I drove to El Paso, Texas, this weekend because the Mexican import permit for my car had expired and I needed to renew it at the border. My sister came along to help (since I can’t speak Spanish) and do some shopping.
Just before midnight on Friday I was sitting on the bed in our motel room, working on my laptop, when I received three emails that freaked me out like no other in all the years I have been online.
The emails came from someone named Fred Donaldson
* NASA SP100 Space Nuclear Reactor Beam Transmission Designed for Ballistic Missile Defense
* IDAHO NATIONAL ENGINEERING LAB. – NASA SP100 Space Nuclear Reactor, Testing & Demonstration of Uranium Neutron-Gamma Beams
* U.S. Documentation – Nuclear Reactor Technology Systems, Utilized by (NASA) U.S.-Tampa, FL., Satellite-Radar, Uranium Nuclei Beam Transmission Systems
* LOS ALAMOS – NASA SP100 – Space-Platform NEP, Uranium Beam Transmission Systems
* WESTINGHOUSE INC. – SNAP Critical Nuclear Reactor with Highly Enriched Uranium Fuel Rods
I opened one of the documents and I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was a detailed scientific report with charts and diagrams. My immediate reaction was why? Why is this guy sending me this stuff? Obviously he knows I’m Iranian. He knows that there are international sanctions on Iran because of its nuclear and missile programs. So what the hell is he doing?
“Some guy has emailed me nuclear documents,” I told my sister.
“Shit! You’re kidding! Why?”
“I have no idea. Maybe he wants me to pass it on to the Iranian government. I have to tell the FBI.”
“The FBI?! Just delete them!”
“I can’t delete them. I have to report this.”
“Why? They probably monitor your emails anyway. They know already.”
“They don’t know shit. In any case, I have to report it. This is serious stuff. I can get into trouble for not reporting it.”
You can imagine the thoughts going through my head. I thought federal agents were going to rush to the motel and confiscate my computer. I would be interrogated. How would I explain why I do not have a permanent address? Why am I living in my sister’s house in Mexico? Am I running away from something? Am I hiding anything? Do I know Fred Donaldson? Why would he send me information on nuclear technology? Have I been in contact with Iranian authorities? Do I think Iran should have nuclear bombs?
Crap! Do I need this?!
I went to the FBI website to find an email address where I could forward the emails. I couldn’t find any. It appeared that I could only report a crime by using their online form but I could not attach the documents. Useless.
I didn’t know what to do. I forwarded one of the emails to a former senior U.S. government official who specializes in Iran and asked him for advice.
In the morning I went to the FBI site again. On the “Investigative ProgramsCounterintelligence Division” it said I could call (202) 324-4353. I called the number and got the voicemail of an FBI agent, I presume. I left a message saying someone had emailed me sensitive documents. I gave my name and number.
Then I called (202) 324-3000, the FBI’s general number in Washington, DC. The woman who answered the phone sounded annoyed. It seemed like she got lots of phone calls from people reporting odd crimes that were most often not crimes at all.
I told her about the emails.
“Please disregard emails,” she said.
“They contain documents about nuclear technology,” I said, making sure to emphasize “nuclear”.
Reluctantly, she gave me a number to call: (915) 832-5000. I did and was told to call back Monday (which was a holiday, I found out)! There was no one who could speak to me. I was asked no questions; nothing about the emails or how potentially serious they were.
Meanwhile I got a reply from the former senior American official. He emailed back saying he had googled the documents I had forwarded him and it seemed they were in the public domain. I found that hard to believe, considering the detailed information in the documents. Nevertheless I was relieved. At least I was not in possession of secret documents — I think.
I wonder: at a time when the proliferation of nuclear technology is such a hot topic and every day officials and analysts express concern about Iran or Al Qaeda building nuclear bombs, why is it that I couldn’t find anyone to talk to? Billions are spent on intelligence gathering and yet there’s no easy way to report potential leaks of highly sensitive information. I wonder if these giant bureaucracies are able to carry out their mission effectively. I seriously doubt it.
As for “Fred Donaldson”, I emailed him and asked: Why have you sent me these documents? He replied: “Every U.S. resident, and every U.S. resident whom is part of the Arab, Muslim, Palestinian, and Iranian community has a right to know that they are being spied on with the most advanced satellite-radar, uranium beams in the World.”
What the hell does that mean? What does spying on people have to do with nuclear documents? Is he implying that I am being watched to see what I would do with these documents? Who knows. Twice I was going to reply “Go FUCK yourself” but did not hit send. I thought, what’s the point?
I do hope someone at the FBI or the dozens of intelligence agencies reads this blog and traces this guy to see what he’s up to. Unless he’s one of their guys.
PS: I have deleted Fred’s emails. Don’t bother me.
