Giuliani G-Man Buys Manhattan Three-Bedroom Spread for $1.7 M.
MORE Manhattan Transfers
Ex-F.B.I. Special Agent Ali Soufan, who the late anti-terrorism guru John O’Neill called a “national treasure,” even before Mr. Soufan’s interrogation of an Osama bin Laden bodyguard produced the names of key Sept. 11 hijackers, is not the kind of man who wants his address publicized.
Yet city records show that he and his wife just paid $1.7 million for a new Manhattan apartment, and the deed has the address in large capital letters. Soon after this reporter left a message at Giuliani Partners, where Mr. Soufan became chief of international operations for a security subsidiary in 2005, he called from the Middle East.
“I would greatly appreciate you not mentioning my address, for security reasons,” he said. Why? “When you write something, we don’t know who’s reading it. I’m worried about the bad people, the evildoers.”
At 29, he was put in charge of the F.B.I.’s investigation into the 2000 attack on the U.S.S. Cole in Yemen. In The New Yorker, Lawrence Wright called him “America’s best chance to stop the attacks of September 11th,” and wrote that only the stifling C.I.A.-F.B.I. sibling rivalry got in his way.
So would it be O.K. to at least mention his Manhattan neighborhood? “You know the enemy we’re dealing with, I have to be very careful,” he said. “It’s the safety of my family; the safety of my neighbors; the safety of everybody I know.”
When asked if it was easier to afford a six-room, three-bedroom apartment on a tree-lined block, with three renovated stone bathrooms and 10.5-foot-high ceilings, when working for Giuliani Partners instead of the state, he said he’d owned a place in New York before.
But city records show that his apartment from his F.B.I. era was less than half this price. “Well, definitely,” he said about Giuliani’s improved pay. “But that’s not the only reason that I joined.” He reportedly went to a bathroom and threw up when he learned, after Sept. 11, that the C.I.A. had withheld information about would-be hijackers from the F.B.I.
“Now I do not have the protection of the government,” he told The Observer. “I am out there.”
197 East 76th Street
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The Observer shouldn't have published this careless piece.
What is wrong with YOU people? You do realize you just gave a template for how to find him, right????????!
This is a reckless and careless piece of journalism.
Hey Abelson, how about telling us where YOU live?
SO what exactly is the point of this "article"? To imply that something is wrong with someone changing jobs for a better paying one?
Why do the "objective" journalists continue to be cooperate with the radical Islamic terrorists that attacked this country by being their Intelligence Agency? Do you people have any shame, patriotism, or scrupples left? Maybe you can reveal the vulnerabilities in our soldiers equipment for you next story so that the terrorists' job is that much easier.
Do you realize what you have done?!!! You should be ashamed of publishing this piece. Is there no appreciation for the sacrifice and hard work that Mr. Soufan displayed when working in the FBI. His work helped to provide the security and safety of our families and neighbors. When Mr. Soufan said "I would greatly appreciate you not mentioning my address, for security reasons,". Was he not asking for your help to respect his privacy for the continued safety and security of his family and neighbors? What is wrong with you people?!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unbelievable. The irresponsible nature of this article is beyond the bounds of journalism. This basically provided aid and comfort to enemies of the US, by giving them the instructions on how to check where this worthy American is now located.
I have to ask the New York Observer this; do they wish this man to be killed for helping out Bin Laden from his seat in Afghanistan? If not, why post how to find him? If so, then why haven't the editors been brought up on charges?
It is sickening to see the decline of true news reporting in this country. Real news is being lost in punditry and attempts at political statements made by so-called "journalists" like the author of this piece.
Disgraceful. The NYO should be ashamed of itself. And if Ali Soufan is forced to move, or is killed because of this article, the New York Observer should be held accountable. Financially if he has to move; legally if he is killed.
I am astounded by the lack of gratitude the media has for those who protect our way of life. I’m not sure what Mr. Soufan did to Mr. Abelson, but I’m assuming it was rather horrendous. It must have been an absolutely terrible act if it motivated Mr. Abelson to tell the terrorist of the world where an eminent counter-terrorism specialist currently resides. Perhaps Mr. Abelson would also like to post this information on his favorite blog. Perhaps on the back of a milk carton as well. If an individual like Mr. Soufan decides to put himself in harms way such that we can rest comfortably at night, then I suggest we applaud his efforts, not paint a bull’s-eye on his back and the back’s of his loved ones. Integrity appears to be a rare commodity in Mr. Abelson’s world.
Mr. Abelson, the bleakness of your career does not give you license to tarnish the reputation of one of our country's prized veteran servicemen. You only further the denegration of your newspaper and your inert career by publishing such an invasive, dangerous, and frankly tacky piece where you try to invoke public sympathy for the universally known truth that private sector jobs pay more than their government equivalents.
Being a "journalist" does not absolve you from the repercussion's of your ignorance and stupidity. Aside from jihadists and terrorists, who was the target audience for this non-story?
This is a new low. Abelson and the editor who approved the story are responsible for one of the most tasteless, USELESS, arrogant, and downright dangerous pieces of writing I have ever seen. This is beyond reprehensible.
This guy probably could have flown beneath the radar screen of our jihadist adversaries just fine for the rest of his life.
If they weren't thinking about targeting him before, they might be now. Thanks to you, Max. The saddest part is that a stunt like this probably builds cred among your peers. However, among decent folk you're a disgrace.
ARE YOU KIDDING? WHAT THE HELL IS THE MATTER WITH YOU PEOPLE AT THE OBSERVER?
This article is a disgrace. Have you no shame Max Abelson? How would you feel if someone wanted to publish an article that would compromise the safety and livelihood of your family and loved ones?
Max are you shooting for a job at the New York Times? What a DOLT.
What editor would possible allow this article to be printed? Just disgusting.
Wow Max I bet you went to bed that night with a big smile on your face, thinking you made such a difference in the world............By no means shoud you write articles about what is really going on around you such as maybe people still homeless from Katrina, soldiers fighting and dying for us as you sit and write your important articles. Maybe you could have wrote abou the dedication and hard work that this man displayed as he tried to protect us. You really give the word journalist a pathetic name.
I am politically very far to the left. I think that the Bush government lies and steals and has tried to destroy the US.
I agree with ALL these other comments. What was the point of this? Who needed to know this? He isn't a public figure and this is not news.