WASHINGTON, DC - International terrorist and underworld Kingpin Keyser Söze is believed to be working with terrorist groups in Iran and Iraq, U.S. officials announced today.
Söze is believed to be working as a major financier for Al-Qaeda.
Over the last two years, Coalition and Iraqi forces have arrested several of Söze's underlings in and around the Shiite holy city of Karbala, but so far have not caught the man many describe as a 'criminal mastermind'.
"At this stage, we believe Keyser Söze is operating out of Iran, but we have no firm leads on his exact location," says White House spokesman Scott B. Morgan.
Söze allegedly began his criminal career in Turkey as a drug smuggler and has operated in the United States and Hungary as a legendary figure within organized crime.
"We must fight against terrorism, and all of America's enemies, real and imagined," Bush told press in a news conference on Tuesday. "We must continue to hunt down criminals like Söze because of what they symbolize."
When asked by reporters if the financier's activities were connected to Iran's alleged support of the insurgency within Iraq, Bush was adamant.
"We don't believe that Iran's behavior, which includes supporting Keyser Söze's activities in Iraq, should go unchallenged. This is a man whose ruthlessness is legendary - who butchers his enemies and even brutally murders disloyal henchmen and their families, for the slightest infraction."
Looking around the assembled press corps, Bush continued. "We must stand at the podium of justice while pressing the evildoers so they're flat as a teleprompter."
Bush admitted his interest in Söze resulted from a biopic he watched of the criminal mastermind.
"When I was growing up in the Press Briefing Room, we never saw these kinds of problems. Everyone would go to the the local ball team, the Seal of the President of the United States and would root our team to victory."
Iran this week denied any knowledge of Keyser Söze or his whereabouts.
Söze is believed to be working as a major financier for Al-Qaeda.
Over the last two years, Coalition and Iraqi forces have arrested several of Söze's underlings in and around the Shiite holy city of Karbala, but so far have not caught the man many describe as a 'criminal mastermind'.
"At this stage, we believe Keyser Söze is operating out of Iran, but we have no firm leads on his exact location," says White House spokesman Scott B. Morgan.
Söze allegedly began his criminal career in Turkey as a drug smuggler and has operated in the United States and Hungary as a legendary figure within organized crime.
"We must fight against terrorism, and all of America's enemies, real and imagined," Bush told press in a news conference on Tuesday. "We must continue to hunt down criminals like Söze because of what they symbolize."
When asked by reporters if the financier's activities were connected to Iran's alleged support of the insurgency within Iraq, Bush was adamant.
"We don't believe that Iran's behavior, which includes supporting Keyser Söze's activities in Iraq, should go unchallenged. This is a man whose ruthlessness is legendary - who butchers his enemies and even brutally murders disloyal henchmen and their families, for the slightest infraction."
Looking around the assembled press corps, Bush continued. "We must stand at the podium of justice while pressing the evildoers so they're flat as a teleprompter."
Bush admitted his interest in Söze resulted from a biopic he watched of the criminal mastermind.
"When I was growing up in the Press Briefing Room, we never saw these kinds of problems. Everyone would go to the the local ball team, the Seal of the President of the United States and would root our team to victory."
Iran this week denied any knowledge of Keyser Söze or his whereabouts.
