Saudi-born US naval engineer allegedly gave undercover agent info on how to sink carrier

A Naval engineer is facing charges that he gave an FBI undercover agent posing as an Egyptian intelligence officer secret documents about the new Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier while discussing how to sink the vessel with a missile.

Mostafa Ahmed Awwad, 35, of Yorktown, Va., was arrested Friday on an FBI affidavit that reads like it came from a Tom Clancy novel.

While the shirt itself is a fashion felony, this is really a serious crime. Giving away naval secrets compromises the security of the nation and the safety of the sailors on the ship.

The indictment accuses Awwad of two counts of attempted exportation of defense articles and technical data. Each count is punishable by 20 years in prison.

The article is unclear if he has become a citizen or not. If he is, I think he should be charged with treason. Sadly, even treason isn’t punishable by death any longer. A nice long stay in prison would have to do.

The affidavit says Awwad was born in Saudia Arabia and married a U.S. citizen in Cairo in 2007. After his marriage he took steps to become an American citizen.

The court papers also say the Navy hired Awwad to work in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s nuclear engineering and planning department in February and that he got a security clearance in August.

Not that it ever will happen, but it would be nice to see the details of the background check that was done before Awwad received his security clearance. Something was amiss because I rather doubt that he suddenly decided to betray his adopted nation. What questions weren’t asked because someone was afraid of offending Awwad or someone else?

The FBI sting began in September when the undercover contacted Awwad. The court papers do not say why Awwad became a target.

During their first meeting in a park in Hampton, Va., Awwad explained to “Yousef” that he intended to use his position to obtain military technology for use by the Egyptian government, including but not limited to, the designs of the USS Gerald Ford nuclear aircraft carrier.

Hmmmmm. Something must have brought him to the attention of the FBI, I suspect that they didn’t pick his name out of a hat.  The trial should be interesting. If there is one. He might just plead guilty to a lesser charge so that there is no trial and thus no chance of sensitive information being revealed.

This could have been an intelligence disaster on a par with the Walker Spy Ring. Of course Awwad might not be the only one out there doing this sort of thing.

Not only do loose lips sink ships. So does political correctness.