Reddit reviews The Triple Agent: The al-Qaeda Mole who Infiltrated the CIA

Instead of getting a hypothetical scenario of someone going undercover in terrorist organization--which, FYI, almost never actually happens--you should read some accounts of people who have been double agents. One of the most recent and notable examples was Morten Storm, a Danish convert to Islam and a spy for US, British, and Danish intelligence services inside al-Qaida. He published his autobiography, Agent Storm: My Life Inside al Qaeda and the CIA, last year. A good example of a failed attempt at a double agent was Humam Khalil al-Balawi, who was a triple agent for al-Qaida and committed one of the deadliest terrorist attacks on CIA personnel in history. His story is told in The Triple Agent: The al-Qaeda Mole who Infiltrated the CIA.

EDIT: I should clarify. It's not that intelligence agencies do not have sources within terrorist organizations, its that few will have put an officer or an asset go undercover to join a terrorist organization. Many terrorist groups rely on personal connections and references for new recruits, so it can be hard to enter if they do not already know someone who is a member. Additionally, some groups will require prospective members to engage in a violent act (e.g. kill someone) to prove their commitment. Gangs and other types of organized criminal groups will have similar requirements. And finally, it is incredibly dangerous for the person going undercover and would likely not generate much better results that other intelligence gathering methods.

If you are interested in how it actually happened read the book "Triple Agent"

http://www.amazon.com/The-Triple-Agent-al-Qaeda-Infiltrated/dp/0307742318

Also, info about one of the CIA victims here:

http://www.colby.edu/colby.mag/issues/61/article/1365/who-was-elizabeth-hanson/


> In fact sources quoted in the book told Warrick that Hanson was one of the CIA’s most talented “terrorist hunters,” attracting the attention and praise of her supervisors and CIA directors Leon Panetta and Michael Hayden.

But no they did not just allow an "extremist to walk into the base". I can assure you that the operatives involved were not idiots. In fact, Operatives like Ms. Hanson were actually tracking down terrorists and killing them.

The suicide bomber was at the time trusted and had a history with Jordanian Secret Service. This was Jordan's screw up for the most part. Anyways, like I said this hits a little close to home so sorry if I come off a little emotional.