Posted on 10/06/2005 5:52:41 AM PDT by OESY
A senior Defense Department analyst admitted Wednesday that he shared secret military information with two pro-Israeli lobbyists and an Israeli official in an effort to create a "backchannel" to the Bush administration on Middle East policy.
The analyst, Lawrence A. Franklin, pleaded guilty in federal court here to three criminal counts for improperly retaining and disclosing classified information, and he gave the first account of his motives and thinking in establishing secret liaisons with people outside the government.
The offenses carry a maximum of 25 years in prison, but as part of a plea agreement, prosecutors are expected to recommend leniency for Mr. Franklin in return for his cooperation in a continuing investigation in the January trial of the two lobbyists, Steven J. Rosen and Keith Weissman.
The lobbyists were dismissed last year by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or Aipac, after the investigation became public.
Mr. Franklin, 58, said in entering his guilty pleas that he had shared with the lobbyists "my frustrations with a particular policy" during repeated meetings from 2002 to 2004. He did not divulge the particular policy, but officials in the case said he was referring to the Bush administration's dealings with Iran.
Some of the more hawkish officials in the administration have pushed for a harder line in confronting Iran about its nuclear ambitions....
Mr. Franklin worked for a time as a senior analyst on Iran under Douglas Feith, a former under secretary at the Pentagon. Mr. Franklin said in court that he believed the Aipac lobbyists had access and influence at the National Security Council, which coordinates policy issues for the president and was deeply involved in setting the administration's course on Iran.
He said he hoped the lobbyists could help influence policy by passing on information that he knew was classified....
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
The Bush justice dept. is, and has been, soft of crime. They are limpwristed bastards. Every friggen' time they have someone by the balls, they plead it down, or flat out refuse to prosecute. They are stuck on stupid, and then some.
They should do to him what they did to Joe Pesci in Goodfellas - make him think everything's okay and then shoot him in the back of the head.
..................
Because this is the culmination of a five year investigation/sting operation which essentially turned up nothing but Franklin. The most interesting facet of the case will be the precedent set if Rosen, a non-government employee, is convicted of listening to classified information.
It seems to me that they should be offering a plea to the lobbyists in order to nail this b**tard.
I am guessing that he is a Democrat(?)
This might also have something to do with AIPAC, it which case it's amazing its even being reported on.
An agent of the US Government was compromising private individuals- and Israel- in a roundabout way to influence American policy.
An agent of the US was getting information FROM Israel.
And this is the guy getting the deal?
Something stinks here.
Now, let's move on to the New York Times and it's spying on NSA's classified programs ~ does anyone think any of those jokers imagined that you'd get 12 years?
Proportionately, the NSA thing is much more serious and is probably worth a death sentence. NYT should start selecting executives and owners who will "take the punishment" on behalf of the company.
I think you need to read up a bit on Mr. Franklin.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.