Mahmud (alias)
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Mahmud is an alias used by John Kiriakou. The recruit's true name and the country of recruitment have not been disclosed.

Mahmud is the alias used by John Kiriakou when referring to an Egyptian al-Qaeda fighter whom Kiriakou recruited as a CIA asset in an unnamed country during Kiriakou's case-officer career. By the time of the recruitment, Mahmud had been in the country for approximately five years on jihad and was considering returning home to Egypt.

Recruitment

Kiriakou identified Mahmud through repeated presence at a coffee shop known to be frequented by al-Qaeda fighters in an unnamed country with an active al-Qaeda presence. Kiriakou's approach was deliberately patient: he grew out his beard (already gray, which earned him the embassy nickname "the Archbishop"), sat in the coffee shop every day reading an Arabic-language newspaper, and made no eye contact or conversation for an extended period.

After Mahmud nodded to him in passing, Kiriakou returned the nod. After further days he offered the customary salaam alaykum; over subsequent weeks he learned Mahmud's name (allowing a CIA name-trace), invited him to sit, and developed a cover identity as a Lebanese worker for an NGO that aided refugees and orphans. Kiriakou spoke Arabic with a Lebanese accent acquired during training under a Lebanese instructor.

The pitch was delivered in a private one-on-one meeting at the coffee shop, with a CIA security team positioned at every surrounding table. Kiriakou disclosed his true identity and employer, dropping his cover entirely: "I'm not really who I said I was. I don't work for an NGO. I wasn't honest with you and I want to apologize for that. I'm actually American. And more than that, I work for the CIA." Mahmud did not run; instead he said "I'm listening." Kiriakou stated his requirements and offered to make Mahmud "rich beyond your wildest dreams." Mahmud accepted on the spot. Subsequent meetings were conducted in a CIA safe-house apartment in the same city.

Why he accepted

When Kiriakou turned Mahmud over to a replacement case officer at the end of his tour, he asked why Mahmud, a self-described True Believer on jihad, had agreed to be recruited. Mahmud's answer:

> Because I was here for five years and you were the only person who ever asked me about my family.

See also

- John Kiriakou
- Asset acquisition cycle
