,” Mulroy stated.
Moreover, the White House, in a typical understatement, expressed being “deeply concerned” about the unauthorized release of these documents.
However, this incident demands more than mere concern, as it requires a thorough investigation into how individuals with potential anti-American or anti-Israeli sentiments are able to obtain such high-level security clearances.
Prosecutors have described this leak as “one of the most significant and consequential violations of the Espionage Act in American history.”
This assessment underscores the need for a complete overhaul of intelligence agencies’ security protocols and a reevaluation of the more than one million individuals who currently have access to top-secret materials in the United States.
Furthermore, Retired General Jack Keane offered a glimmer of hope, noting, “Now that they’ve actually caught this guy, it serves as a deterrent.”
While Rahman faces trial in the Eastern District of Virginia, Americans across the nation are waiting for his accountability but not just from him but from the entire system that allowed such a breach to occur.
