VeriSEAL | Hamadei Investigation

Three days after a June 17, 2010 article in The Independent declared ProPublica and its Editor-In-Chief Paul Steiger the new "champion" of investigative journalism, Deutsche Presse-Agentur declared Mohammed Ali Hamadei a new corpse in Washington's drone war.

That Hamadei was, at the time of his alleged killing, the focus of a troubling story that had been exclusively in the hands of ProPublica since the autumn of 2008, has never been reported anywhere ... most notably, not by the new investigative journalism "champion" itself.

Your Corrupt Government

FRAUDULENT BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

24 AUG 2010

When the FBI adds someone to its list of "Most Wanted," asking for help to catch a dangerous terrorist, it goes without saying that the government, up to that point, has been unable to apprehend whoever it is they're after, and seeks outside assistance. Apparently that's not so obvious to some at the FBI.

A VeriSEAL investigation has confirmed that in at least one major case, the FBI received that assistance, but took no action for nearly two years, during which time numerous chances to capture a supposedly "most-wanted" terrorist were missed. Then the bureau did something really stupid...

"Please help us ... We ask for your assistance ... Be on the lookout ... Someone, somewhere, has information ..."

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

"Who is the 'they' that have someone in contact with him?...Where did the picture come from?"

Special Agent Thomas Hastings

Critical Incident Response Group

24 September 2008, 18:12 EDT

From: [REDACTED]
To: Paul Evancoe [AEGISARMOR.COM]
Subject: (S/PROPIN) Re: URGENT
Date sent: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:21:32 -0600
Copies to: [REDACTED], [REDACTED]

SECRET/PROPIN/ESI/NODIS

A Lebanese individual of significant interest is presently located in NW Pakistan tribal region. Subject is expected to return to Lebanon in the coming week.

Advise Ken so that should he be so inclined, he may inquire of his FBI contact regarding potential intercept of the individual. Current subject photo was obtained and relayed to FBI, DOJ and State over 1 year ago.
BT
DECL:OADR

14 January 2010
State Dept, FBI Release Digitally Enhanced
Photos Of Most Wanted Terrorist Suspects

“It is our hope that these digitally enhanced images will help someone recognize these terrorist suspects and then contact the Rewards for Justice program with information that leads to their apprehension,” said Robert Eckert, assistant director for Diplomatic Security’s Threat Information and Analysis Directorate, which oversees the Rewards for Justice program.

"These new images are powerful examples of how advances in technology and science can be used to help find and bring to justice wanted persons,” said Louis E. Grever, Executive Assistant Director for the FBI's Science and Technology Branch.

FBI Hamadei 'composite' based on
Mohammed Ali Hamadei

"Oh my God, this is very significant and disturbing"
Rhonda Schwartz, ABC News, 03 February 2010

"U.S. Department of Justice Allows 'Most Wanted Terrorist' To Go Free"
VeriSEAL Special Information Alert, 22 May 2010

From: Schwartz, Rhonda (ABC News)
Sent: 06/01/10 06:08 PM
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: RE: Suggestion

Right through front door always best idea. Couple questions:

a) Is it ok to use the surveillance photo we received?

b) Would you or teammate give us a taped interview – general idea of questions: Why were you and your colleagues motivated to bring him to justice? Level of difficulty – could US Government have done this themselves? Should they have done it themselves? What happened when you tried to get the information to them.

c) Is the information I received about [REDACTED] still current as far as you know?

In terms of confronting government officials – in terms of specifics of who we hold accountable: Which government agencies did you contact first in which order? (The most outrageous seems to be from the woman who said this wasn’t her department)

It’s always most effective to directly confront the individuals- is there an e-mail trail beyond what I received?

If we could talk directly – maybe via skype? – would be easier

Best
Rhonda

From:    [REDACTED]
To:    rhonda.schwartz@abc.com
Subject:    Re: Q&A
Date sent:    Tue, 08 Jun 2010 05:53:47 -0400

"As relayed earlier, ABC can use the photo, provided background is removed..."

20 June 2010

US drone attack kills Lebanese terrorist in Pakistan

Peshawar, Pakistan - A major Lebanese terrorist released by the German government five years ago has been killed in a US drone attack in Pakistan's tribal region, Pakistani intelligence sources said on Sunday.

Mohammed Ali Hamadi died when a missile fired by a CIA-operated unmanned drone aircraft destroyed a compound in North Waziristan, a known hub of al-Qaeda and Taliban militants, on Saturday.

"Altogether 16 militants died in the drone attack and 11 of them were foreigners," said a Pakistani intelligence official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The term foreigner is used to refer to al- Qaeda associated operatives of Arab and Central Asian origin.

"We have identified those who were killed and among them is Mohammad Ali Hamadi," added the official.

Another intelligence official who also sought anonymity verified the death of Hamadi. However, there was no government official available who could confirm the killing on record.

Hamadi, 46, is an alleged member of the Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah. He was sentenced by a West German court in 1987 for 19 years for skyjacking a Trans World Airlines flight in 1985. One US Navy diver was killed in the hostage-taking event.

The convict was released on parole in 2005 by German authorities, after which Hamadi is believed to have returned to Lebanon. In 2006, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) put his name on its list of most wanted terrorists.

Pakistani intelligence officials said that Hamadi traveled to Afghanistan to fight NATO troops in November 2009 and joined the Central Asia-based al-Qaeda linked terrorist group Jamaat al-Jihad al-Islami, which is believed to have recruited many Turkish and German nationals.

In March 2010, Hamadi came to Pakistan's North Waziristan district, from where al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters conduct cross-border attacks on international forces in Afghanistan, to join colleagues based there.

"Hamadi and his comrades were in a meeting to plan further attacks in Afghanistan when the drone strike took place," a Pakistani intelligence official said.

Among the other killed were: Atif bin Saeed, believed to be a close associate of al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden; Turkish national Abdul Waheed al-Turkey; Saudi citizens Abdul Hamam and Brother Gul (a nick name); and Palestinian national Abdul Wali.

Fox News Insider
June 22, 2010 8:53 a.m. ET

Hunting Down Hezbollah Killers
by Lt. Col. Oliver North

Hellfire Justice

"On Saturday, June 18, 2010, Mohammed Ali Hamadi was killed by a missile launched from a remotely piloted aircraft [RPA] in North Waziristan, Pakistan. Justice has finally been served via Hellfire missile.

"This information was provided by one of Robert’s family members. It has since been confirmed by an independent source."

The Rest of the Story

TWA flight 847, with more than 100 passengers and crew aboard, was hijacked on June 13, 1985, en route from Athens to Rome and diverted to Beirut, Lebanon. According to eyewitness accounts, Petty Officer Stethem, a U.S. Navy Seabee Diver, was brutally beaten and tortured by the terrorists who then shot him and dumped his body onto the airport tarmac. Thirty-nine other passengers and crew were held hostage aboard the aircraft for 17 days.

Hamadi and three other members of Hezbollah: Imad Mughniyah, Hasan Izz-Al-Din and Ali Atwa were indicted for their involvement in the hijacking and other acts of terror. Hamadi was arrested in Germany in 1987 when he arrived at Frankfurt airport with explosives in his luggage. German officials refused U.S. extradition requests and he was eventually tried, convicted and sentenced to life in prison by a German court.

On December 20, 2005, Hamadi was paroled by German authorities and allowed to return to Lebanon after serving just 18 years of his “life sentence.” Two days later, Susanne Osthoff, a German archeologist, kidnapped in Iraq by a Shiite militia group, was released by her captors. German authorities deny Hamadi was freed in a “hostage swap.”

According to a former U.S. intelligence official, information on Hamadi’s location in North Waziristan was collected by “human sources not technical methods.” Hamadi is the second Hezbollah terrorist implicated in the Stethem murder to die violently. Imad Mughniyah was killed in an unexplained explosion in Damascus, Syria on February 12, 2008. Hasan Izz-Al-Din and Ali Atwa remain at large with a $5 million bounty on their heads. The U.S. government neither confirms nor denies that U.S. RPAs operate over Pakistan.

The USS Stethem, DDG 63, was commissioned on October 22, 1995. Petty officer Robert Stethem’s parents, Richard and Patricia, and his brothers, Kenneth and Patrick all served in the U.S. Navy.

Watch this space for updates.

If you are reading this report and are a member of Hezbollah, Al Qaeda or Hamas, know this: we never forget. [all emphasis NORTH]

Semper fidelis, Oliver North

[Red indicates day/date error by North]

"Wow. Weird."

Michael Grabell, ProPublica, June 23, 2010

"I just received a call from Katherine and Patrick Stethem, the sister-in-law and brother of Navy diver Robert Dean Stethem, who informed me that, over the weekend, Mohammad Ali Hamadi–the Hezbollah terrorist who murdered Rob Stethem–was killed by U.S. drones over Pakistan. The story hasn’t been covered by any mainstream English-language media, but it is all over the non-English foreign press. One wonders why America is not publicizing and celebrating the elimination of this top terrorist and vile being. Hamadi is on the FBI list of most wanted terrorists."

Debbie Schlussel, June 23, 2010

"Tell them that I'm working on it, but it won't be any time in the next few days. I can't stop them from disseminating their story, but I'd ask that they please don't mention that I'm working on this story to anyone, or what I told you yesterday about Hamadei still being alive. That was confidential between us."

Michael Grabell, ProPublica
August 17, 2010

From:    [REDACTED]
To:    VeriSEAL
Subject:    [NO SUBJECT]
Date sent:    Tue, 7 Sep 2010 18:35:29 -0700

"Brian Ross was recently in contact with the Stethems ... Ross told the Stethems that the reason they didn't do the story was because [you guys] asked for money to do the story, and that ABC doesn't pay for stories. It's all Bullshit. Not only was that not true, ABC does pay for stories."

"[T]he Hamadei killing story was a lie"
VeriSEAL Investigation, 29 September 2010

30 SEP 2010
FBI Lied to Family of Murdered Navy Diver
Said wanted terrorist was killed in drone strike in Pakistan, knew it was not true. Lie was part of FBI attempt to hide major counter-terrorism failure

FBI 'Lead
Agency' Terrorism Task Force
Farce

"S5 is REALLY pissed at 'Victim A'. He just sent an email claiming that S5 leaked their conversation to VeriSEAL, and that he never claimed that the FBI told him that Hamadei was killed. S5 told him that he did say that, and 'Victim A' is now claiming that what he originally told S5 was that 'another organization' reported to him 'and the FBI believed the report to be true.' S5 is pissed at the word semantics 'Victim A' is now playing and wants nothing more to do with him."

29 Sep 2010 16:22 ET

11 NOV 2010
Brian Ross Gets Investigated
Liar...Hypocrite...Scumbag...Sociopath: ABC News' phony investigative "journalist" exposed a whistleblower and lied to family of murdered sailor to help cover up FBI national security fraud

"FBI has no evidence Hamadei is dead"
FBI Special Agent Gregory McNutt, 30 December 2010

From:    [REDACTED]
To:    [REDACTED]
Subject:    FLASH
Date sent:    Thu, 30 Dec 2010 14:14:11 -0800

"...[MCNUTT] stated that he interviewed [ROSS] ... that he is getting conflicting stories from [ROSS] and [VICTIM A] regarding why ABC News dropped the story ... [MCNUTT] stated that the FBI does not have evidence that [HAMADEI] is dead, but that they also do not have evidence that he is alive..."

FBI Most Wanted
Terrorist Mohammed Ali Hamadei
2008

From: "Murphy, Tim K. (FBI)" <Tim.Murphy2[at]ic.fbi.gov>
Date: February 22, 2011 2:11:27 PM PST
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: Thursday's Meeting

[REDACTED],

Thank you for agreeing to meet on Thursday. This is the ~~UNCLASSIFIED~~ information from the lead:

"[REDACTED] was reported to be instrumental in communicating the photographs and communicating Hamadi's possible locations. Investigation indicates that [REDACTED] was a [REDACTED] and [REDACTED], a [REDACTED] and a member of [REDACTED]. He reportedly testified before Congress on national security matters with his identity concealed. His email address is [REDACTED]."

"WFO requests [REDACTED] be interviewed with regards to his personal and specific knowledge of Hamadi's current location, any sources or contacts who may be able to provide specific detailed information on Hamadi's location, current photographs of Hamadi, the origin of the photographs, any information he may have on email address [REDACTED], and his personal and specific knowledge of any previous information that was provided to the FBI, in reference to Hamadi [REDACTED]."

The lead also said that [REDACTED] was that of Mohammed Hamadei.

From:    [REDACTED]
To:    [REDACTED]
Subject:    [NO SUBJECT]
Date sent:    Tue, 1 Mar 2011 11:18:09 -0800

"Murphy began by asking me if I knew if [HAMADEI] was alive ... I told Murphy that at a certain point, I realized the story was extremely scandalous ... Murphy continuously mentioned the name of a 'former SEAL type' living in [REDACTED] ... Murphy asked me if I ever knew the home address of [HAMADEI]. I stated that I never had personal or direct knowledge of [HAMADEI'S] whereabouts, but that my sources did have such knowledge ... That's when Murphy said something I found astonishing ... Murphy stated that he had tried to access the VeriSEAL website from his field office, but that the FBI server was blocking the website. He stated how asinine it was for FBI Headquarters to task him to investigate this matter, then block the VeriSEAL website ... He stated that he put in a written memorandum requesting to have the website unblocked so that he could competently conduct his investigation ... Murphy asked if I knew any individuals who had been given the information about [HAMADEI], including his picture. I stated that I had knowledge that officials from DOJ, FBI, DOS, and members of Congress had all been contacted by my sources, and none of them acted on the information ... Murphy asked me about the FBI [composite] and why the mole was relocated. I said he should check with his superiors on that one."

At least one of these things is not like the others
At least one of these things just doesn't belong

Michael
Grabell Stephen Engelberg
ProPublica Rhonda Schwartz
Brian Ross ABC News

In an e-mail on 22 February 2011, FBI Special Agent Tim Murphy stated that according to a "lead" originating from the Washington Field Office "[REDACTED] was reported to be instrumental in communicating the photographs and communicating Hamadi's possible locations."

But the source identified by Murphy had not communicated the Hamadi photograph(s) or information on his locations to the FBI. He had communicated that information only to ABC's Brian Ross and his producer Rhonda Schwartz, and to Michael Grabell and Stephen Engelberg of ProPublica. No one else.

28 APR 2011
The Government That Cried Wolf
"Conflicting accounts": U.S. government claims it requested extradition before terrorist's release. Germany and Lebanon say not true

16 JUN 2011
Ninja Wannabes
Watching the watchers: prowlers observed outside home of retired federal agent under government surveillance for helping blow the whistle on FBI's ongoing fraud

04 AUG 2011
Aiding and Abetting a Terrorist

Government makes good use of its useful media idiots and accomplices to suppress a "highly significant" and "extremely scandalous" story

FBI Most
Wanted Terrorist
Mohammed Ali Hamadei

11 SEP 2011
Covering Up a Cover-Up
Terrorism, Corruption and Media Complicity: FBI tries damage control, mounts phony "investigation" after lies, intimidation and suppression tactics fail to kill the messenger

"Hezbollah's security is as good as any in the world. It's better than the KGB"
--Retired CIA officer Bob Baer

07 MAR 2012
What a Tangled Web G Weave
How the incompetent and corrupt "best & brightest" were blindsided and the ensuing mega scandal they don't want anyone to know about