Secret Squirrels

[rats_have_rights]

"In the July 20 issue of the Washington Post, columnist Al Kamen reports that the BBC has translated a story headlined ’spying squirrels,’ published in the Iranian newspaper Resalat on the use of trained animals to conduct espionage against their country: ‘A few weeks ago, 14 squirrels equipped with espionage systems of foreign intelligence services were captured by [Iranian] intelligence forces along the country’s borders. These trained squirrels, each of which weighed just over 700 grams, were released on the borders of the country for intelligence and espionage purposes.’ According the story the squirrels had ‘GPS devices, bugging instruments and advanced cameras’ in their bodies. ‘Given the fast speed and the special physical features of these animals, they provide special capabilities for spying operations. Once the animals return to their place of origin, the intelligence gathered by them is then offloaded. . . .’ Iranian police officials captured the squirrels before they could carry out their assignments."

(Actually, they were rats using deep cover... )


http://madhavgopalkrish.wordpress.com/2007/07/23/high-tech-squirrels-trained-to-conduct-espionage/

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12131243

[myscratchcat]

According the story the squirrels had ‘GPS devices, bugging instruments and advanced cameras’ in their bodies

IN their bodies?? That sounds horrible! 

[RatAttack59]

It's also not real reliable (Funny, though!).  This IS Iran we're talking about
btw - not questioning the report, am questioning the Iranian gvt)

[jeannerat]

I don't know how you can train a squirrel to go someplace and scout around, unless there's food at that destination.  Otherwise, they'll just hang out where the food is. 

[Rose]

I'll bet Sugar Bush Squirrel was involved.

She has over 2,000 outfits, so she has plenty of disguises for spying.

See her looking crafty and Bond-like on
cuteoverload.

[rats_have_rights]

According the story the squirrels had ‘GPS devices, bugging instruments and advanced cameras’ in their bodies

IN their bodies?? That sounds horrible! 

Apparently it's not so way out after all...
WARNING!!! do not view the folowling links if you are easily upset...

http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=636

PDF file of CIA document on Acoustic Kitty:

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB54/st27.pdf

[D]

Unfortunately Acoustakitty was run over by a car and never had the chance to complete her mission. 

EDIT: Ooops..the second link already mentioned that..