3 ms·

Is that really true or is it a parallel construction to hide humint sources. Much like the bin Laden story.

• itake 8mo ago
  yeah, this headline doesn't pass the sniff test to me too: The traffic cameras can't tell you who is in the vehicle. Maybe they know which plate he typically rides in? But the much simpler explanation is he had a leak.
  • hersko 8mo ago
    1) It's possible there are traffic cameras covering wherever they get into the vehicle. 2) It can be used in conjunction with other assets watching who got in etc...
    • DennisP 8mo ago
      It's also possible that they simply went ahead and hit the vehicle, knowing there was a good chance that their target would be inside. It's not like they've been all that picky about collateral damage.
      • itake 8mo ago
        Why risk starting a war and not be 100% confident where the leader is?
        • DennisP 8mo ago
          Most wars are started without targeting the leader at all.
        • srean 8mo ago
          Risk starting a war !! That was the whole freaking point. The attacking forces doesn't give a flying F about Iranians otherwise the sanctions would have been removed long ago on humanitarian reasons.
  • hermanzegerman 8mo ago
    Are you sure? The Chinese traffic Surveillance cameras also photograph who is inside the Vehicles
    • itake 8mo ago
      yes, the driver, but not the passengers. I doubt he drives his own car.
      • petre 8mo ago
        If the cameras can see the driver, they can also see the front passenger. And who gets in or out of the stopped car. Istael/US probably analyzed months of footage to establish patterns and uncover their habbits and schedule.
        • itake 8mo ago
          Most VIP situations, the VIP person sits in the back. Luxury car brands like bentley or limos are specifically designed for a comfortable back seat. The backseat typically has much darker windows
          • petre 8mo ago
            Yes but they also make a show when they get in or out of the vehicle. Several bodyguards flanking them, opening doors for them, the driver getting out of the vehicle, red carpets etc. Khamenei was also wearing distinctive clothing to make it even more obvious.
            • itake 8mo ago
              neat, but most people have this show on private property and not on the street where the public cameras are pointing.
• eagleal 8mo ago
  There's also the theory of the attacks starting at a certain time because the talks for the nuclear were under way. They probably knew the iranian leaders would group together to discuss the details. For example it is now common knowledge that IAEA shared reserved data with Israel INT agencies, and this info was used for the previous strikes.
  • gregw2 8mo ago
    It's never been clear to me how effective IAEA can be at keeping out state spies from their midst if the world's best intel agencies want "in". Going back pre-Iraq-war, back when there were "inspections" and "sanctions" on Iraq, you can dig up "page 19" articles in NYTimes where -- if I recall correctly -- the US was caught putting spy equipment on the IAEA monitoring equipment in Iraq. This is (according to Iraq) what in large part triggered Iraq to kick out US inspectors. Then the Iraq (2) war started because they wouldn't let in inspectors. Iran's theory, glossed over at the time but also reported in the rare western press articles was that the US intentionally got caught. (So that the Saddam would have explicit pressure to get the US kicked out, so that then they (US/Israel) could have a pretext to take out Iraq.) I don't know if Iran had any actual evidence to that effect or it was a bit of a conspiracy theory; I never actually read Iranian news sources whcih might have had details (or might have revealed just empty posturing.)