4 ms·

Who killed Ashraf Marwan, described as the 20th century’s greatest spy?

92 points by Thevet 11y ago

bsaul 11y ago
So the guy most famous act was that he helped israelis win a war against egypt, and people still wonder if his killers are egyptians or israelis ?
- erlichmen 11y ago
  Its more complicated than that, during the 73 war he pass wrong (false?) information that Egypt is not going to attack Israel, up until today it is unclear (read argued by the intel community) if he was a double agent or that he was caught and Egypt decide to feed him false information to pass to the Israel without him knowing.
Mikhail_Edoshin 11y ago
The real 20th century greatest spy? :)
secfirstmd 11y ago
Had the pleasure of being taught by Ahron Bregman (the lecturer mentioned in the piece) in King's College. I always thought there was something about the death and investigation that didn't fit well. That area is covered in London by CCTV etc, the fact that the investigation didn't really go anywhere is strange. On the face of it, I and many other Bregman students thought Israel was the most likely immediate candidate for the killing - but doing it in London and in such a high-profile way didn't really seem like their modus operandi (plus the description of "Middle Eastern looking men" on the balcony wouldn't really fit with a "kidon" team sent to kill him). Also his actions had been known for years by Israel, so why do it now? Marwan was clearly playing so many sides and involved with so much intrique that there were many who might have wanted him dead. Also, i'm sure there are probably many other people who might be deemed worthy of a the "20th Century's greatest spy"
- saljam 11y ago
  > but doing it in London and in such a high-profile way didn't really seem like their modus operandi They carried out the Dubai murders in a high-profile hotel also covered with CCTV, with fake British, German, and Australian passports. I wouldn't put this past their "modus operandi".
  - junto 11y ago
    One of my favourite Mossad stories just for its pure audacity was the Cherbourg Project: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherbourg_Project https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherbourg_Project
    - confluence 11y ago
      Mossad always seems to run the craziest ops because of a lack of ability to project significant power in foreign lands.
- gozo 11y ago
  > plus the description of "Middle Eastern looking men" on the balcony wouldn't really fit with a "kidon" team sent to kill him I would very much assume that Mossad, which primarily operate in Palestine and other middle eastern countries, has access to "middle eastern looking men" for covert operations.
- scottkduncan 11y ago
  And we never may hear the stories of those who were actually the greatest spies.
thewhitetulip 11y ago
if he was the greatest spy then how does everyone know about him? EDIT: Oh i am foolish, I know this guy, have read a book
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]

92 points by Thevet 11y ago

bsaul 11y ago

So the guy most famous act was that he helped israelis win a war against egypt, and people still wonder if his killers are egyptians or israelis ?

erlichmen 11y ago
Its more complicated than that, during the 73 war he pass wrong (false?) information that Egypt is not going to attack Israel, up until today it is unclear (read argued by the intel community) if he was a double agent or that he was caught and Egypt decide to feed him false information to pass to the Israel without him knowing.

Mikhail_Edoshin 11y ago

The real 20th century greatest spy? :)

secfirstmd 11y ago

Had the pleasure of being taught by Ahron Bregman (the lecturer mentioned in the piece) in King's College. I always thought there was something about the death and investigation that didn't fit well. That area is covered in London by CCTV etc, the fact that the investigation didn't really go anywhere is strange. On the face of it, I and many other Bregman students thought Israel was the most likely immediate candidate for the killing - but doing it in London and in such a high-profile way didn't really seem like their modus operandi (plus the description of "Middle Eastern looking men" on the balcony wouldn't really fit with a "kidon" team sent to kill him). Also his actions had been known for years by Israel, so why do it now? Marwan was clearly playing so many sides and involved with so much intrique that there were many who might have wanted him dead. Also, i'm sure there are probably many other people who might be deemed worthy of a the "20th Century's greatest spy"

saljam 11y ago
> but doing it in London and in such a high-profile way didn't really seem like their modus operandi They carried out the Dubai murders in a high-profile hotel also covered with CCTV, with fake British, German, and Australian passports. I wouldn't put this past their "modus operandi".
- junto 11y ago
  One of my favourite Mossad stories just for its pure audacity was the Cherbourg Project: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherbourg_Project https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherbourg_Project
  - confluence 11y ago
    Mossad always seems to run the craziest ops because of a lack of ability to project significant power in foreign lands.
gozo 11y ago
> plus the description of "Middle Eastern looking men" on the balcony wouldn't really fit with a "kidon" team sent to kill him I would very much assume that Mossad, which primarily operate in Palestine and other middle eastern countries, has access to "middle eastern looking men" for covert operations.
scottkduncan 11y ago
And we never may hear the stories of those who were actually the greatest spies.

thewhitetulip 11y ago

if he was the greatest spy then how does everyone know about him? EDIT: Oh i am foolish, I know this guy, have read a book

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]