Michael Ross (Mossad officer)

Michael Ross (born 12 July 1965) is a Canadian-Israeli expert on intelligence (information gathering) and a former Mossad officer, or “combatant” with a focus upon human source intelligence collection (Humint). Ross speaks upon intelligence issues and publishes articles, and he is the author of the book The Volunteer: The Incredible True Story of an Israeli Spy on the Trail of International Terrorists”. Ross advocates vigilance and the continual improvement of intelligence collection systems in order to protect free societies. In August 2007, Ross authored an article in the Canadian daily, National Post entitled, "Obama got it right" wherein he wrote that Osama bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan having been provided sanctuary by Pakistan's Directorate for Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI). Ross urged then presidential nominee, Barack Obama, to engage in unilateral intelligence and military action in Pakistan to hunt and kill al-Qaeda leaders including Osama bin Laden.

Early biography

Ross was born and raised in Canada. He was raised as an Anglican and served in the Canadian Armed Forces in the since disbanded Special Service Force at CFB Petawawa. After traveling to and working in Israel, he met and married an Israeli woman and converted to Judaism.^[1] Ross attended university while overseas.

Active Mossad career

During the 1980’s he served in a combat unit of the Israeli army. His service brought him to the attention of the Mossad, which recruited him as an officer. He served under a form of non-official cover, which involves working under covers other than as an Israeli diplomat and therefore lacks diplomatic immunity, a status which the Mossad refers to as “combatant”. Ross’s Canadian background and language skills gave him excellent access to sources of intelligence and the ability to travel without suspicion of being an Israeli officer. For many years, Ross was the Mossad’s man in sub-Saharan Africa. Although primarily a field operative, Ross also served in an official liaison position working with the American Central Intelligence Agency. In 2000, Ross was awarded a divisional citation by former Mossad Deputy Director and Head of the National Security Council (Israel), Ilan Mizrahi. Ross left the Mossad under honorable circumstances in late 2001 with the equivalent military rank of Sgan Aluf (Lieutenant-Colonel).^[2]

Focus of intelligence work

Ross’s work with the Mossad was spent almost entirely in counter-terrorism.^[3]

In addition to sub-Saharan Africa, he served in the Mossad’s CAESAREA division in Syria, Azerbaijan, North Africa, and Iran. At Mossad headquarters he was involved with the TEVEL division, responsible for liaison relationships with allied governments on counter-terrorism, specifically in prevention and investigation of attacks upon embassies. Ross played an integral role in the capture of the al-Qaeda confederates responsible for the 1998 United States embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. He later served in the Mossad’s BITZUR division, responsible for prevention of terrorist attacks upon Jewish communities worldwide. Ross was involved in protection of Jews from Zimbabwe threatened by the Robert Mugabe regime.^[4]

Book publication

Ross wrote “The Volunteer” in 2007. The tone of the book is pro-Israeli; Ross sees Israel as an example of civilization’s defense against terrorism. He does not appear to draw distinctions between the aims of Islamist Palestinian nationalism and al-Qaeda's stated goal to drive Americans and western influence out of all Muslim nations. Ross often cites examples where Iran covertly supports and sponsors Sunni terrorist movements such as al-Qaeda, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas. His discussions of intelligence operations have been described as realistic and not movie-like.^[5]

Publications

Book

• The Volunteer: The Incredible True Story of an Israeli Spy on the Trail of International Terrorists, Skyhorse Publishing, September 2007, ISBN 978-1602391321.

Association with Ishmael Jones

Ross is a friend of Ishmael Jones, a former deep-cover CIA officer and author of The Human Factor: Inside the CIA's Dysfunctional Intelligence Culture^[6], with whom he collaborates. There is speculation that Ross and Jones operated against similar intelligence targets while working for their respective clandestine services.

Articles

• "Our national-security amateur hour" by Michael Ross, National Post, November 16, 2011.
• "Send a message to Assad" by Michael Ross, National Post, October 5, 2011.
• "University of Lethbridge distances itself from truther grad" by Michael Ross, National Post, September 28, 2011.
• "Lethbridge student rising to top of conspiracy theory class" by Michael Ross, National Post, September 23, 2011.
• "Arab spring renders the left even less coherent than usual" by Michael Ross, National Post, September 21, 2011.
• "UN rules that Israeli blockade is legal in blow to failing flotilla" by Michael Ross, National Post, July 8, 2011.
• "Witless Hamas apologists denounce Israel from sunny Greece" by Michael Ross, National Post, July 4, 2011.
• "al-Qaeda's sour new face has a Canadian connection" by Michael Ross, National Post, May 19, 2011.
• "Obama strikes a blow against duplicity in Pakistan" by Michael Ross, National Post, May 2, 2011.
• "Gaza's death sentence for a well-meaning naif" by Michael Ross, National Post, April 18, 2011.
• "Syria’s special place as the Middle East’s mafioso" by Michael Ross, National Post, March 30, 2011.
• "Canada needs a dedicated clandestine foreign intelligence service" by Michael Ross, National Post, February 15, 2011.
• "Mini-Book review-Ross-The Volunteer: A Canadian's Secret Life in the Mossad" by James McCormick, Chicago Boyz, September 24, 2010.
• "Bureaucracy Kills" by Michael Ross and Ishmael Jones, National Post, January 11, 2010.
• "Israel: Mossad Hit Didn’t Upset Intel Ties" by Eli Lake, Washington Times, February 25, 2010.
• "Israeli Passport Row is just Political Theatre" by Michael Ross, National Post, March 25, 2010.
• "Obama's Iran dilemma" by Michael Ross, National Post, January 2, 2009.
• "No intelligence" by Michael Ross, Maclean's Magazine, August 6, 2008.
• "Good-bye, Zimbabwe" by Michael Ross, Maclean's Magazine, June 4, 2008.
• "The Iran hawks' latest surge" by Gregory Levy, Salon.com, March 7, 2008.
• "A true arch-terrorist" by Michael Ross, National Post, February 15, 2008.
• "Jews are news" by Michael Ross, National Post, December 29, 2008.
• "Obama got it right" by Michael Ross, National Post, August 8, 2007.

See also

• Non-official cover

References

1. ^ Ross, Michael (2007). The Volunteer: The Incredible True Story of an Israeli Spy on the Trail of International Terrorists. Canada: Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 978-1602391321. 
2. ^ David Gritten (September 12, 2008). "Dubai Killing Sheds Unwelcome Spotlight". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8537740.stm. Retrieved 2010-03-22. 
3. ^ Ishmael Jones (June 12, 2009). "Dismantle the CIA’s Station Chief System". National Review. http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YmY4ODcwZTk2MjkyNDkyOGUxNTNhNjZlYjE4NDc5MzU=. Retrieved 2010-01-06. 
4. ^ Yossi Melman (September 26, 2008). "Israel and Azerbaijan close multi-million dollar arms deal". Ha'aretz. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1024798.html. Retrieved 2010-04-12. 
5. ^ Publishers Weekly (September 2007). "The Volunteer". Publishers Weekly. http://www.amazon.com/dp/1602391327. Retrieved 2010-03-21. 
6. ^ The Human Factor: Inside the CIA's Dysfunctional Intelligence Culture, Encounter Books, July 2008, ISBN 978-1594032233.

External links

• Mossad

Persondata
Name	Ross, Michael
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	July 12, 1965
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death