Posted on 08/27/2004 6:43:08 PM PDT by jsbankston
WASHINGTON - The FBI (news - web sites) is investigating whether an analyst for the Pentagon (news - web sites)'s No. 3 official acted as a spy for Israel, giving the Jewish state classified materials about secret White House deliberations on Iran, two federal law enforcement officials said Friday.
AP Photo
No arrests have been made, said the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation is continuing. But a third law enforcement official, also speaking anonymously, said an arrest in the case could come as early as next week.
The officials refused to identify the Pentagon employee who is under investigation, but said the person works in the office of Douglas J. Feith, the undersecretary of defense for policy at the Pentagon.
Feith is a key aide to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, working on sensitive policy issues including U.S. policy toward Iraq (news - web sites) and Iran. There are slightly more than a handful of people in Feith's office who specifically work on Iranian issues.
The investigation centers on whether the employee in Feith's office passed secrets about Bush administration policy toward Iran to the main pro-Israeli lobbying group in Washington, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which then allegedly gave them to the Israeli government, one official said.
David Siegel, a spokesman for the Israeli Embassy in Washington, said: "We categorically deny these allegations. They are completely false and outrageous."
AIPAC said in a statement that the lobbying group was "fully cooperating with the governmental authorities, and will continue to do so."
It said any allegation of criminal conduct by the organization or its employees was "baseless and false," adding that the group "would not condone or tolerate for a second any violation of U.S. law or interests."
Pentagon officials refused to comment, referring all questions to the Justice Department (news - web sites).
The investigation, first reported by CBS News, has included wiretapping and surveillance, and searches of the Pentagon employee's computer, the law enforcement officials said.
President Bush (news - web sites) has identified Iran as part of an "axis of evil," along with North Korea (news - web sites) and the former Iraqi regime. Yet, his administration has battled internally over how hard a line to take toward Iran, with the State Department generally advocating a more moderate position and more conservative officials in the Pentagon and at the White House's National Security Council advocating a tougher policy.
Israel — one of the United States' strongest allies — and its conservative prime minister, Ariel Sharon (news - web sites), have pushed the Bush administration toward a harder line toward Iran.
Israel and Iran have been in an increasingly harsh war of words in recent months. Senior Israeli officials have left open the possibility of an Israeli attack on suspected Iranian nuclear weapons development sites.
In response, Iran threatened last week to destroy Israel's Dimona reactor should Israel carry out such an attack.
In 1981, Israel destroyed a nuclear facility in Iraq after becoming suspicious that Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) was developing a nuclear weapons capability.
Despite the close U.S.-Israeli relations, this is not the first allegation of spying by Israel.
Jonathan Pollard, a former naval intelligence officer who gave top-secret documents to Israel, has been a point of contention in U.S.-Israeli relations. The Israeli government has repeatedly pressed for his release, but intelligence officials have called the information he passed to the Israelis highly damaging.
Pollard was caught in Washington in November 1985, and was arrested after unsuccessfully seeking refuge at the Israeli Embassy.
A congressional aide declined to say if the Senate Intelligence Committee had been briefed on the case but said the panel is generally briefed on espionage cases.
Oh, this is great. If this is true, why are the Jews spying on us? Aren't they suppose to be our trust worthy buddys?
I agree but I do not think it likely that such an investigation will occur if will likely lead where many, or at least I, suspect.
Hey Relax! Why must you state that it is the "Jews" spying on us and not simply say the "State of Israel" of a "Foreign government" is spying at the Pentagon?
I don't care if it is Iran, Russia, Israel or Mickey Mouse spying at the Pentagon and whoever it is should have their head chopped off no matter where they are from or what their religion may be.
Let me get in my politically correct mode here, just for you.
OK, if this is true, why are the Israelis spying on us? Are they not suppose to be our buddy's?
seems a bit suspicious with the Republican convention right around the corner. I think some people ar playing politics, but that's just a hunch.
The spy's religion is irrelevant but what is relevant is that he should have his head chopped of in the Middle of Times Square.
What is the difference between "friendly spying" and "espionage"? Is spying for an ally "friendly" as opposed to spying for an enemy? Are some spies exempt from the laws?
Bump!
Everyone spies on everyone. I'm sure we spy on Israel, G. Britain, etc. At least I HOPE we do. It would be irresponsible to do otherwise. The Brit Lord Palmerston said (paraphrase) "...we have no permanant freinds or allies, only permanent interests."
And since this seems to involve Iranian nukes, the Israelis may be gathering data for an upcoming strike!! We know they have the balls for it, and they might as well conform to their world image.
You seem to imply that since this guy may be a Jewish, it's OK to spy on the United States and steal classified materials about secret White House deliberations.
Everyone does it? LOL!
"...may be a Jewish.." ??? Well then...you have some other issues. My point is any resonsible government gathers intel on everything it can, including its freinds. Of coarse its not "OK". But its a fact of life. I'm sure the Brits "spy" on us also and the offender will be dealt with if detected. I'm LOL that anyone finds this shocking.
And this in no way alters the fact that we and our snoopy freinds have important common interests. If this spy is indeed "a jewish" I trust we will not as a result allow Israel to be destroyed by the Muslim Nazis. Disappointing I'm sure.
I am repeating what Bill Gertz reported and he is knowledgeable about the subject.
All countries spy on each other. It's like gathering opposition research during a presidential campaign. It's what they do with the result of their spying and who they report to.
We spy on Israel. Israel spies on us. It's what Israel does with that information that makes the difference between so-called friendly spying and espionage.
may be a Jewish.." ??? Well then...you have some other issues.
Oh, here we go. Lets see, am I an nazi or anti Semite? What horse sh*t. It was clearly a typo and met to say "May be Jewish". Sheesh!
My point is any resonsible government gathers intel on everything it can, including its freinds. Of coarse its not "OK". But its a fact of life.
Your point clearly implies that since this may be the Jews that did this, it's perfectly normal for friends to do this to friends. Nothing to see here. It's merely part of doing business. More bull sh*t.
More bull sh*t.
I love how you call a foreign spy that is stealing classified documents, "snoopy friends". LOL! Could you possibly sugar coat this anymore?
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