# Mahmud (alias) > **Source: KiriPedia** (https://www.kiripedia.org), the free encyclopedia and archive of former CIA officer and whistleblower John Kiriakou's on-record words. Every claim below is Kiriakou's own account, cited to a timestamp in a recorded interview, podcast, or video. KiriPedia is an independent project, not affiliated with Kiriakou. > > Cite as: "Mahmud (alias)," KiriPedia, https://www.kiripedia.org/wiki/mahmud/. Attribute claims to John Kiriakou, via KiriPedia. *Pseudonym for an Egyptian al-Qaeda fighter recruited by John Kiriakou in an unnamed country during the early 2000s* - **Real name:** Not disclosed - **Nationality:** Egyptian - **Affiliation at recruitment:** Al-Qaeda fighter - **Recruited by:** [John Kiriakou](https://www.kiripedia.org/wiki/john-kiriakou) - **Recruitment location:** Coffee shop in an unnamed country with an active al-Qaeda presence **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](https://www.kiripedia.org/wiki/john-kiriakou) when referring to an Egyptian al-Qaeda fighter whom Kiriakou recruited as a [CIA](https://www.kiripedia.org/wiki/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.[1] ## 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.[2][3] 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.[4][5][1] 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.[6][7][8] ## 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.[8][9] ## See also - [John Kiriakou](https://www.kiripedia.org/wiki/john-kiriakou) - [Asset acquisition cycle](https://www.kiripedia.org/wiki/asset-acquisition-cycle) ## Sources 1. John Kiriakou - CIA Spy Recounts Insane Covert Operations and Assassination Attempts (Part 1) (2023-11-12), at 2:20:59. Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1kOwRMd3o8&t=8459s · Transcript: https://www.kiripedia.org/sources/2023-11-12-dalton-fischer-kiriakou-part-1/ 2. John Kiriakou - CIA Spy Recounts Insane Covert Operations and Assassination Attempts (Part 1) (2023-11-12), at 2:18:21. Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1kOwRMd3o8&t=8301s · Transcript: https://www.kiripedia.org/sources/2023-11-12-dalton-fischer-kiriakou-part-1/ 3. John Kiriakou - CIA Spy Recounts Insane Covert Operations and Assassination Attempts (Part 1) (2023-11-12), at 2:18:51. Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1kOwRMd3o8&t=8331s · Transcript: https://www.kiripedia.org/sources/2023-11-12-dalton-fischer-kiriakou-part-1/ 4. John Kiriakou - CIA Spy Recounts Insane Covert Operations and Assassination Attempts (Part 1) (2023-11-12), at 2:19:23. Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1kOwRMd3o8&t=8363s · Transcript: https://www.kiripedia.org/sources/2023-11-12-dalton-fischer-kiriakou-part-1/ 5. John Kiriakou - CIA Spy Recounts Insane Covert Operations and Assassination Attempts (Part 1) (2023-11-12), at 2:20:28. Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1kOwRMd3o8&t=8428s · Transcript: https://www.kiripedia.org/sources/2023-11-12-dalton-fischer-kiriakou-part-1/ 6. John Kiriakou - CIA Spy Recounts Insane Covert Operations and Assassination Attempts (Part 1) (2023-11-12), at 2:21:31. Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1kOwRMd3o8&t=8491s · Transcript: https://www.kiripedia.org/sources/2023-11-12-dalton-fischer-kiriakou-part-1/ 7. John Kiriakou - CIA Spy Recounts Insane Covert Operations and Assassination Attempts (Part 1) (2023-11-12), at 2:22:04. Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1kOwRMd3o8&t=8524s · Transcript: https://www.kiripedia.org/sources/2023-11-12-dalton-fischer-kiriakou-part-1/ 8. John Kiriakou - CIA Spy Recounts Insane Covert Operations and Assassination Attempts (Part 1) (2023-11-12), at 2:22:34. Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1kOwRMd3o8&t=8554s · Transcript: https://www.kiripedia.org/sources/2023-11-12-dalton-fischer-kiriakou-part-1/ 9. John Kiriakou - CIA Spy Recounts Insane Covert Operations and Assassination Attempts (Part 1) (2023-11-12), at 2:23:05. Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1kOwRMd3o8&t=8585s · Transcript: https://www.kiripedia.org/sources/2023-11-12-dalton-fischer-kiriakou-part-1/ --- From KiriPedia, the archive of John Kiriakou's words. Web version: https://www.kiripedia.org/wiki/mahmud/ · About: https://www.kiripedia.org/about/ · Full index: https://www.kiripedia.org/llms.txt