United States v. Walter Reed Martindale, III

DONALD RUSSELL, Circuit Judge:

This is a bizarre case of mystery and high Mideastern intrigue reminiscent of a James Bond novel. We sketch the facts of the story only to the extent that they are necessary to an understanding of the issues on appeal.

The central figure in the case and the defendant on appeal is a former officer in the State Department. He served apparently in an intelligence capacity of some importance in both the Middle East and Vietnam. During this time, he enjoyed diplomatic status and traveled under a diplomatic passport. A few yfears before the incidents which led to his…